Reading in Reading & Reading Literary Festival

Reading in Reading 28 October – 14 November 2016

28 October - 13 2016 A fortnight of November events on fiction,

A fortnightpoetry of events onmore! fiction, film, football, and film, football, poetry and more!

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Welcome...

We are excited to welcome you to a fortnight of book events in Reading, covering everything from fiction, film and football to history, spoken word, music and much more. Part of Reading 2016 Year of Culture we are celebrating the written word in all its forms, from novels and children’s books to non-fiction and poetry.

We start off at London Street’s historic Olympia Ballroom, which dates back to the 1700s, with a weekend of events from October 28th to October 30th. Local novelists and historians feature alongside speakers from a variety of fields including Tony Robinson, Ian Wright, Susie Dent and Dexter Fletcher. And the Federation of Children’s Book Groups hosts a free children’s event on Roman times at the fitting setting of Reading Museum.

Then from November 4th-13th, the University of Reading presents the Reading Literature Festival at venues across the town, including the Museum of English Rural Life, Waterstones, RISC & Global Cafe and the university itself.

The line-up includes workshops, poetry performances, a film screening and writers including Hollie McNish, Jonathan Coe, Penelope Skinner and Alice Oswald.

Sponsors With thanks to the following for their support of this project: The Olympia Ballroom • The Federation of Children's Book Group Reading Museum • RISC • MERL • Reading University • The Italianist Waterstones • Soundwaves • M&G Forbury Place PAGE 2

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TICKET INFORMATION How do I book tickets?

Reading in Reading events Individual tickets cost £5-7 and weekend tickets for all events cost £20 Book via reading2016.org.uk or 0118 960 6060 Reading Literature Festival events Book via www.store.rdg.ac/ReadingLiteratureFestivalTickets

Will tickets be available on the door?

Yes but only cash payments will be accepted

Reading in Reading Book Festival 2016 At The Olympia Ballroom 75-77 London Street RG1 4QA

Friday 28th October Ian Wright, 7pm £7 From earning 33 England caps to breaking Arsenal’s scoring record – winning the league, the FA Cup and Cup Winners’ Cup in the process – Ian Wright is one of the true stars of the Premiership era. Now found on Match of the Day and Radio 5, Ian kicks off Reading in Reading talking to Bass Culture author Lloyd Bradley about his long-awaited autobiography.

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Saturday 29th October Victorian Supersleuth Investigates: Amelia Dyer 10.30am £5 Reading-based crime writer and historian Angela Buckley takes us back to 1896 when a body discovered in the River Thames at Caversham captures the nation’s attention, as she charts the frantic race by Victorian police to stop the infamous serial killer Amelia Dyer.

Chris Tarrant 12pm £5 A proud son of Reading – and fittingly the longtime host of the Pride of Reading Awards – Chris’ career has ranged from from Tiswas and Capital Radio to Who Wants To Be A Millionaire and his current Channel 5 show Extreme Railway Journeys. Hear him discuss that series’ accompanying book and reflect on four decades of broadcasting.

The Good Immigrant 1.30pm £5 Crowdfunded on Unbound.com and backed by JK Rowling, The Good Immigrant brings together some of the best emerging British black, Asian and minority ethnic writers for 21 essays about race and immigration, by turn poignant, funny, heartbreaking and angry. We are joined by four contributors: actor Vera Chok; Hip-Hop educator Darren Chetty; journalist Varaidzo; and blogger Wei Ming Kam. PAGE 4

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Saturday 29th October FREE FAMILY EVENT Julia Jarman - The Time Travelling Cat and the Roman Eagle 2pm Author Julia Jarman talks about The Time Travelling Cat and the Roman Eagle, a novel inspired by Calleva Atrebatum, the Roman town of Silchester, and artefacts found there, now in Reading Museum.

Sponsored by the Federation of Children’s Book Groups.

Please note this event is held at the Victorian Gallery, Reading Museum, Blagrave Street Susie Dent - Direct from Dictionary Corner 3pm £5 Countdown’s resident lexicographer and adjudicator for over 20 years, Susie studied at Oxford and Princeton before joining the Channel 4 show. Also a regular on 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown and a Radio Times columnist, in her new book Dent’s Modern Tribes she provides a witty guide through the linguistic minefield. Ever wondered why football managers all speak the same way or what cabbies call the Houses of Parliament? Join Susie and former Independent literary editor Arifa Akbar for an entertaining and informative hour.

