Words in the Park 2012

Words Park a literature festival at Opera Holland Park 18 - 20 May 2012 www.wayswithwords.co.uk

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Welcome to the first ever Words in the Park literature festival Ways With Words has run festivals of words and ideas across the UK for over 20 years and now we are delighted to bring our combination of beautiful natural settings with great minds to the magnificent canopy of Opera Holland Park.

INTRODUCTION

We can’t think of anywhere we would rather be in early summer than right in the heart of one of London’s most stunning and historic parks.

We hope you find lots to enjoy in our inaugural 3-day programme packed full of contrasting events to entertain, inspire and stimulate. Spend the weekend with us enjoying good food and drink, book signings and even some surprise appearances along the way.

A warm thank you to our sponsors Google, Winton Capital and Waterstones for their generous support.

Festival Directors: Chloe Bar-Kar, Videl Bar-Kar, Kay Dunbar, Stephen Bristow

Official Bookselling Partner

Online Partner

John McCarthy & Sandi Toksvig

John Bercow & Prof. Matthew Flinders

FRIDAY 18 MAY

Sophie Dahl & Mary McCartney

12.45pm £12 Food Glorious Food United by a passion for food, Sophie Dahl, known to many through her bestselling cookbooks and BBC 2 series, ‘The Delicious Miss Dahl’, will be in conversation with photographer and author of ‘Food’, Mary McCartney. Hear two extraordinary women discuss their love of food and the influences that have inspired them.

Maureen Lipman

2.30pm £12 I Must Collect Myself Much-loved actress and author Maureen Lipman has the knack of making the everyday supremely entertaining. Encounters in the street, at the hairdresser, in the dressing room, on her travels, indeed wherever she goes, are sharply observed and joyful. Come and hear more of her stories.

Defending Politics: Why Democracy Matters in the 21st Century

Sophie Dahl © Mary McCartney

11am £12 Palestine and Beyond Journalist John McCarthy and broadcaster Sandi Toksvig have circumnavigated the British Isles together, co-presented Radio 4’s ‘Excess Baggage’ and developed a lasting friendship. After five years held hostage in Lebanon, John McCarthy has returned to the Middle East. They discuss his journey today.

4.15pm £12 Around the world opinion polls generally suggest that the public have become disillusioned with democratic politics and hostile towards politicians. The 21st century has become associated with the rise of ‘disaffected democrats’ in some parts of the world and (paradoxically) with pro-democratic revolt and rebellion in the Arab Spring. It is against this strange backdrop that Professor Matthew Flinders (Univ. of Sheffield) and John Bercow (Speaker of the House of Commons), seek to explore why politics matters.

A.S. Byatt

In conversation with the New Statesman

6pm £12 Join Booker Prize-winning author, A.S. Byatt in conversation with Jonathan Derbyshire, Culture Editor of the New Statesman. A.S. Byatt’s novels include ‘Possession’, ‘Angels and Insects’ and ‘The Children’s Book’. Enjoy this opportunity to hear more from one of our most imaginative and enquiring literary minds. in association with

Google Key Note Debate

Internet: Breaking Down the Barriers of Establishment

7.45pm £12 John Kampfner chairs a debate on power and the internet: ex-Wikileaker Daniel Domscheit-Berg, journalist and author Nick Cohen and international editor of Channel 4 News, Lindsey Hilsum discuss how the internet has changed existing power structures worldwide and is enabling grassroots activism as never before.

Online Partner

Jeremy Paxman

What Empire did for Britain 11am £12 Acclaimed journalist and BBC ‘Newsnight’ presenter Jeremy Paxman is also the best selling author of ‘The English’, ‘The Victorians’ and ‘On Royalty’. His latest book, ‘Empire’ – also a major new BBC TV series – shines a probing light on the enduring effect of the colonial spirit on modern Britain. Come and hear his fascinating investigation.

Bettany Hughes

12.45pm £12 Socrates and the Good Life We think the way we do because Socrates thought the way he did. His aphorism ‘The unexamined life is not worth living’ resonates with us still. Bettany Hughes, passionate television presenter and author, explains his relevance today, illuminating his time and place along the way.

