Arts & Culture
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Over the course of a year of research, Pictured: Trio Literati Photo - Lloyd Spencer
the most extraordinary true stories have come to light
t’s hard to believe that Headingley LitFest is now in its seventh year! Run entirely by volunteers, once again it has lined up a fantastic programme of events from 10th March – 7th April. These will take place at a variety of venues around Headingley, including HEART, New Headingley Club, Headingley Library, Oxfam, Mint Café, Café Lento, The Bowery, The Chemic, Cottage Road Cinema and Hyde Park Picture House. The central theme this year is ‘Survival’ – to mark the 100th anniversary of the start of WWI and tie in with the launch of the book based on the true stories connected with the wartime hospital at Beckett Park, compiled by Richard Wilcocks, Secretary of the LitFest. “Over the course of a year of research, the most extraordinary true stories have come to light”, said Richard. “Practically all of these have come from descendants who have read the appeals for
The central theme this year is Survival
information in the press and online. I discovered one of them by interviewing a wonderful man in his nineties!” The book will be launched on 21st March at the New Headingley Club, followed by a performance by Leeds Met Performing Arts students, who now occupy the buildings where wounded soldiers were treated. Jo Shapcott headlines the festival. Twice winner of the National Poetry Competition, her most recent collection Of Mutability (2010) won the Costa Book Award, and in 2011 she was awarded the Queen’s Gold Medal for Poetry. Emily Mayhew will talk about her new work, Wounded – From Battlefield to Blighty. This is the first comprehensive account of medical care at the Western Front, and is full of personal stories that are both gripping and moving.
LitFest veterans Trio Literati have put together a tribute to the Victorian poet Tennyson, which they describe as ‘a rich garland’ in ‘Now Sleeps the Crimson Petal’. Local authors Alison Taft and Sarah Shafi are also here – Alison to talk about her recent crime novel, Shallow Be Thy Grave and Sarah to read from the latest in her Ridiculous Witches series. New work will also feature in Extraordinary Stories at Café Lento, at the Words on Tap evening at The Chemic, organised by poet Matthew Hedley-Stoppard, and when Leeds Writers read their own material on 17th March. Of course, older literature has not been neglected: Richard Brown will talk about Rebecca West and literary modernism, and there is an invitation to a Dinner Date with Dante at Salvo’s Salumeria. It is a packed programme, so be sure to pick up a programme from HEART, the Library, or various venues and plan out what you want to see. Bear in mind that all venues have limited capacity, so be sure to book. Tickets are available from www.heartcentre. org.uk/whats-on/litfest The whole programme can be found at www.litfestprogramme. blogspot.com