2016 SAMPLE EVENTS This a flavour of the events we have already lined up, and there will be many more being confirmed in the weeks to come. We’d love to know what you’re interested in — please do talk to us as we programme more events. A key to the cost of sponsorship is on the reverse. Henry Normal The enfant terrible of British TV & film comedy – writer of Gavin and Stacey, The Royle Family, The Mrs Merton Show to name but a few - returns to his first passion of poetry with a bang, and the publication of his new Collected Poems. Jackie Kay & Kit de Waal
My Name is Leon is the hotly-tipped debut from Birmingham-based writer Kit de Waal. Set in Birmingham in the early 80s, it’s the story of two brothers, white Jake and mixed-race Leon, who are separated in foster care. Kit will be in conversation with award-winning poet and fiction writer Jackie Kay. Lynsey Hanley & Sathnam Sanghera Lynsey Hanley’s new book Respectable is a reflection on the psychological impact of social mobility. Her first book, Estates, drew on her upbringing on the edges of Birmingham in one of the largest council estates in Europe, Chelmsley Wood. She will be in conversation with Sathnam Sanghera, journalist and author of Marriage Material: A Novel and The Boy With The Topknot: A Memoir of Love, Secrets and Lies in Wolverhampton. Diego Marani Diego Marani is a celebrated Italian novelist, translator, and journalist, and the creator of the mock language, Europanto, made up of every European language but without rules or grammar. He will be talking about his latest book, The Intepreter. Beyond the Water’s Edge Voices from around the world, distilled into poetry in this unique theatre performance. A captivating series of portraits presented through the words of some of the world’s best poets.
2016 SAMPLE EVENTS Jean ‘Binta’ Breeze Jean 'Binta' Breeze is a poet of international renown. Born in Jamaica, she is the author of eight books of poems and stories, including Riddim Ravings and other poems, On the Edge of An Island, The Fifth Figure and Third World Girl: Selected Poems. Her new book, The Verandah Poems is out this year.
Speechless Speechless is a debate between speakers of opposing views about the value of oratory in contemporary public life. In a world of Snapchat and Twitter, does a speech still hold the power to persuade? Or can an equally compelling argument be made in 140 characters? Utopias This panel event looks at Birmingham’s own Utopia, George Cadbury’s model village of Bournville, designed over 100 years ago as a worker’s paradise. But can utopias survive the pressures of a modern world? We bring together writers and social historians to discuss and debate. The Working Lunch What does “work” mean in modern times? Are we working all the time, or less than ever? Does modern technology make it easier, or mean that we can never switch off? Join us for a series of lunch events through a working week (10th14th October), led by writers with a distinctive take on contemporary working life. Invited participants include academics working in the field, novelists and journalists. There are many other opportunities connected with the Festival for sponsorship; please see the Sponsors’ Preview document for further details, or contact Emma Boniwell emma@writingwestmidlands.org to discuss further. £500—£1,000
£1,000—£1,500 All events are subject to change.
£1,500-£2,000