SATURDAY 19 MAY

Gavin Pretor-Pinney Looking at Clouds

2.30pm £12 Author and founder of the Cloud Appreciation Society, Gavin Pretor-Pinney’s ‘Cloudspotter’s Guide’ has been called ‘the most entertaining textbook ever written’.

Now he encourages us to spend more time looking skywards to discover the beauty, fascination and meaning of clouds: from history to science via art and pop culture.

Sponsored by Winton Capital

Alain de Botton

4.15pm £12 Religion for Atheists Philosopher and best-selling author of ‘Essays in Love’ and ‘The Architecture of Happiness’, Alain de Botton is a life long atheist. In his latest book, ‘Religion for Atheists’, he argues that secular society needs to learn from religion if it is to realise its full potential. Hear him make his case.

Gavin Pretor-Pinney was the 2011 winner of the Royal Society Winton Prize for Science Books.

Jung Chang

Wild Swans: 21 Years On 6pm £12 The publication of ‘Wild Swans’ in 1991 was a global phenomenon. This year, Jung Chang’s moving account of three generations of women and the turmoil of 20th century China celebrates its coming of age. This much-loved and admired author talks to Maya Jaggi, the award-winning cultural journalist and critic, about her life and work.

Globe Trotter 11am £12 A.A. Gill’s acerbic and hilarious views often cause controversy and have led to feuds with everyone from Gordon Ramsay to the entire population of Wales. He discusses his travels around the world as he seeks to unlock the personality of place from Sudan to California.

Evan Davis

12.45pm £12 How Britain Earns its Living Presenter of BBC Radio 4’s ‘Today’ programme and BBC 2’s ‘Dragons’ Den’ series, Evan Davis traces the evolution of British industry from the birth of manufacturing through to today’s ideas based economy. What can we export? Could we manufacture more? Homegrown talent vs. foreign investment? He reveals his findings with authority and verve.

P.D. James & Penelope Lively Writers’ Lives

2.30pm £12 One of our best-loved crime novelists, P.D. James will discuss bringing murder to Jane Austin in her new novel, ‘Death Comes to Pemberley’, with her friend and fellow writer, the Booker prize-winning novelist, Penelope Lively. Penelope Lively’s 22nd novel, ‘How It All Began’, has been published to great acclaim this year.

Tony Benn

4.15pm £12 Looking to the Future Discussing everything from the Middle East to the NHS, war and open democracy, Tony Benn will reflect on what he has learned during a lifetime of political activism as expressed in his latest book, ‘Letters To My Grandchildren’. He talks to Owen Jones, author of ‘Chavs: The Demonization of the Working Class’ about the challenges facing the next generation.

Andrew Marr

in association with

Elizabeth II: A Life Examined 6pm £12 In her Diamond Jubilee year, BBC broadcaster and historian Andrew Marr, has gained unprecedented insight from public figures, as well as members of the royal family, into Britain’s second-longest reining monarch, Elizabeth II. As Jubilee fever rises in London, Andrew Marr presents a truly authoritative account of our monarch and our times.

SUNDAY 20 MAY

A.A. Gill

BOOKING & OTHER DETAILS

Booking via the Opera Holland Park box office opens Tuesday 10 April • TICKET PRICES All tickets for individual events cost £12 each and day tickets cost £50, which cover all the day’s events.

• VIA WEBSITE www.operahollandpark.com • BY PHONE Tel: 0300 999 1000 (NB. Tickets are not for sale from Ways With Words) • IN PERSON The box office is open Monday to Friday (1pm – 6pm) to personal callers from Monday 30 April and daily (10am – 6pm) during the festival itself. It is situated by the Park office in the Old Stable Block to the west of Holland House and the theatre.

• TICKET DELIVERY All tickets purchased more than 5 working days prior to the event will be posted. Tickets purchased less than 5 working days will be held in your name at the main theatre entrance.

You will need to present a valid ID to pick up your tickets.

• CHARGES There is a £1.20 administration fee per transaction for all telephone and online bookings, plus an additional £1.00 booking fee per ticket for online bookings (charged by Tickets.com).

There are no fees when booking in person and paying by cash or cheque.

• ACCESSIBILITY Please advise the box office when booking tickets, as there is a special allocation for wheelchair users. The theatre also is equipped with an induction loop for the hard of hearing.

