EXPERIENCE THE WORLD AS IT SHOULD BE

Festival Programme 2021

30 July – 1 August

the Museum of East Anglian Life, Stowmarket, Suffolk

1 CONTENTS INTRODUCING Introduction 3 For Writers 4 PRIMADONNA & THE PRIMADONNAS For the Curious 7

For Fun! 12 The Festival The Founders For Kids 16 Welcome to Primadonna, the UK’s most Primadonna was founded and is run by 17 empowering new festival, set up to spotlight the women from across the worlds of publishing, artistry of women and non-binary people, as well entertainment and the arts. Us ‘Primadonnas’ Event Programme as creatives of all genders, ethnicities and economic wanted to create a festival of brilliant writing, borne status whose voices are not often enough heard. out of a desire to give prominence to work by Friday 18 We focus on writing and reading but we also women and spotlight authors from the margins. showcase the best of the arts, from music to fi lm, We also want you to have a lot of fun: the festival Saturday 20 theatre to comedy. has always been designed to be a thoroughly We call it ‘the world as it should be, for one joyous as well as inclusive and accessible experience. Sunday weekend’. 22 But you know all that: you’re here. And we hope We programme a mix of big names and emerging you’ll agree we’ve put on a programme of amazing talent, as one of the things we’re trying to do is Speakers’ Info 24 speakers, brilliant events and unique experiences. open up the publishing industry and arts/culture more generally to new voices, and new ideas. You’ve all earned a weekend of wonders, and happiness, and inspiration: here it is. All ideas, and all kinds of people, are welcome Marketplace 36 here: most especially those that might not think a literary festival is ‘for them’. Map 38 We hope you’ll think this one is for you. Enjoy your weekend. Let us know what you like. And come Thank You 39 back next year as we continue to create ‘the world as it should be, for one weekend’.

Primadonna Festival is proud to have a team of BSL interpreters at this year’s event, providing a free service for Deaf attendees. Look out for this symbol in the programme. An additional limited interpreting service may be available upon request. If you would like to be in contact with the interpreters Amie Corry Athena Stevens Catherine Catherine Riley Cathryn Jane Dyball during the event, please contact Mayer Summerhayes [email protected].

Speakers will be signing books at our on-site Waterstones bookshop 15 minutes after their sessions. Head to Home Close to see them there and get your signed copies. Joanna Baker Jude Kelly Kit de Waal Lisa Milton Monisha Rajesh Sabeena Akhtar

