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Home , Great Lives, Rory Bremner

WINTER 20th to 22nd November 2020

Dame Hilary Mantel Margaret Heffernan Roger McGough Claire Wilcox Iain Dale Charles Spencer Duncan Preston Michael Taylor Rory Bremner Margaret MacMillan Jasper Rees PLUS MORE...

Events for Families: Martin Brown, Roger McGough and Greg McLeod, Craft Workshops and Storytelling

In association with Covid-Safe Live Events, Live Streamed and Digital Hallie Rubenhold, Winner of the 2019 Baillie Gifford Prize for Non-Fiction. Issue 40 AWARDED Our free and award-winning investment trust magazine brings you writing on the ideas that shape our world. Read thought-provoking articles from our investment managers, academics and global thinkers, alongside exclusive interviews with distinguished authors. For more information, pick up a free copy of Trust at the festival or subscribe to the digital version and receive articles straight to your inbox.

subscribe to Trust digital for your chance to win a luxury break in , which can be taken any time WIN during 2021. Visit the subscription page for full details. bailliegifford.com/subscribe 3

Hallie Rubenhold, Winner of the 2019 Baillie Gifford Prize for Non-Fiction. Issue 40 Welcome to the 2020 Winter Weekend COVID-SAFE LIVE EVENTS Well, what a year 2020 has been so far. It’s been that has tested us to the All live events will take place hilt and which none of us will forget for a long time. We were so sad to have had with strict adherence to the latest Government to cancel our spring Festival, but we hope that this winter’s short offering will be Covid-19 guidelines. Please see our website sweet, inspiring and entertaining. We’re inelegantly calling it the Zip Option – if we for further information. are allowed, we will be in front of a live audience and live streamed to audiences far and wide. If not, we will zip-up but be live streaming events anyway so you can Should restrictions dictate that we cannot hold enjoy the programme from the comfort of your sofa. Either way we will be observing events live, events may only be available digitally. the latest Government guidelines closely. Any tickets booked for live events that are As ever we would like to thank our Friends, sponsors and supporters for keeping cancelled will be refunded. the faith and being by our side as we’ve worked through a solution to bring you great writers and fascinating topics. AWARDED Annie Ashworth | Festival Director Our free and award-winning investment trust magazine brings you writing on the ideas that shape How to Book for Live Events: our world. Read thought-provoking articles from our investment managers, academics and global By phone: 0333 666 3366 (Open Mon to Fri, 9am to 7pm and Saturdays 9am to 5pm) thinkers, alongside exclusive interviews with Online: ticketsource.co.uk/stratford-literary-festival distinguished authors. In person: Stratford Play House For more information, pick up a free copy of Trust (Wednesdays ONLY 11am-3pm. Please note you cannot make phone bookings at the Play House Box Office) For the latest news and any programme changes, at the festival or subscribe to the digital version and go to stratlitfest.co.uk receive articles straight to your inbox. All ticket prices include VAT and incur a booking fee when booked by phone or online. Headline Sponsor

Stratford Literary Festival is a Registered Charity. No.: 1164662

Follow us: subscribe to Trust digital for your chance to win a stratfordlitfest @stratlitfest stratfordlitfest luxury break in Edinburgh, which can be taken any time WIN during 2021. Visit the subscription page for full details. bailliegifford.com/subscribe Box Office:0333 666 3366 or online at ticketsource.co.uk/stratford-literary-festival | stratlitfest.co.uk You want them to have your vision, your opportunities – and your wealth.

