Free Activities at Cheltenham Literature Festival 2018

MONTP ELLIER WALK

The Den Colour, stick, cut, build, imagine and create your own fantastic dragons and decorations with Creation Station. Arty activities for ages 4–12 and their families.

The Woodland Trust Wild Wood

The Nook Drinking Water The Inkpot

The Woodland Trust Wild Wood

Waterstones Bookshop The Huddle

The Bookstand The Times Literary Supplement

Bonne Maman

Box Office John Lewis Nyetimber Bus

For a detailed schedule and more information visit cheltenhamfestivals.com/literature

Character Meet And Greet

Sat 6 & Sun 14 October

Find out how two young dragons find their way home with storyteller Lucy Walters.

Sun 7 October

Go on an imaginative adventure with actor Sophie Lanciano through grass, forests, water, mud and even snow to meet a big friendly bear.

Enjoy Dragon Stories and draw–a–long with author and illustrator Shoo Rayner.

Sharky And George

Sat 13 October

An epic mix of high energy games, races and competitions for all the family to join in.

Improvised, immersive, interactive storytelling with Wilf Merttens.

Drinking Water

Street Food Picnic Area

The Gardens Gallery The Daffodil

MONTPELLIER TERRACE 5–14 October 2018

Waterstones Children’s Bookshop Especially for the Festival’s smallest visitors, our Waterstones Children’s Bookshop invites you discover and rediscover the works from all your favourite children’s writers and illustrators – meet your hero at a signing or be entertained at one of our regular storytimes.

The Chatterbox

Box Office 01242 850270 cheltenhamfestivals.com @cheltlitfest

The Huddle Whether you’re after stimulating talks or great entertainment, you’ll find a host of free events in The Huddle in our Feast Café. Continue those thought–provoking discussions, test your knowledge with The Times crossword, enjoy locally sourced music or readings and join experts for concise and mind–expanding talks in our Very Short Introduction To… series.

5–8 October, 10–11.30am

Haiku Walk with Paul Conneally

Daily, 11am–3pm

Pop in and make an origami chatterbox, hang a leaf on our Tree of Hopes and Dreams and have fun coming up with ideas and answers to our curious questions – just bring your imagination!

Dancing Through The Rain

Beano Challenge Trail Celebrate 80 years of the Beano comic by following our poster trail across site with fun activities to do along the way. Pick up a trail sheet from the Beano Challenge Trail tent.

The Sunday Times Garden Theatre

Playground Skate Park

Meet favourite book characters Little Miss Inventor, The Gruffalo, Cat in the Hat and The Tiger Who Came to Tea.

Storytelling

Festival Bar

Whittard of Chelsea

Main Entrance

Visit the Woodland Trust Wild Wood Trailer for games, activities and more, or take part in one of the many fun events for all the family.

We’re Going On A Bear Hunt

The Times Forum

Feast Café

Waterstones Children’s Bookshop

The Chatterbox

11am–4pm

In Association With Cunard

Beano Challenge Trail

The Den

6–7 & 13–14 October

VIP Lounge

Buggy Park

5–14 October 2018

6–7 & 13–14 October, 10am–4pm

The Hive

Box Office 01242 850270 cheltenhamfestivals.com @cheltlitfest

For full details visit cheltenhamfestivals.com/literature

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Picnic Area

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EVENTS INSIDE

As well as our packed programme of events, there’s plenty more to discover for all ages in our Festival Village – and for FREE!

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...around town

FREE ACTIVITIES IN THE FESTIVAL VILLAGE

Cheltenham Ladies’ College, Parabola Arts Centre and Hotel du Vin

No.131, Cheltenham Town Hall, Baillie Gifford Stage, Town Centre, House of Fraser, Bottle of Sauce, Lit Crawl …around town

brought to you by Cheltenham BID

Welcome to The Times and The Sunday Times Cheltenham Literature Festival

Come along to the Huddle for an exhibition of poetry and photography from students participating in Beyond Words, a Cheltenham Festivals outreach programme.

Students are from Gloucestershire Hospital Education Service and the University of Gloucestershire.

Gardens Gallery An exciting exhibition of contemporary designer–makers from The Gloucestershire Guild of Craftsmen.

With daily demonstrations including bookbinding and calligraphy.

For more information visit gardensgallery.co.uk or guildcrafts.org.uk

The Times Literary Supplement

Meet at The Bookstand FREE ticket required visit cheltenhamfestivals.com or Box Office in the Festival Village

The Bookstand Take a break and grab a book in our cosy outdoor lounge in the middle of the Festival Village. Read the morning paper, swap some books or get a front row seat for free pop–up performances throughout the Festival.