Sandi Toksvig Shola Mos- Shona Sioned William Sonia Purnell Shogbamimu Abhyankar 3 2 Better Suffolk for the last eight years and will be bringing Together that community vibe to Primadonna. Try out your FOR ideas or work on new material in this inclusive Saturday space for poets of all kinds — Justine will even read 11am–12pm • your work for you if you’d prefer. You can also put Main Stage yourself forward to perform on the main stage as In a world part of Sunday’s Rhyme and Shine event. where we are often Big Ambition encouraged 4 BROWN GIRLS WHO WRITE Saturday 6pm • Main Stage WRITERS to progress Here in a no-holds-barred confessional as individuals conversation covering the highs and lows of their and compete against each other, we discuss careers, Helen Lederer — a familiar face through how a shared experience and collaboration can roles in Naked Video and Absolutely Fabulous, create a more open society, and help to break and Lisa Milton, Executive Publisher for HQ and down structural inequality and the challenges Mills & Boon, and co-founder of the Primadonna faced as an individual. Join our panel featuring Hopeless Romantics? festival — look back at where their ambition has author and activist Sophie Williams, whose most taken them, what has held them back, and the Friday 4pm • Marquee recent publication Millennial Black includes Romantic fi ction reaches parts of the population Magma examines the concept of a opportunities they’ve been able to give others in advice on building your own lady gang, along their respective industries. These two indomitable other books simply don’t. From being swept off reliable narrator in the context of a with two members of the performance and your feet with Mills and Boon to the restorative love story, Pragya Agarwal, author women have overseen the establishment of poetry collective 4 BROWN GIRLS WHO WRITE writing prizes — the Comedy Women in Print prize power of a historical romance, there’s nothing of (M)otherhood: On the choices of — Sunnah Khan and Sharan Hunjan — as they (CWIP) and the Primadonna Prize respectively quite like lying back with a good book and taking being a woman, a hybrid memoir share their stories and discuss the benefi ts of yourself somewhere… private. Why do we fall so — so we’ll also hear from two of the writers whose and scientifi c analysis of women’s collaboration and community for everyone. lives they’ve changed: Abigail Mann, whose hard for the romantic novel? Get straight to the fertility and author and publisher Chaired by publicist and Primadonna co- heart of the matter in this discussion on all things debut novel The Lonely Fajita was shortlisted for Lennie Goodings, Chair of Virago founder Shona Abhyankar. Stick around after the the 2019 CWIP and went on to be published by swoony. With author and ‘hopeful-but-realistic Press and author of A Bite Of the discussion for a performance by 4 BROWN GIRLS Lennie Goodings HarperCollins in 2021; and Sairish Hussain, whom romantic’ Sareeta Domingo, journalist and Author Apple: A Life with Writers, Books WHO WRITE. of The Wish List Sophia Money-Coutts, and actor Lisa met at the Bradford Literature Festival and and Virago. subsequently signed up for HQ, and whose debut and author Andi Osho, whose debut novel, Asking Sealing the Deal For A Friend, was published earlier this year and novel The Family Tree has been Costa shortlisted. is soon to be followed by her second piece of Storytelling Workshop Saturday 12pm • TWAISB Stage Expect some delicious anecdotes, and a warm From alternative entry points into publishing to romantic fi ction, Tough Crowd. Chairing this love- Friday 7pm • Farm Barn fuzzy feeling that they’re batting in your corner. in is Lisa Milton, Executive Publisher of HQ Stories A gentle introduction to the ever-evolving tradition getting a foot in the front door, our group of debut and Mills and Boon. of oral storytelling with professional storyteller authors of all ages and backgrounds share what Screen Test it takes to become a published author. Chaired Justine de Mierre. Everyone is a storyteller, even Saturday 6pm • TWAISB Stage by writer Louise Mumford who was ‘discovered’ Killing It! if they don’t yet know it, and in this workshop How to write sitcom for radio and TV, with the Justine will start you on the journey to discovering at the inaugural Primadonna festival and whose Female