Community Tent Programme
All events in the Community Tent are FREE to attend and do not require a ticket. The Community Tent is located on the main festival site in Queen's Park.
Saturday 31 August
Queen's Park Voices
1:00pm
Featuring local writers and poets Clare Starling, Hilde Rapp and Joyanna Lovelock, hosted by writer and broadcaster Marina Cantacuzino
Clare, Hilde and Joyanna will read extracts from their work and short pieces commissioned especially for the book festival.
FREE EVENT - no ticket required
What I Learned in Bed
Kate Weinberg & Jason Isaacs
2:30pm
In 2020 author Kate Weinberg spent 4 months bedbound with Long Covid. As well as inspiring a novel, Kate found this a period of reckoning and self-discovery. In conversation with actor Jason Isaacs, Kate will explore why so much literature is spawned from illness, and how, in periods of darkness, humour and perspective are the best kind of visitors.
FREE EVENT - no ticket required
Can Robots Write Bestsellers?
Sophie Deen & Andy Stanton with Pathman Ruthirapathy
4:00pm
Local authors Sophie Deen and Andy Stanton discuss whether AI is revolutionising or threatening the craft of writing, with digital innovation expert Pathman Ruthirapathy.
FREE EVENT - no ticket required
In Pursuit of Everything
Melanie Cantor & Stacey Duguid with Alice Bhandhukravi
5:30pm
Local authors, influencers and fab fashionistas Melanie Cantor and Stacey Duguid discuss whether women really can have it all, with BBC news presenter Alice Bhandhukravi.
FREE EVENT - no ticket required
Sunday 1 September
Local Legend Chrys Salt MBE
In conversation with Annette Badland
1:00pm
Featuring Queen's Park's very own Chrys Salt MBE, award-winning poet, playwright and performer, in conversation with the actress Annette Badland.
FREE EVENT - no ticket required
Writing Memory
Three local writers recall their childhood in Africa
2:30pm
Novelists Jane Bryce and Veronique Tadjo and writer and broadcaster Nicholas Rankin discuss the profound effect that a childhood in Africa has had on their lives and work.
Hosted by local writer and social commentator Shyama Perera.
FREE EVENT - no ticket required
The Big What!
4:00pm
The Big What returns with more fantastic local performance poets, hosted by rap-poet maestro Poetcurious and poet extraordinaire Prestige Karlla.
FREE EVENT - no ticket required
Bright Stars of Black British History
Joanna Brown & Fee Mak
5:30pm
Award-winning author and educator Joanna Brown AKA J.T. Williams discusses challenging stereotypes in education, her latest book Bright Stars of Black British History, and much more, with Radio 1Xtra's Fee Mak.
FREE EVENT - no ticket required