The great Japanese haiku master Bashō said ‘to know of the pine go to the pine’ and it’s in this spirit, as part of our ‘East Meets West’ Festival theme, that Paul Conneally, our Haiku Poet in Residence, invites you to walk, write and share haiku with him on a Ginko (a Haiku walk) in our very own Montpellier Gardens. In groups of up to 15 you’ll stroll with Paul, listen to and learn about the haiku and gather inspiration for trying writing your own back in the comfort of the café. Suitable for those new to haiku or experts, young writers to old!

Pick up your FREE copy of the special Festival edition of The Times Literary Supplement in the Festival Village.

Artwork Credits Adult programme illustration by Sarah Gullen Family programme illustration by Matt Carr

A Beano Studios Product. © D.C. Thomson & Co., Ltd 2018.

Charity No. 251765

FREE

EVENTS INSIDE

Guide To Free Activities

Koj GL50 1HE

In honour of our East Meets West Festival theme, stop by Japanese restaurant Koj for a special Japan–inspired session. Enjoy a shot of sake, take away a haiku from our Haiku Poet in Residence, Paul Conneally, or have a go at writing your own, and try some calligraphy with Yoko Takenami.

5–7pm

Lives Of Colour 4

Aquavitae GL50 1HE

It Must Have Been Dark By Then 7

The Stable GL50 3NX

It Must Have Been Dark by Then is a book and audio experience that uses a mixture of evocative music, narration and field recording to bring you stories of changing environments. Unlike many audio guides, there is no pre–set route, the software builds a unique map for each person’s experience and it’s up to you to choose your own path through the town.

Just bring your phone and yourself. We’ll provide headphones and the book.

TO BOOK A TABLE CALL US ON 01242 221 212

Sign Up from 7pm, Readings from 7.30pm

You Heard It Here First 16

The Sober Parrot GL50 3PR

Our popular Festival open–mic night joins the Crawl for the first time! Poetry or prose, bring along a five minute excerpt of your work to perform. Hosted by Caroline Sanderson.

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Christopher Bliss

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8.15–9.15pm

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Into innuendo? Dabble rac e the Lit Fest stage last Pundemonium! LIVE stormed year with their night of competitive wordplay. Join them on the Crawl for a special taster session of the main show in this team version, Pundemonium: The Pub Quiz.

d Christopher Bliss writes two to three novels a day.

He’s fairly well known amongst his family and friends, and he’s pretty sure he’s the best writer in his village. One of the Edinburgh Festival’s ‘hidden treasures’ (Fest), Rob Carter brings his loveable character to Cheltenham for the very first time.

7–8pm

Dementia Voices Formal House GL50 3PN

Over a half a million people in the UK are living with a dementia diagnosis. Join Emma Healey, author of the phenomenally successful Elizabeth is Missing; Rod Griffiths, a retired doctor and writer of novels and short stories and psychologist and artist Lois Parker for a moving session of stories, short movies and discussion.

7.30–9pm

Prizes And Prejudice Boston Tea Party GL50 3JS

Can you tell your Austen heroines apart? Do you know what went down in Wonderland? How many Little Women can you name? Come and test your knowledge of the classics in an irreverent but affectionate quiz for book lovers.

‘Consistently pant–wettingly funny’ Fest

‘This is how character comedy should be done’ CHORTLE

Snug

8–9pm

Ben Cipolla

A Wiltshire–based singer–songwriter whose seamless time–signature hopping and intoxicating guitar technique has seen him go from street busking to the airwaves of BBC Radio 2.

8–10pm

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The Bottle of Sauce GL50 3LH

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documentary, the filmmakers investigate why storytelling is essential for Keret’s survival.

Drop by for a special screening (67mins) and refuel over a coffee.

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In his short stories, Israeli writer Etgar Keret

Smixes uffo fantasy and reality. His own life story also lk Rd comes across as a modern fairy tale. In this hybrid

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The Old Fire Station GL50 3PU

Staff and students from University of Gloucestershire’s Creative Writing Department deliver flash fictions full of love, laughter, existential crisis and loss.

7.15–8.15pm

The Pink House 19

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Book Stall

Drop by our lovely Waterstones bookseller’s stall and pick up the books you’ve being hearing from throughout the Crawl.

Foyer

8–10pm

Poet For Hire

Typewriters at the ready! Give our Poets for Hire a title and the poets will write you a poem while you wait.