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Iain Dale and Steve Richards Charles Spencer Matthew Parris ‘All Political Careers End in Failure’ - The White Ship Fracture - Stories of How Great What it Takes to be PM 6.00pm | £12 | Stratford Play House Lives Take Root in Trauma 4.00pm | £12 | Stratford Play House Nine hundred years ago this November, King Henry I 8.00pm | £12 | Stratford Play House There has arguably never been a more challenging year sailed for England in triumph after four years of fighting The Times columnist and BBC Radio 4 Great Lives to lead the country in peacetime than this one. But Boris the French. Sailing behind him on the White Ship was the presenter explores a common theme that emerges Johnson is not the first PM to face challenges, and some cream of Anglo-Norman society and three of his children, from his landmark radio series: that many geniuses who have handled them better than others. So what does it including the only legitimate male heir to the throne. The have influenced our lives share a common experience - take separate a mediocre leader from a great one? And future was looking gloriously set, until a drunken helmsman childhood trauma so severe that it should have broken was Enoch Powell right, that failure is inevitable? The rammed the ship into rocks. There would be only one them completely. He’ll be taking a long look at their lives award-winning LBC Radio presenter, and leading political survivor from the gilded roll call of passengers... The best- and making the case for such towering influencers as Ada commentator, Iain Dale, and broadcaster and Radio 4’s selling historian, Charles Spencer, evokes the harsh and Lovelace, Frederick Douglass, Vladimir Lenin, , presenter, Steve Richards, talk about brutal story of a dead heir, a civil war of untold violence, Frieda Kahlo, , and Tupac Shakur, and asking if their books which put all 55 residents of No.10 under and a game of thrones which saw families turned in on they succeeded not only in spite of their backgrounds, scrutiny, especially the present incumbent. each other – and how the course of British history but perhaps even because of them. changed overnight. Sponsored by

Box Office:0333 666 3366 or online at ticketsource.co.uk/stratford-literary-festival | stratlitfest.co.uk “It’s fantastic” Real words from happy residents, during lockdown.

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F_IVG_1089 Austin Heath & Great Alne Park - Stratford Literary Festival - Winter Weekend Programme V2.indd 1 21/09/2020 13:40 Saturday 21st November 7 “It’s fantastic” Real words from happy residents, during lockdown.

Dame Hilary Mantel Margaret Heffernan Roger McGough The Mirror and the Mantel Pieces Uncharted – Map the Future Together Joined Up Writing 12.00pm | £15 | Stratford Play House 4.00pm | £12 | Stratford Play House 6.00pm | £13 | Stratford Play House We are so pleased to be able to reschedule, after our spring We are addicted to prediction, desperate for certainty about A warm welcome to the person Carol Ann Duffy called cancellation, the twice Booker-winning and internationally the future. But, as 2020 has shown us, uncertainty is a ‘The patron saint of poetry’. For more than fifty years, best-selling author and creator of the fact of life. The distinguished businesswoman and author Roger McGough has entranced generations of readers trilogy that culminated in the highly-acclaimed The Mirror explores the people and organisations who aren’t daunted with poetry which is at once playful and poignant, intimate and the Light. She’ll be bringing insights into the creation by uncertainty, how uncertainty can be both invigorating and ambitious in its scope. Sit back and soak up his latest of one of the most lauded bodies of writing of the last few and important in our development as humans, and shares collection as he focusses his sharp wit on everything from years, and sharing the processes behind her latest book, how radical exercises with wildly diverse participants allow forgotten friendships and the idiosyncrasies of family Mantel Pieces, a witty and insightful collection of essays everyone to create outcomes together and how crises life, to the trauma of war right through to contemporary from 30 years contributing to the London Review reveal the vital social component in resilience. She also politics, exploring the human experience in all its shades of Books which covers topics as diverse as Madonna, challenges us to resist the false promises of technology of light and dark, but always with his signature warmth Our villages are filled with people who, more than ever, Saudi Arabia, the Virgin Mary, Robespierre and the and efficiency and instead to mine our own creativity and style. Duchess of Cambridge. An exclusive opportunity to and humanity. truly appreciate the power of community in later life. ‘McGough has done for poetry Sponsored by listen to one of our greatest living writers. Sponsored by Is now the right time to move to an Inspired village? ‘Heffernan is... a deft storyteller. what champagne does Sponsored by Uncharted is... wise and appealingly for weddings’ Time Out human’ Tim Harford Financial Times No stamp duty on We cover the costs of selling your property, * ✓ MOVE FREE, MOVE NOW! ✓ any of our properties. removals, your legal fees and decluttering.

Come and look around safely, please call us free on 0808 301 9867 or visit inspiredvillages.co.uk/TimeToMove Box Office:0333 666 3366 or online at ticketsource.co.uk/stratford-literary-festival | stratlitfest.co.uk *Terms & conditions apply. You must complete by 1 December 2020. Please see our website for full details.

F_IVG_1089 Austin Heath & Great Alne Park - Stratford Literary Festival - Winter Weekend Programme V2.indd 1 21/09/2020 13:40 Dine at No.44...