• TERMS & CONDITIONS Ways With Words Ltd reserves the right to substitute speakers and vary the advertised programme if necessary. All information is correct at the time of going to press.

Please refer to our website www. wayswithwords.co.uk for full details of our policy on cancellations, ticket refunds and exchanges, and on lost tickets.

DIRECTIONS Holland Park Theatre is situated in the middle of Holland Park, London W8 6LU. Entrance to the park is via Kensington High Street, Ilchester Place Gate, Abbotsbury Road or from Holland Walk and Holland Park Avenue.

By public transport: the nearest tube stations are High Street Kensington and Holland Park (10 and 15 minutes walk from the festival respectively).

There are many buses that run along Kensington High Street and Holland Park Avenue.

By car: the nearest car park is within the Abbotsbury Road entrance to the park. Holland Park Theatre is not in the congestion charge zone.

THANK YOU TO: All our publishers and authors, our generous sponsors Google, Winton Capital and Waterstones; our media partner the New Statesman; Michael Volpe, James Clutton and the Opera Holland Park team; Kensington Central Library; our capable chairs; our committed and enthusiastic team of volunteers and everyone at Ways With Words.

Accommodation Why not make a weekend of it?

We are proud to have partnered with one of Kensington’s finest hotels, The Royal Garden Hotel, who are offering 5 star luxury at special rates for the festival. The hotel lies just ten minutes from Holland Park and rates start from £180 per night (single occupancy) and £215 per night (double occupancy) including VAT and breakfast.

To book please call the hotel direct on 0207 937 8000 and quote ‘WAYS WITH WORDS’.

For further information about the hotel and cancellation policy visit www.royalgardenhotel.co.uk Rooms are subject to availability.

Ways With Words has over 20 years experience running some of the UK’s most distinguished and best loved festivals – discover more about our festivals at: www.wayswithwords.co.uk or phone 01803 867373 Beyond festivals . . .

Holiday Courses with Ways With Words

Dartington’s medieval courtyard and extensive gardens provide a captivating setting for this stylish festival of words and ideas. Visitors can buy tickets for individual events or stay on-site on one of a number of packages that include all tickets and accommodation.

This year Michael Palin will be giving the opening talk.

Programme available May 2012

Be Creative, Be Imaginative, Be Thoughtful –

or just have a good rest at

Ways With Words Southwold Literature Festival St. Edmund’s Hall, Southwold, Suffolk 8 – 12 November 2012

Villa Pia, Umbria, Italy Writing, Reading, Art and Discussion Workshops Week 1 : 22 – 29 Sept. 2012 Week 2 : 29 Sept. – 6 Oct. 2012

Fingals, Dittisham, Devon Writing and Photography Course 13 – 18 May 2012

Tutors: Blake Morrison (wk1) Helena Drysdale (wk2) Mary Knott (art)

Tutors: Mark McCrum Kate Mount (photography)

The charming seaside resort of Southwold with its beach huts, inland lighthouse and fishing harbour is an enticing venue for this immensely popular festival run in conjunction with Adnams’ hotels.

Programme available August 2012 Words by the Water Festival of Words and Ideas Theatre by the Lake, Keswick, Cumbria 1 – 10 March 2013 Theatre by the Lake, sited on the edge of Derwentwater, is a striking venue for a spring programme of talks, discussions, workshops and special exhibitions.

Programme available January 2013

Both places have a swimming pool, inspiring landscapes, lovely local walks and delicious food.

All abilities are catered for. All activities are optional.

WAYS WITH WORDS’ YEAR

The Telegraph Ways With Words Festival of Words and Ideas Dartington Hall, Dartington, Devon 6 – 15 July 2012

John McCarthy Sandi Toksvig Sophie Dahl Mary McCartney Maureen Lipman Mary Quant A.S. Byatt John Kampfner Daniel Domscheit-Berg Jeremy Paxman Bettany Hughes Gavin Pretor-Pinney Alain de Botton Jung Chang A.A. Gill Evan Davis P.D. James Penelope Lively Tony Benn Owen Jones Andrew Marr

facebook.com/wayswithwords @Ways_With_Words #witp2012

Tickets 0300 999 1000 www.operahollandpark.com Information & Mailing List www.wayswithwords.co.uk

In memory of Traudi Rathai (1954-2008)