Dining Room

8.30–9.30pm

What If You Couldn’t Polari ‘I Love You’?

Th irle from a mix of theatrical, naval, gypsy and Derived sta other subcultures, Polari became a way of LGBT folks ine Rd connecting, undercover and undetected. But it’s time Polari had the spotlight: we’ll learn some lingo, have a quick go at conversational Polari and try out some writing exploring our favourite Polari phrases. Well varder her with her bona Polari, eh?

9–10pm

Canteen/Main Stage

Rosy Carrick, Luke Wright And Hera Lindsay Bird

Between them they’ve garnered praise from Patti Smith, Carol Anne Duffy and John Cooper Clarke.

Time to see why! Join three of the hottest and most accomplished performers on the scene for a lively finale of poetry and spoken word.

Rd5: FROM 10PM PHASE on t ng di r u until late 10pm Sh

After Party @ The Bottle of Sauce 5 Mics are an acapella beatbox, hip–hop group consisting of rappers JPDL and Griz–O, beatboxers TMS and Sheps, and singer Grove. They bring an electrifying, adrenaline fuelled performance, fusing soul, hip–hop, UKG, dancehall and much more with potent rap and soulful melodies. We promise you won’t stand still.

Bostin Brass Band Time to get your dancing on with Birmingham’s very own second–line, jazz, funk & ska

From 7–8pm

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Join Moth Sanctuary Productions in celebrating 200 years of Mary Shelley’s masterpiece as they revive and re–imagine Frankenstein. By adapting the story into a dance and spoken word piece and gender swapping the central roles, they’ll show how the timeless themes of the novel take on new meaning when presented from the perspective of a woman.

…around town and Lit Crawl supporters:

Lit Crawl Cheltenham is a project of The Times and The Sunday Times Cheltenham Literature Festival and the Litquake Foundation.

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Join us and tuck in to a seasonal lunch or supper over the Literature Festival.

Chapel Arts GL50 3QQ

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You can download the app in advance at cheltenhamfestivals.com/litcrawl

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BOTTLE OF SAUCE TAKEOVER

‘One of the best character shows we’ve seen for a long time’ Comedy.co.uk

Frankenstein: New Skin

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Leckha

Lives of Colour celebrate difference by giving a platform for people from all ethnicities and social economic backgrounds to share their story. Join them for music and spoken word and delicious East African food (by donation) to fuel up for your night on the Crawl.

5pm until late

Regent Arcade

PHASE 4: FROM 8PM

Montpellier 8–9pm Canteen MONTPELLIER Rotunda

PHASE 3: FROM 7PM Short rolling performances from 7pm until late

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People based in Cheltenham, who have experience of being homeless and vulnerably housed, share their stories. Listen through headphones and meet the people who are are involved in the (UN)HEARD project with The Everyman Theatre and P3. Funded by Commissioners Fund.

Join Cheltenham Poetry Festival director Anna Saunders and acclaimed spoken word artists and Rd poets including leyDavid Clarke, Adam Horovitz her and rapper Hat JPDL in the atmospheric setting of Cheltenham’s Holst Birthplace Museum for a poetic journey around the solar system. 9 rooms. 9 poets – each responding to a different planet in turn.

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Kindness & Co. GL50 3JS

Forbidden desire, spicy romance, pure greed!

Join Chloe of the Midnight Storytellers for a feel–good assortment of lightly spiced stories.

From passionate porcelain to dangerous delights, plus the Japanese strip tease that saved the world. No scripts, no books – this is live, hot off the tongue story cabaret. Naughty but never blue!

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Various Locations; Starts at Everyman Theatre GL50 1HQ 6

Tales Of Lust And Chocolate 14

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Neptune’s Fountain

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UN(HEARD) Listening Stations

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The Unsung

5–7pm

5pm until late

The Holst Museum GL52 2AY

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6–7pm

6.15–7.30pm Rd

From 6pmd 11

‘Have no fear, whatever the quality of the straw, Versability will spin it into gold..’ Drop by The Versability Shop’s wordsmiths and give them a few words or a theme and you’ll leave with a poem written especially for you.

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SATURDAY 6 OCTOBER, FROM 5PM

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Having won the best spoken word show at 2017 Buxton Fringe Festival, The Unsung by Genevieve Carter is a cross–over piece of new writing combining poetry, music and theatre. Described as ‘the funeral party for all the dead musicians you’ve never heard of’, it is a tribute to the unsung heroes who lost their lives for music, from Radiohead’s drum technician to Prokofiev’s wife.