No44

on The Waterside

No.44 Brasserie offers guests a relaxed menu for dining. Located in the heart of historic Stratford-upon-Avon, Shakespeare’s birthplace, and directly opposite the world-renowned Royal Shakespeare Company Theatres.

Indulge on family favourites including mouth-watering burgers or delicious classic dishes with a refreshing glass of something nice!

TO BOOK CALL OUR RESERVATIONS TEAM ON 01789 298682

01789 298682 | [email protected] WWW.THEARDENHOTELSTRATFORD.COM

Stratford Lit Festival - The Arden Hotel - 23_09_20.indd 1 24/09/2020 10:20 Saturday 21st November 22nd November 9 Dine at No.44...

No44 Rory Bremner Michael Taylor Claire Wilcox on The Waterside In Conversation With… The Interest - Resistance Patch Work – A Life Amongst Clothes 8.00pm | £15 | Stratford Play House to the Abolition of Slavery 4.00pm | £10 | Stratford Play House Rory Bremner is widely regarded as Britain’s top satirical 2.00pm | £12 | Stratford Play House Join the curator of fashion at the Victoria and Albert No.44 Brasserie offers guests a relaxed menu for dining. Located in the heart Museum where she has been for most of her working impressionist and has provided definitive impersonations The colonial legacy of slavery is much in the news of late life. She’ll take you into the archive of memory, deftly of historic Stratford-upon-Avon, Shakespeare’s birthplace, and directly of PMs and presidents from Major to Mandela and Bush and, for 200 years, the abolition of slavery in Britain has stitching together her dedicated study of fashion with the to Trump. As himself, he’s been presenter, writer, quiz been a cause for self-congratulation. But was abolition as opposite the world-renowned Royal Shakespeare Company Theatres. story of her own life lived in and through clothes. From show host, actor, translator and even (briefly) ballroom enthusiastically embraced as we want to believe? Michael her mother’s black wedding suit to the swirling patterns dancer. In a TV career spanning 30 years, he’s won Taylor explores the West India Interest - resistance to of her silk kimono, this is an intimate memoir on the Indulge on family favourites including mouth-watering burgers or delicious numerous awards, including three BAFTAs for his abandoning slave ownership supported by nearly every spellbinding power of the things we wear. She’ll tug on satire series Bremner Bird and Fortune. leading figure of the British establishment of the day. They’ll classic dishes with a refreshing glass of something nice! the threads that make up the fabric of our lives and show Join him for conversation about how he researches look at how compensation went to slave owners not those how the stories and the secrets of clothes measure out his ‘victims’ and how Trump is a gift. who most deserved it - the slaves themselves - entrenching the passage of time, our gains and losses, and the way TO BOOK CALL OUR RESERVATIONS TEAM ON 01789 298682 the power of their families to shape modern Britain to this Sponsored by we use them to unravel and write our histories. day. Drawing on major new research, they’ll discuss how abolition was one of the most dramatic episodes in British Sponsored by history and leaves a legacy that, as the Black Lives Matter movement shows, proves nothing is settled on this issue to this day.

01789 298682 | [email protected] Box Office:0333 666 3366 or online at ticketsource.co.uk/stratford-literary-festival | stratlitfest.co.uk WWW.THEARDENHOTELSTRATFORD.COM

Stratford Lit Festival - The Arden Hotel - 23_09_20.indd 1 24/09/2020 10:20 Sunday 22nd November

Jasper Rees with Duncan Preston Lemn Sissay MBE Let’s Do It - A Tribute to My Name is Why 6.00pm | £15 | Stratford Play House 8.00pm | £15 | Stratford Play House Victoria Wood was one of the most talented comedy Lemn Sissay MBE is a poet, playwright and writers – and performers – ever to grace our TV screens broadcaster. He was the first poet commissioned and her early death in 2016 was an enormous blow. to write for the London Olympics and is a regular We are joined by her authorised biographer, who was contributor to radio and TV and a prolific speaker, granted complete and exclusive access to Victoria’s inspiring audiences on a daily basis across the globe. rich archive of personal and professional material, and He’ll be sharing his life story, so movingly outlined conducted over 200 interviews with her family, friends in his Sunday Times bestselling memoir, My Name and colleagues. He’ll look back at her life and the is Why, reflecting on a childhood in care, self- influences that helped to hone her craft, with the actor expression and Britishness, and in doing so exploring Virtual Events Duncan Preston, who appeared in the institutional care system, race, family and the so much of her work, from Acorn meaning of home. It’s a story of neglect and Available from Antiques to Dinnerladies, and determination, misfortune and hope, cruelty share memories of working and triumph, and delivered with his characteristic 20th-22nd November via with a true comic genius. warmth and wit. stratlitfest.co.uk