Julie Cohen & Carol Drinkwater: Book Group 4.30pm £5 Two bestselling novelists discuss their writing. Carol Drinkwater – an awardwinning actress best known for playing Helen Herriot in All Creatures Great & Small – has topped the Kindle Single chart on both sides of the Atlantic and her latest book The Forgotten Summer transports us to a French vineyard. Originally from the US, Julie Cohen now lives in Reading. Her novels have been translated into 15 languages and selected for the Richard & Judy Book Club; her latest, Falling, tells the stories of three generations of women.

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Saturday 29th October Woody Woodmansey – My Life With Bowie 6pm £5 Now the last surviving Spider From Mars, Woody was just 19 when he left Hull to join David Bowie’s backing band. It’s his drum beat on Five Years that opens The Rise & Fall of Ziggy Stardust and playing on Hunky Dory, The Man Who Sold the World and Aladdin Sane means that anyone who’s ever listened to Life On Mars, Jean Genie or Changes has heard him. In his new autobiography Woody gives a unique personal insight into a musical genius at the peak of his powers.

Sunday 30th October Reading in 50 Buildings 12pm £5 Did you know that the Sun Inn on Castle Street was damaged by elephants?

Or that the same man who built Carnegie Hall funded Caversham Library?

Historian Stuart Hylton takes us on a journey around town through the centuries, from Reading Prison and one of England’s oldest schools to Jackson’s and the Oracle. Hear how Henry I paid tribute to his son, find out about the pub where prisoners would stop off for a last drink before their hanging – and much more.

Jane Austen: The Secret Radical - Helena Kelly in conversation with Gill Hornby 1.30pm £5 Almost everything we think we know about Jane Austen is wrong. That is the starting point for a new biography from Helena Kelly, who teaches Austen at Oxford and Bath. She reveals how the Pride & Prejudice author – educated at Reading Ladies Boarding School – bravely took on subjects including femininism, slavery and the power of the church. She joins bestselling novelist and Austen aficionado Gill Hornby.

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Sunday 30th October Dexter Fletcher 3pm £5 From his film debut as Babyface in Bugsy Malone – filmed in Reading 40 years ago – to Sunshine on Leith and Eddie the Eagle cementing his status as one of the most successful and respected British directors, Dexter has quite a career to reflect on. In between he starred in Press Gang, Band of Brothers and Lock, Stock & Two Smoking Barrels.

The Novella Project 4.30pm £5 Newbury-based publisher Holland House is this autumn releasing novellas by five talented young writers, four of whom – Issara Simone Edwards, Kasim, Carly Schabowkski and Connor Wray – join editor and Reading MA student Natasha Robson. With stories ranging science fiction to the letters between a father and son, come hear about this exciting new project.

Tony Robinson - No Cunning Plan 6pm £7 From the original production of Oliver! and Who Dares Wins to Maid Marian and playing Baldrick in Blackadder, Sir Tony is one of our best-loved actors.

He presented Channel 4’s hit archaeology show Time Team for 20 years, has written 16 children’s books and served on Labour’s NEC. As if that wasn’t enough, his new autobiography reveals he was bullied by Steve Marriott, failed to impress Liza Minnelli and was pushed into a stinking London dock by John Wayne.

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Reading in Reading Book Festival 2016 At The Olympia Ballroom Friday 28th October Ian Wright

7pm

£7

Saturday 29th October Victorian Supersleuth Investigates: Amelia Dyer Chris Tarrant The Good Immigrant Susie Dent – Direct from Dictionary Corner Julie Cohen & Carol Drinkwater – Book Group Woody Woodmansey – My Life With Bowie

10.30am 12pm 1.30pm 3pm 4.30pm 6pm

£5 £5 £5 £5 £5 £5

Sunday 30th October Reading in 50 Buildings Jane Austen: The Secret Radical - Helena Kelly with Gill Hornby Dexter Fletcher The Novella Project Tony Robinson - No Cunning Plan