Pilot Club. Writer, producer and script Friday 5pm • Marquee what a great tale spinner you already are! There’ll debut was published by HQ last year, this must- coach Kay Stonham outlines what Female Pilot Join some of the UK’s leading crime thriller be games, exercises and practice opportunities — see session also features another Costa First Novel Club look for when they choose work to promote, authors for a deadly(!) discussion on writing crime, and, if you’re feeling brave, a chance to tell a short nominee Sairish Hussain; Kirsty Capes, who won and discusses how to go about developing a good creating suspense and keeping your audience tale at Justine’s Family Campfi re Storytelling on a scholarship to develop her writing under Curtis comedy premise into a great comedy script. hooked. If you’re a fan of a noir novel or are looking Saturday night. (Workshop suitable for adults and Brown Creative and whose debut Careless has for some top tips on creating a killer character, accompanied children age 11+.) been published this year; Jyoti Patel who won join Saima Mir, whose fi rst crime novel The Khan the second #Merky Books New Writers Prize The Literary Lottery was published at the start of this year, earlier this year; and Hafsa Zayyan, co-winner of Saturday 7pm • The Chapel Yoga for Writers with Stella Duffy More than just a glitzy night out on the literary Karline Smith, author of Moss Side the inaugural #Merky Books New Writers’ Prize, Saturday 8am • TWAISB Stage events calendar, prizes like the Booker, Massive and one of the UK’s fi rst female who wrote her debut novel in six months whilst Yoga is not about getting the poses Costa and Women’s Prize guarantee crime writers to deal with the subject working full time as a lawyer. crime writers to deal with the subject right, writing is not about getting huge uplifts in sales for longlisted and of drug gangs in inner-city Britain, and the words right, they’re both about Introduction to Improv shortlisted writers. And if you win, Kia Abdullah, whose thriller Take It giving it a go. We will connect yoga you hit the jackpot. But how Back was selected for an industry-fi rst poses to writing exercises, exploring Saturday 1pm • Farm Barn useful are literary prizes as audio serialisation by HarperCollins. the physical nature of writing and Co-founder of improv company ‘The Unqualifi ed a method for judging In the chair is bestselling author Erin how opening up body and breath Yes’ Justine de Mierre will introduce you to the great writing — and Kelly, whose latest novel Watch Her Fall can support our creativity. This short basics of improv. You’ll learn the joy and creativity who gets to judge in responding to offers with an unqualifi ed yes Saima Mir was published in April. She is currently workshop is suitable for all levels of anyway? In this free- working on her ninth psychological yoga and writing practice, no reading Stella Duffy — in life and in improv! Don’t worry, there’s no ranging discussion we thriller about bones, buried treasure and family aloud, no judging the yoga. You’ll pressure to be funny — just games and exercises explore the good and the to release your imagination and have fun with secrets. need a yoga mat, pen and paper to write, and your willingness to others. Come play with us! (Suitable for adults and play. Stella Duffy is an award- accompanied teens age 13+.) The Politics of Narration winning writer of 17 novels, 70+ Friday 6pm • Marquee short stories and 14 plays. Yoga Poetry Open Mic Drop-In Join us for this cross-media discussion of genre- has supported her writing Saturday 2:30–4pm • The Chapel bending books, defying categories and practice for decades and she Come along to our open-to-all session in the changing the narrative as we consider completed her 200-hour yoga chapel where Justine de Mierre (aka ‘Lady J’) will the politics of narration — who gets to teacher training in spring 2020, host this very special hour for all-comers, featuring tell stories and how, and what it means with the aim of offering writing East Coast Poets, a loose collective of Norfolk and to challenge existing forms. Featuring and yoga for others. Suffolk poets that grew from a series of World our Icelandic-in-resident writer Thora Story Telling workshops during lockdowns. Justine Hjörleifsdóttir whose debut novel has been hosting super-friendly open mics across