To book go to ticketsource.co.uk/ stratford-literary-festival 11

Andrew Marr Margaret MacMillan Debut Writers Event Elizabethans - War – How Conflict Shaped Us You Heard it Here First How Modern Britain was Forged  | £5  | £5  | £25 inc a signed copy with P&P The bestselling author, Reith Lecturer and Professor of One of the many casualties of this year’s pandemic has How did we get from the Britain we were in 1953 - History asks a provocative question: is war an essential been that some excellent first books have disappeared a country where people wore hats and uniforms, component of humanity and our history, and peace an without trace because of closed bookshops and delayed went to church regularly and were deeply class aberration? She’ll look at the ways in which war has publication dates. To redress the balance in some small conscious - to the country we are ? The acclaimed influenced human society and how, in turn, changes way, join us to discover some of the very exciting new broadcaster and presenter of BBC Radio 4’s Start the in political organisation, technology, or ideologies have names talking about their writing, Week considers Britain’s modern history through a affected how and why we fight, and ask when did war and their route to publication. diverse cast of individuals from all walks of life, and first start and does human nature doom us to fight one Virtual Events looks at how we have evolved and how our attitudes another? Roll up your sleeves for a fascinating look at Writers featured include: have changed towards sexual equality, culture and our innate stomach for the fight. Margaret MacMillan’s Rebecca Watson - Available from freedom of expression, getting to the heart of how acclaimed books include Women of the Raj and Paris Little Scratch 1919, for which she was the first woman to win the 20th-22nd November via 1950s Britain evolved into the diverse, contradictory Kiran Millwood Hargrave - and divided country it is today. Prize, and The Uses and Abuses The Mercies stratlitfest.co.uk of History. Event chaired by: the BBC’s Sophie Raworth Gabriel Krauze - Available Digitally Only Who They Was To book go to Available Digitally Only Longlisted for the 2020 Booker Prize ticketsource.co.uk/ Available Digitally Only stratford-literary-festival

Writers’ Workshops Events The Secret of Successfully Submitting Your Novel for

Make an Impact Workshop One-to-One Submission Session Tuesday 10th November | 6.00pm | 65mins | £10 Wednesday 11th November Families Sessions in 15 mins slots from | 11.15am | £40 Join the highly-experienced Faber Academy Tutor, Tom Bromley, as he guides you through the minefield Send him the first five pages of your novel plus a of novel submission to an agent or publisher. one page synopsis and covering letter in advance for He’ll share invaluable tips on: pre-session consideration and critiquing, and Faber Academy tutor, Tom Bromley, will spend 15 minutes When to send it in a one to one online session with you offering Who to send it to ideas and support. What makes a good submissions package How to craft a captivating covering letter You will be sent your timed slot once booking confirmed. Numbers strictly limited. How to wow them with strong opening pages How to put together a compelling synopsis In partnership with 45 min online workshop plus 20 minutes Q&A

Covid-Safe Family Seating 13

Ros Ingram Greg McLeod Kate’s Storytree Martin Brown Create a Christmas Tree and Roger McGough Once Upon a Starry Story Lesser Spotted Animals Workshop Crocodile Tears Sunday 22nd November Sunday, 22nd November Saturday 21st November Saturday, 21st November 10.00am | £5 per person 12.00pm | £5 per person 10.00am | £5 per person 2.00pm | £5 per person It is said that when a story begins, the moon Bison are banned and tigers are taboo. Say comes out and stars begin to shine… and Roll up your festive sleeves and get creative The crocodile said to the chimpanzee, goodbye to the gnu, cheerio to the cheetah with artist Ros Ingram as she guides you when the stars shine and twinkle we know and poo poo to the panda. Discover the brilliant that they have a story to tell. Sharing the story through making your own colourful textile “Chimpanzee, I want to be free. beasts you never knew you needed to know The jungle jangle’s not for me.” of Tentei King of the Stars and others tales of Christmas tree to take home and decorate awe and wonder, join storyteller Kate under a about as well as how Martin creates the with fairy lights. All materials will be pre- Crocodile says goodbye to the jungle and heads special starry Storytree. Using craft materials, fantastic illustrations for packed and available on your family-bubble for the bright lights of London to find freedom Kate will then guide the whole family to create the Horrible Histories table, and you can take any extra materials and adventure. But despite the famous sights, your personal starry stories; one to take series - with tips home. Simple to complete and suitable for city life on a stone-cold street begins to pall... home and one to stay and hang in our special on drawing too! age 5 upwards. Fairy lights not supplied! Will crocodile tears become real tears for Storytree. All craft materials are included in friends, family and home? Join poetry legend the ticket price and will be pre-prepared into Roger McGough and BAFTA award-winning paperbags for you to use at the event and to take home. Max 6 people Stratford-based animator per Family Bubble Greg McLeod. Ages 5 to 99 Venue: Stratford Play House Sunday 22nd November