12pm 1.30pm 3pm 4.30pm 6pm

£5 £5 £5 £5 £7

Reading Literature Festival Curated by Reading University Alice Oswald: Gerald Finzi Memorial Lecture L022 Lecture Theatre, London Road Campus, University of Reading

4 Nov 6.30pm

Free

The Garden of the Finzi-Continis film screening The Minghella Building, Whiteknights Campus, University of Reading

7 Nov 7.30pm

£5

Creative Arts Anthology Re-launch Room 106, HumSS Building, Whiteknights Campus, University of Reading

8 Nov 6pm

Free

Penelope Skinner in conversation with Kate Bassett The Minghella Building, Whiteknights Campus , University of Reading,

9 Nov 6.30pm

£5

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Reading Literature Festival Curated by Reading University An evening of performance poetry: Hollie McNish, Dan Simpson and Theresa Lola RISC & Global Cafe, 35-39 London Street, Reading

11 Nov 7pm

£5

A Celebration Of Giorgio Bassani Conference room, Museum of English Rural Life, London Road Campus, University of Reading

12 Nov 7pm

£5

International Poetry Symposium The Victorian Gallery, Reading Museum, Blagrave Street

12 Nov 2pm

£5

Jonathan Coe in conversation with Nicola Wilson Waterstones, 89 Broad Street

12 Nov 7.30pm £5

Children Writing Workshop: Writing Children’s Fiction (Adults) Museum of English Rural Life, London Road Campus, University of Reading

13 Nov 11am

£5

Creative Writing Workshop: Poetry (Adults) Museum of English Rural Life, London Road Campus, University of Reading

13 Nov 11am

£5

Creative Writing Workshop: Playwriting (Adults) Museum of English Rural Life, London Road Campus, University of Reading

13 Nov 11am

£5

Two Rivers Press Museum of English Rural Life, London Road Campus, University of Reading Reading Performance Poets RISC & Global Cafe, 35-39 London Street, Reading

13 Nov 2pm

£5

13 Nov 8pm

£5

Stay connected @Reading2016 @RdgLitFest

/Reading2016 /ReadingLiteratureFestival

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Reading Literature Festival 2016 Alice Oswald: Gerald Finzi Memorial Lecture 4th Nov 6.30pm FREE L022 Lecture Theatre, London Road Campus, University of Reading Critically acclaimed poet Alice Oswald will deliver the annual Gerald Finzi Memorial Lecture and give a reading of her poetry. After the lecture there will be a drinks reception in the Museum of English and Rural Life This annual lecture was established in memory of the composer Gerald Finzi (1911-56), who lived in Newbury and had a close connection with Reading. His extensive collection of English literature is now held in the University’s archive.

The Garden of the Finzi-Continis film screening 7th Nov 7.30pm £5 The Minghella Building, Whiteknights Campus, University of Reading A screening of The Garden of the Finzi-Continis, with an introduction by Dr Charles Leavitt, to celebrate the centenary of the Italian novelist and poet Giorgio Bassani (1916 – 2001). The Garden of the Finzi-Continis (Italian: Il giardino dei Finzi-Contini) is a 1970 Italian film, directed by Vittorio de Sica. It stars Lino Capolicchio, Dominique Sanda and Helmut Berger. The film is based upon Giorgio Bassani’s novel of the same name.

This event is sponsored by the Italianist

Creative Arts Anthology Re-launch 8th Nov 6pm FREE Room 106, HumSS Building, Whiteknights Campus, University of Reading The re-launch of the ninth Creative Arts Anthology 2016 (In my Basket, I Dream) with readings from contributors and a call for submissions for the 2017 edition. In the past, the Anthology has received submissions from University of Reading

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Curated by Reading University - Events Open To All Penelope Skinner in conversation with Kate Bassett 9th Nov 6.30pm £5 The Minghella Building, Whiteknights Campus , University of Reading, Award-winning playwright and screenwriter Penelope Skinner will be in conversation with theatre critic Kate Bassett. Penelope will discuss her theatre work in the UK and US, her film projects, plus what it’s like to write for the Sam Bain and Jesse Armstrong campus-based comedy Fresh Meat.

