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Lavenham Literary Festival to return with host of big names and events for eighth iteration




A village’s literary festival will return with a host of big names and events for its eighth iteration next weekend.

Lavenham Literary Festival will welcome guests from Friday, November 1 to Sunday, November 3, with all the events, bar Friday’s, at the village hall.

Tom Henry will return with his writers’ workshop and renowned critic and satirist Craig Brown is the guest speaker for the festival dinner at The Swan Hotel on the Friday.

Lavenham Literary Festival's committee from left to right: Widget Finn, publicity and marketing manager; Jackie Rigby, volunteers co-ordinator; Chris Garibaldi, chairman; Judith Head, secretary; Yasmin Lambert, volunteers co-ordinator; Andrew Flatt, treasurer; Louise Cramp, festival dinner organiser; Gaye Hodges, merchandising manager; Caroline Eves, festival organiser. Picture: Andy Abbott
Lavenham Literary Festival's committee from left to right: Widget Finn, publicity and marketing manager; Jackie Rigby, volunteers co-ordinator; Chris Garibaldi, chairman; Judith Head, secretary; Yasmin Lambert, volunteers co-ordinator; Andrew Flatt, treasurer; Louise Cramp, festival dinner organiser; Gaye Hodges, merchandising manager; Caroline Eves, festival organiser. Picture: Andy Abbott
Renowned political satirist Craig Brown will be the Lavenham Literary Festival guest speaker for its festival dinner at The Swan Hotel on Friday. Picture: Submitted
Renowned political satirist Craig Brown will be the Lavenham Literary Festival guest speaker for its festival dinner at The Swan Hotel on Friday. Picture: Submitted

On Saturday, former Health Secretary Alan Johnson takes to the stage with Suffolk’s own Lesley Dolphin at 10am, while actor Sheila Hancock will speak to television presenter Janet Ellis about her memoir Old Rage at 3.45pm.

On the Sunday at 2.30pm Louis de Bernieres, author of the hugely popular 1994 novel Captain Corelli’s Mandolin, will discuss his latest book Light Over Liskeard with Martha Kearney.

Later that evening renowned Shakespeare experts, the director Bill Alexander and actor Janet Suzman, will discuss the former’s book Exploring Shakespeare – a Director’s Notes from the Rehearsal Room, the ticket for which includes a glass of wine.

Alan Johnson, former health secretary turned author, will be in conversation with Suffolk's own Lesley Dolphin at the Lavenham Literary Festival. Picture: Submitted
Alan Johnson, former health secretary turned author, will be in conversation with Suffolk's own Lesley Dolphin at the Lavenham Literary Festival. Picture: Submitted
Louis de Bernieres, author of Captain Correlli's Mandolin, will talk to the Lavenham Literary Festival audience about his new novel Light Over Liskeard. Picture: Ivon Bartholomew
Louis de Bernieres, author of Captain Correlli's Mandolin, will talk to the Lavenham Literary Festival audience about his new novel Light Over Liskeard. Picture: Ivon Bartholomew

This year, the festival has teamed up with Abbeygate Cinema, in Hatter Street, Bury St Edmunds, for a special showing of Ms Hancock’s film Edie on the Saturday, while Mr de Bernieres will introduce the Captain Corelli’s Mandolin film on the Sunday after his talk in Lavenham.

For the history buffs, Radio 4’s Dr Annie Gray will discuss the history of the British High Street at 5.30pm on Saturday and, on the Sunday, Tracy Borman will take crowds Behind Closed Doors at the Royal Palaces at 10.30am.

Sticking with the non-fiction, Patrick Barkham will introduce his biography of naturalist Roger Deakin at 2pm on Saturday.

Renowned actor and Shakespeare expert Dame Janet Suzman will speak alongside eminent director Bill Alexander on his new book Exploring Shakespeare - A Director's Notes From The Rehearsal Room at the Lavenham Literary Festival. Picture: Submitted
Renowned actor and Shakespeare expert Dame Janet Suzman will speak alongside eminent director Bill Alexander on his new book Exploring Shakespeare - A Director's Notes From The Rehearsal Room at the Lavenham Literary Festival. Picture: Submitted
Lavenham Literary Festival's committee from left to right: Widget Finn, publicity and marketing manager; Jackie Rigby, volunteers co-ordinator; Chris Garibaldi, chairman; Judith Head, secretary; Yasmin Lambert, volunteers co-ordinator; Andrew Flatt, treasurer; Louise Cramp, festival dinner organiser; Gaye Hodges, merchandising manager; Caroline Eves, festival organiser. Picture: Andy Abbott
Lavenham Literary Festival's committee from left to right: Widget Finn, publicity and marketing manager; Jackie Rigby, volunteers co-ordinator; Chris Garibaldi, chairman; Judith Head, secretary; Yasmin Lambert, volunteers co-ordinator; Andrew Flatt, treasurer; Louise Cramp, festival dinner organiser; Gaye Hodges, merchandising manager; Caroline Eves, festival organiser. Picture: Andy Abbott

In the poetry corner, Ashley Hickson-Lovence will hold a workshop while also speaking about his novel Wild East at 2.30pm on Sunday.

The festival will also feature talks from two debut novelists; Hilary Taylor, whose book Sea Defences is shortlisted for the Paul Torday Memorial Prize for first novels by writers over 60, and Jyoti Patel with The Things We Lost.

They will be in conversation with Janet Ellis on Saturday at 11.45am.

Jyoti Patel will speak at the Lavenham Literary Festival on her new book The Things We Lost. Picture: Submitted
Jyoti Patel will speak at the Lavenham Literary Festival on her new book The Things We Lost. Picture: Submitted
Dr Annie Gray will explore the history of the British High Street at the Lavenham Literary Festival. Picture: Submitted
Dr Annie Gray will explore the history of the British High Street at the Lavenham Literary Festival. Picture: Submitted

See the festival’s website, The Apex website or Whats On West Suffolk for more.

Some events have discounted student tickets available.