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The Small Print Thank yous

All events will comply with the latest children. Children over 14 may attend We would like to thank the following for their help and support: All the wonderful Covid-19 guidelines. Please go to our alone but must be delivered and collected authors and illustrators who come to the Festival; the publishers who have worked with us; all who website at stratlitfest.co.uk for the most by a responsible adult, and are not the steward and volunteer for the Festival; Michelle McLeod and Geraldine Moffat at Baillie Gifford up to date information. responsibility of the Festival. Adults and Co; Mike Nicholas at Shock the Senses; all at The Week; all the Staff at Waterstones Stratford; Those not observing Covid-19 guidelines attending children’s events must have all the staff at Stratford Play House; our chairpersons; And of course our Friends and Benefactors, will not be admitted and may be asked a ticket. Children under 2 and babes in audiences, sponsors and advertisers who make the Festival possible. to leave the event. arms who do not require a seat do not need a ticket. Photo Credits: 2019 photographs courtesy of Rupert Barnes and Rachel Jones Tickets are non-refundable and cannot be exchanged. All tickets include VAT. All We reserve the right to alter the Festival Team: Annie Ashworth (Programme Director), Jo James (Operations Director), Jane tickets booked by phone or online incur a programme or substitute performers if Churchill (Schools and Children’s Day Programmer), Suzanne Worthington (Stewards and Volunteers booking fee. Should a ticket be refunded circumstances dictate. Please check our Coordinator), Christine Anderson (Front of House), Hannah Warner (Community Liaison), Liz Wise because of an unavoidable cancellation, website at stratlitfest.co.uk or follow us (Books with Friends), Kate Coleman (Pre-school events programmer), Tamsin Williams (national PR), the booking fee will not be returned. Tickets on Twitter @Stratlitfest for programme Tanya Aspinwall (regional PR), Judy Reaves (Stage Design), Charlotte Brennan (Fundraising), change alerts. are sold though an external box office. Sue Murphy (Friends Coordinator), Kate Duxbury (Festival Assistant) Tickets will be on sale at the Stratford Play All events are an hour long unless House for events, unless an event is sold otherwise stated. Books are available Stratford Literary Festival is a registered charity No. 1164662 out. Stratford Play House will not be taking to buy at each event but, for Covid-19 Festival Trustees: Annie Ashworth, David Fletcher, Suzanne James, Archie Kane, telephone bookings. See the bottom of reasons, authors will not be signing copies. Graham Spalding and Hannah Warner each page for booking phone number. Pre-signed book plates will be available. All seats are pre-allocated and you can Books featured at the festival and those choose the area of the auditorium you signed at earlier events will be on sale at Our Sponsors and Supporters would like to sit on booking. Waterstones, 8 High Street. Headline Sponsor Lead Sponsors Accessibility: Stratford Play House can All events will be filmed or recorded for live accommodate wheelchairs and those with streaming. By buying a ticket you are giving mobility issues. There is an accessible your consent to be filmed or recorded as a toilet, step free access and a hearing loop. member of the audience. Please let one of Please contact us if you have particular the Festival team know if you do not wish needs or require a seat close to the stage to be featured. due to hearing or sight impairment. All details and prices are correct at time of going to press. Children under 14 years must be Partner Sponsors Hotel Partners Media Partner Bookseller accompanied by a responsible adult Please check our website before you travel (over 18 years of age). We cannot for any last minute changes. accept responsibility for unaccompanied All you need to know about everything that matters Join over 344,000 readers of The Week magazine

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