An evening of performance poetry: Hollie McNish, Dan Simpson and Theresa Lola 11th Nov 7pm £5 RISC & Global Cafe, 35-39 London Street, Reading Hollie McNish headlines this evening of performance poetry with readings by Dan Simpson and Theresa Lola. The event is hosted by Becci Louise.

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Reading Literature Festival 2016 A Celebration Of Giorgio Bassani 12th Nov 10am £5 Conference room, Museum of English Rural Life, London Road Campus, University of Reading An event to celebrate Giorgio Bassani’s (1916-2001) centenary as poet and novelist, involving his translator Jamie McKendrick, Peter Robinson, Daniela La Penna, and Charles Leavitt.

International Poetry Symposium 12th Nov 2pm £5 The Victorian Gallery, Reading Museum, Blagrave Street Join Sudeep Sen, Fleur Adcock, Jamie McKendrick, Justyna Bargielska and her translator Maria Jastrzebska for a discussion and readings of their work. The event will be chaired by Professor Steven Matthews from the Department of English Literature at the University of Reading.

Jonathan Coe in conversation with Nicola Wilson 12th Nov 7pm £5 Waterstones, 89 Broad Street The acclaimed novelist and writer Jonathan Coe in conversation with Nicola Wilson followed by a book signing.

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Curated by Reading University - Events Open To All Children Writing Workshop: Children’s Fiction (Adults) 13th Nov 11am £5 Museum of English Rural Life, London Road Campus, University of Reading Wendy Meddour writes and illustrates award-winning children’s books. She will run a two- hour workshop on writing children’s fiction for adults. This workshop is open to all levels of experience.

Creative Writing Workshop: Poetry (Adults) 13th Nov 11am £5 Museum of English Rural Life, London Road Campus, University of Reading Award-winning poet Conor Carville will run a two-hour workshop on writing poetry. This workshop is open to all levels of experience.

Creative Writing Workshop: Playwriting (Adults) 13th Nov 11am £5 Museum of English Rural Life, London Road Campus, University of Reading Theatre critic and biographer Kate Bassett will run a two-hour workshop on playwriting. This workshop is open to all levels of experience.

Two Rivers Press 13th Nov 2pm £5 Museum of English Rural Life, London Road Two Rivers Press is a local poetry publishing house. Readings by Two Rivers Press poets who have books published this year: Kate Behrens, Claire Dyer, Gill Learner and Mairi MacInnes.

Reading’s Performance Poets 13th Nov 8pm £5 RISC & Global Cafe, 35-39 London Street, Reading An evening of performance poetry, showcasing local writers and celebrating Reading’s thriving spoken word scene. Poets include Holly Hambrook and Becci Louise.

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Programme directors Tom Ryan, Reading in Reading Book Festival @atomryan In addition to programming the Audience With events for Reading Year of Culture, Tom has produced events for the Henley Literary Festival, London Press Club and the Daily Mail group with speakers ranging from the Archbishop of York and Graham Nash to Princess Michael of Kent and Irvine Welsh.

Sam Morrish, Reading Literature Festival @sammorrish86 Sam Morrish is the Director of Reading Literature Festival 2016 and is a doctoral researcher at the University of Reading. The University’s Centre for Collections-Based Research and the Department of English Literature fund her PhD on ‘the Group’ in relation to BBC Radio and the collective’s influence on creative writing workshops in higher education.

Sarah Stuffins, Federation of Children’s Book Group Sarah has been involved with the FCBG for more than 10 years now, since meeting members of the Exec at the Hay Festival in 2004 which led to us setting up the Reading CBG.

TICKET INFORMATION How do I book tickets?

Reading in Reading events Individual tickets cost £5-7 and weekend tickets for all events cost £20 Book via reading2016.org.uk or 0118 960 6060 Reading Literature Festival events Book via www.store.rdg.ac/ReadingLiteratureFestivalTickets

Will tickets be available on the door?

Yes but only cash payments will be accepted PAGE 14

BOOK ONLINE ATFESTIVAL WWW.READING2016.ORG.UK READING IN READING BOOK 2016

WWW.READING2016.ORG.UK

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Light Reading will shine a light on our town for all to enjoy 1 – 17 December 2016

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READING IN READING BOOK FESTIVAL 2016