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Poetry And The Planets

5–6pm

The Unsung

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Inside Bletchley Park, a little known team of women are recruited to break enemy codes.

Double agents are planting false information, but do the Germans believe their lies? The only way to know is to break the code. Come and see scenes from Secrets, Lies and Spies, a play based on the true story of two women who worked at Bletchley Park.

Shirley Halse from The Wilson Arts Collective has condensed three years’ worth of the BA English Literature curriculum down to a far more efficient one hour course. We will zip from Old English through the centuries up to today, checking in with needy Sidney, catty Dryden, loved–up Keats, moody Larkin and many more. No essays required.

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The Old Courthouse GL50 1ND

Kindness & Co. GL50 3JS

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Burning Eye are to spoken word what City Lights were to the Beat Generation: indispensable champions of a literary movement that is changing the world of poetry. Editor Bridget Hart hosts a powerful showcase of poetry and spoken word from Carys Hannah, Isadora Vibes and Sam Boarer.

Secrets, Lies And Spies

The Wilson Café GL50 3JT

The Versability Shop

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Y EC The shop where INJohn Lennon cried. The shop L owner who NEsold his house to buy more vinyl. The UR a customer drove a world famous band shopOwhere B to Ytheir gig in his Ford Focus. Independent record NE HO shops and the people within them hold fascinating stories. Join music writer Graham Jones who has spent 32 years touring record shops – including Cheltenham’s own legendary Badlands – for an hour of tales and anecdotes from behind the stacks.

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Waterstones GL50 1LE

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The Reduced Literature Degree

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When the Festival Village winds down, the Festival Club fires up. Join us after hours at the Hotel du Vin for music, conversation and late night literary revelry. You never know who you’ll end up rubbing shoulders with…

5–6pm

Cheltenham Train Station

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Bus and Coach Station

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6–7pm

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Get ready for a fast–paced evening of comedy, readings, performances and parties in the hottest venues across town.

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For more details visit cheltenhamfestivals.com/litcrawl

FESTIVAL CLUB @ HOTEL DU VIN

Flashers’ Club is an open mic event featuring St Georges Rd writers reading flash fiction. No submissions, no genre restrictions. Just bring your story (100–1000 words), sign up on the night and the mic is yours.

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Lit Crawl returns! Charging into its third year, Cheltenham’s streets, bars and bookshops will once again burst at the seams with quirky literary happenings. All un–ticketed and all completely FREE.

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Smokey Joes GL50 4ED

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The Brewery Quarter

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This is literature done differently. Join us and get drunk on words.

Friday 5–Saturday 6 & Friday 12–Saturday 13 10pm–1am

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Grab a trail sheet from any of the participating venues or the Beano Challenge Trail tent in the Festival Village to take part. For more details visit cheltenhamfestivals.com

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Get creative and draw your idea of what our monster might look like and read the monstrous stories on our website.

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Hello Monster Hunters! Follow our Monster Story Trail around Cheltenham’s shops, cafes and other venues and collect the clues to reveal the name of the Cheltenham Festivals’ monster. There are ten giant monster story book covers to find, created by young writers and illustrators from ten local Primary Schools.

Cheltenham Library GL50 3JT

As darkness falls across the streets of Cheltenham, join horror expert and M.R. James scholar Darryl Jones for a selection of ghostly tales performed from the library steps.

Saturday 6 October 5pm ‘til late

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Ghostly Tales

brought to you by Cheltenham BID

Daily, 11am–3pm

From 6pm

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MONSTER STORY TRAIL

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PHASE 2: FROM 6PM

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The Times and The Sunday Times Cheltenham Literature Festival

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Formal House

Music from The Pink House, aka Jojo, a guitarist and vocalist who specialises in alternative rock and soul.

soul stew!

DJ Echo Juliet (aka Emily Jones) spins dancefloor–filling funk, soul and disco alongside feel–good afro and latin beats. Hailing from Birmingham, she’s an all–rounder, DJing regularly in Brum’s various venues, crafting mixes for the world’s most popular jazz website All About Jazz and programming a jazz festival.

Other great events @ The Bottle of Sauce The Alternative Book Club (Wed 10 Oct, 7.30pm) and Hammer & Tongue presenting the all new Cheltenham all stars poetry slam with special guest Simon Munnery (Thurs 11 Oct, 7.30pm).

Visit dodopubs.com/locations/the–bottle–of–sauce to find out more.

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