Rochdale Literature & Ideas Festival

Sarah-Clare Conlon, Literature Editor

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Rochdale Literature & Ideas Festival

14-21 October 2019

Always double check opening hours with the venue before making a special visit.

Olivia Lomenech Gill, the award-winning illustrator of JK Rowling's Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
Olivia Lomenech Gill
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For its seventh year, Rochdale Literature & Ideas Festival is still thinking big, with a week-long stretch from Monday 14 to Monday 21 October across various venues. More than just your average book festival – it’s the ideas bit that makes the difference, and they’ve got plenty. As well as literature, creative writing and spoken word, you’ll find drama, music, comedy, dance, current affairs and plenty for the kids and young people – expect exciting arts for all ages.

From former poet laureate Dame Carol Ann Duffy to Chocolat author Joanne Harris MBE, internationally acclaimed writers and thinkers have played an important part in Rochdale Literature & Ideas Festival’s development. This year is no exception, with television presenter John Craven popping in, along with feel-good fiction writer Milly Johnson, hosting afternoon tea at Rochdale Town Hall and reading from her latest novel, The Magnificent Mrs Mayhew, which made the top five of the Sunday Times bestseller list.

Author Hanna Jameson.
Author Hanna Jameson.

Also here are Gogglebox star and broadcaster Reverend Kate Bottley, children’s author and TV presenter Konnie Huq, author and autism, invisible disability and LGBTQIA+ activist Erin Ekins, international bestselling crime author and poet Sophie Hannah, popular children’s authors Harry Heape and Hannah Lee, as well as Olivia Lomenech Gill, the award-winning illustrator of JK Rowling’s Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them as well as Michael Morpurgo’s Where My Wellies Take Me.

From former poet laureate Dame Carol Ann Duffy to Chocolat author Joanne Harris MBE, internationally acclaimed writers and thinkers have played an important part in Rochdale Literature & Ideas Festival’s development

The festival will launch with a very special event: the unveiling of a new blue plaque at Touchstones Rochdale in honour of local couple Annie and Frank Maskew, who met in Rochdale Library in the 1950s and shared a passion for reading and thinking – so much so that they donated a generous bequest which made the Rochdale Literature & Ideas Festival possible.

We’re looking forward to the ‘Women Who Write: Dystopia’ event on Wednesday 16 October, when Hanna Jameson, bestselling author of end-of-the-world novel The Last, and Fiona Shaw, author of YA hit Outwalkers, will be talking about the concept of dystopia and the impact of female writers on the genre. Discussing the rise and revival of women-driven dystopian fiction, from Margaret Atwood’s 1985 novel-turned-weirdly-popular TV series The Handmaid’s Tale to Naomi Alderman’s recent award-winner The Power, this is set to be an interesting and thought-provoking evening.

Lancashire-based American fiction and creative nonfiction writer, and co-organiser of Lancaster’s popular Stories At The Storey, Yvonne Battle-Felton appears on Friday 18 October, reading from her debut novel Remembered, a powerful story of segregation and slavery, recently longlisted for the Women’s Prize for Fiction 2019.

The Festival culminates with Tales From The Town Hall, taking place in the iconic Gothic-style building with an exclusive performance of the winning competition entry for the playwright competition for young people aged 14-25 in Rochdale. 22-year-old Riz Ali’s play was chosen from a stellar line-up of entries, and is currently being mentored by TV and stage scriptwriter Nicola Schofield to turn her entry into a 30-minute play. It will be performed at the finale event, which includes a tour of Rochdale Town Hall and a drinks reception. Tickets for all events are available now. For the full line-up and details of venues and to book tickets, see the festival website.

Where to go near Rochdale Literature & Ideas Festival

Manchester
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Black Redstart Gallery

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RJC Dance Xmas Show
Leeds
RJC Dance

RJC Dance, based in Chapeltown, Leeds, champions youth and education, leading inclusive Black dance in the North through national partnerships.

texture logo
Manchester
Gallery
texture mcr

Possibly one of the city’s most mysterious art galleries, texture is a small and perfectly-formed independent space in Ardwick.

The Beacon at Cliffe Castle Park
Bradford
Park
Cliffe Castle Park

Cliffe Castle Park hosts the Beacon, a stunning performance space that will be touring the district throughout Bradford UK City of Culture 2025.

Hern Food
Leeds
Restaurant
Hern

This produce-driven bistro in Chapel Allerton, Leeds, prides itself on cooking with the only finest ingredients and his headed up by Cordon Bleu-trained chef Rab Adams.

Indie Makers
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Indie Makers

Indie Makers, located in Leads’ corn exchange, trades in art and gifts from independent makers across the UK.

Plant Point
Leeds
Shop
Plant Point

Plant Point is designed to help you bring the jungle into your urban or suburban space. The home of beautiful plants in Leeds.

Leeds
Restaurant
Eat Your Greens

Eat Your Greens is a vibrant, organic restaurant bringing a hint of European flair to the city’s plant-based dining scene.

Sela opened in 2004 with an idea to provide quality imported beers from around the world, fun cocktails to compliment the beer selections and a stage for the region’s finest and most talented musicians to play on.Over ten years later, we’re still all about the beer, cocktails, live music and pizza!We carry over a selection of over thirty different beers spanning the globe from Pickering with The Great Yorkshire Brewery’s Yorkshire Blackout, to New York with a selection from Brooklyn Brewery, and Belgium with longtime Sela favourite, Vedett.Our cocktails change regularly too. Our best-sellers are joined by fun, new offerings and our pizza menu is regarded as one of the best the city of Leeds has to offer.As for the live music, Sela has had not only the great and the good from the region. Local funksters, The New Mastersounds are regular visitors and we stage the amazing Mojah Reggae Band for their weekly Wednesday residency.  Our other long running programming incl
Leeds
Restaurant
Sela Bar & Pizzeria

Sela Bar is a cosy Leeds basement spot with live music, great drinks, and a cool, laid-back, atmospheric vibe.

What's on: Literature

Jenn Ashworth at Blackwell's Manchester
LiteratureManchester
Jenn Ashworth at Blackwells

Jenn Ashworth is back at Blackwells bookshop for the Manchester launch of her latest work, reading extracts and chatting to Helen Mort about how The Parallel Path came about.

From £4.00
LiteratureLeeds
Chemistry at The Chemic

Leeds live literature regular Chemistry offers an exciting mix of open mic acts and invited poets – this month the headliners include Rosie Garland.

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Poet Mike Garry. Photo Paul Wolfgang Webster
LiteratureManchester
Word Central at Central Library

Word Central is a long-standing live literature favourite at Central Library and features open mic performers and a special guest, brought to you by Manchester Libraries and Flapjack Press.

Free entry
Cover of a book with a canal boat on it saying boater by Jo Bell
LiteratureManchester
Jo Bell at The Portico Library

Poet and now memoirist Jo Bell invites you to join her “for a friendly evening” at The Portico Library when she’ll be talking about her new “smart, funny” memoir Boater.

From £6.00

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