Literary festival defies effects of recession
There may be a recession on, but the Havant Literary Festival is proving to be resilient after reporting healthy ticket sales.
While many art venues are taking a hit because of the economic downturn, more than 800 tickets have been sold so far for the festival which opens this Friday.
The 10-day festival will host 101 events across 23 venues in the borough – much bigger than the 40 events held over four days during the inaugural festival last year.
Among the big names giving talks are bestselling novelists Fay Weldon, Maggie Gee and Louis de Bernires, author of Captain Corelli's Mandolin.
Arthur Conan Doyle and his most famous creation, Sherlock Holmes, are also heavily featured with five talks plus an exhibition at the Meridian Centre of the Conan Doyle Collection, which was bequeathed to Portsmouth City Council by leading expert Richard Lancelyn Green.
And there are plenty more unusual distractions such as a ghost walk, a tea leaf reading gypsy and a poet in a shed.
The big names and variety of events have helped to draw people into the festival which is designed to provide something for everyone – as the ticket sales show.
The festival's artistic director, Lucy Flannery, said: 'We've sold more than 800 ticket and it does seem that the recession hasn't really affected us. People do need to go out and enjoy themselves and our tickets are good value. We're going to do better than last year.
'But while we've had strong ticket sales there are still plenty left for many of the events.'
Some of the other highlights include the literary editor of The Guardian, Claire Armitstead, examining the role of the critic, as well as workshops on online phenomenons such as blogging and Twitter.
Local writers Isabel Ashdown, Alex Bell and Yong Pease will feature in a panel discussion on writing for and about teenagers.
And there are plenty of book fairs and sales and visits from children's authors to schools.
Tickets can be bought from Havant Arts Centre in East Street. Call (023) 9247 2700 or go to havantartscentre.co.uk. For details visit havantlitfest.org.uk
SO MUCH GOING ON
This year's Havant Literary Festival will feature 101 events at 23 venues over 10 days. Here are 10 of the best:
Friday, September 25
- Grand opening and prize-giving ceremony for winners of the poetry, short story and children's competition. VIP guests include Caroline Lucas MEP, the Mayor of Havant, and festival writer in residence Stella Duffy. Havant Arts Centre, 6pm, free.
- Celebrated crime writer, president of the Detection Club, Simon Brett, talks about his successful career including his Charles Paris, Mrs Pargeter and Fethering series. Station Theatre, Hayling Island, 7.30pm, 6.
Saturday, September 26
- A writers' workshop with novelist and playwright Stella Duffy, showing how improvisation and theatre techniques can help kick-start writing. United Reformed Church, Havant, 10.30am to 4pm, 25.
- Maggie Gee, the Booker-nominated and bestselling author of My Cleaner, My Driver and The White Family will talk about creating memorable characters, read from her work and take audience questions. Havant Arts Centre, 2pm, 6.
Sunday, September 27
- Arthur Conan Doyle features strongly in the festival, including a talk with biographer Russell Miller on why Conan Doyle controversially became involved in spiritualism. Nineveh bookshop, 5pm, 4.
Thursday, October 1
- Gipsy Rose Sam will look into the ancient divination method of tasseography – reading tea leaves. Nineveh bookshop, Havant, 2pm, 6.
n Ghost walk of Old Havant where chilling tales of ghosts, ghouls and gargoyles will be told. Havant Arts Centre & town centre, 10pm, 6. Also at same time on Friday, October 2.
Friday, October 2
- Shedman the poet will conduct impromptu workshops, invite passers-by to tour his shed and accept on-the-spot commissions for an ode or sonnet. The Square, Emsworth, daytime. Also on October 3.
Saturday, October 3
- Fay Weldon will be interviewed by The Guardian's Literary Editor, Claire Armitstead, about her life's work. United Reformed Church Hall, Havant, 1pm, 8.
Sunday, October 4
- Captain Corelli's Mandolin author Louis de Bernires & The Antonius Players will perform music and poetry as seen at the Edinburgh Fringe and Hay-on-Wye. Staunton Country Park, Leigh Park, 7.30pm, 7 (5 for under 25s).
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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