5 4 bad of the literary prize machinery, and fi nd out who the big winners have been in this ongoing literary lottery. With the #Merky Books New Writers prizewinner Jyoti Patel; Naoise Dolan, FOR THE longlisted for this year’s Women’s Prize for fi ction; Hafsa Zayyan, co-winner of the inaugural #Merky Books New Writers’ Prize; and Catherine Riley, author of two non-fi ction titles focused on the mechanics of the publishing industry. The World As It Should Be CURIOUS (Live Podcast Recording) Saturday 8pm • The Chapel A special edition of the — and how we can put ourselves safely back on the Primadonna podcast, Creative Writing Masters streets (and paths, rivers and fi elds). With author recorded live with Otherhood and committed environmentalist Yara Rodrigues The University of Primadonna • The Chapel two of the amazing Friday 4pm • TWAISB stage Fowler; Josephine Hall from Black Girls Hike whose If you’ve always fancied sharpening your skills with authors whose lives We all know what a ‘good mother’ is supposed to mission is to ‘diversify the outdoors’; explorer and a creative writing masters, but couldn’t afford the have been changed look like, juggling kids and work and wellness with entrepreneur Belinda Kirk who captained the fi rst time or the money — this is the course for you! Over by the festival: lipstick intact. And we’ve all seen images of the all-female rowing team to circumnavigate Britain the course of the weekend, we bring the lecturers here, they refl ect perfect dad, child lifted onto muscular shoulders non-stop, completing the journey in 51 days in 2010; to you as world renowned authors and teachers on changing other and hands fi rmly wrapped around his partner. But and Anita Sethi, who set off on foot to reclaim the share the fundamentals in this condensed creative people’s lives by designing the world, what happens if you don’t fi t the profi le, and what outdoor spaces near where she grew up, capturing writing masters programme. Enrol at the University as it should be, according to them. With very does that say about your ability to parent? What the experience in . Chairing the of Primadonna, and sign up for eight modules I Belong Here special guests Eva Verdes and Louise Mumford. about families that don’t fi t the 2.4 mould? In conversation is Primadonna Athena Stevens, a of teaching from the best in the business, plus a this session we call out the parenthood ideal, and writer, actor, activist and veteran campaigner for graduation certifi cate (mortarboard is optional). Call My Agents shout out instead for new models of bringing up better design and access for disabled people. Sunday 11am • TWAISB Stage baby. With award-winning author and illustrator On Screenwriting: Three is the Magic Number Laura Dockrill whose fi rst book for adults is titled If you like this... take a nature walk around the site Ever wondered what it’s like to be an agent? with Stow Stories. Or how to fi nd the right one for you? Join us Friday 7pm • Sam Hoyle, Netfl ix What Have I Done?; Sabeena Akhtar, co-founder as we hear from some of the UK’s leading of Bare Lit Kids, the UK’s fi rst children’s festival literary agents as they discuss tips and tricks How to Plot a Novel showcasing the work of writers Why Women Are Poorer than Men: of the trade, revealing stories of the best (and Friday 8pm • Christy Lefteri of colour; Pragya Agarwal, a A Money Workshop behavioural and data scientist worst) pitches they’ve ever received. In this The Power of Practice Friday 6pm • The Chapel lively roundtable discussion, hear advice on and author of (M)otherhood: Take a candid look at money and learn how to Saturday 9am • Diane Samuels what the aspiring writers out there can do to On the choices of being a manage yours more mindfully. With Annabel woman; award-winning get noticed from agents such as Suffolk-based Creative Writing Masterclass Williams, author of Why Women Are Poorer Than journalist Saima Mir whose Emma Shercliff, who established a publishing Saturday 10am • Kit de Waal Men and What We Can Do About It; businesswoman work appeared in The Best house outside of London to encourage wider This session will take place at The World As It Jo Fairley who set out on her entrepreneurial journey representation and accessibility for writers; Abi Most Awful Job: 20 Essays in 1991 when she co-founded Green & Black’s Should Be Stage Fellows, agent at the Good Literary Agency on Motherhood; and Nikesh Chocolate, now approaching a £100 million a year Shukla whose most recent whose work is focused on supporting under- Literary Journalism brand; Tracey Bleakley who led the successful work is the memoir Brown represented writers; and Cathryn Summerhayes, Saturday 1pm • Julie Wheelwright campaign to embed fi nancial education in the Primadonna co-founder and literary agent at Baby: A Memoir Of Race, national curriculum in 2013; and Jude Kelly, director Curtis Brown. On Poetry & Getting Over Writer’s Block Laura Dockrill, author of Family and Home which is of the WOW festivals and co-founder of SmartPurse, Saturday 4pm • Sunnah Khan, 4 BROWN GIRLS What Have I Done? dedicated to his two young a fi nancial platform for women’s fi nancial education Before the Book WHO WRITE daughters. and wellbeing. Sunday 1pm • TWAISB Stage What Are You Waiting For / Get On With It Environmental Health Never Mind The Bollocks From post-it note pandemonium to meticulous Sunday 12pm • Shelley Silas note-taking and burning the midnight oil, our Friday 5pm • TWAISB stage Friday 7pm roundtable of seasoned writers share how they Writing Historical Fiction After a year in which we’ve all got back to nature, It’s now 30 years since Kathleen Hanna, Tobi Vail plan and piece together their work and share Sunday 2pm • Amanda Hodgkinson, University we explore the connections and disconnects and Kathi Wilcox formed the band in our relationship with the natural world, tips to get you started on your writing journey. of Suffolk Bikini Kill, and published their fi rst With Stella Duffy, an award-winning writer, actor, contrasting it with our situation within urban eponymous zines. The Riot Grrrl director and playwright, who has published spaces. With architecture and urban planning movement of the 1990s promised over seventy short stories, fourteen plays and Primadonna Surgeries dominated by men, how do women exist freely women a new place in music, but how seventeen novels; author Jini Reddy whose Friday 5pm, Saturday 12pm and 5pm, Sunday in spaces that were never designed with them in many women did it bring along with most recent book Wanderland was shortlisted mind? Why are rural spaces still them… and how long did it 9am • The Chapel inhospitable for people of colour for both the Stanford Dolman Award for Travel The Primadonnas will be holding four surgeries last? We speak Book of the Year and for the Wainwright Prize, looking to connect with the great to some stars of across the festival weekend, where you can drop outdoors? And how are disabled and whose journeys become her creative in and speak with them about whatever’s on your the alternative people supposed to navigate music scene stimulus for writing; and Adam Sharp, obsessive mind. We’ll post details of who will be in the chapel environments that were never to fi nd out, list-maker and author of The Correct Order of and when at the information point near The World . In the chair is Kit de Waal, multi-award- designed with them in mind? including Big Biscuits As It Should Be Stage. Come say hi! winning author, Primadonna co-founder and Sick of being told to tread the Joanie’s Chardine post-it fan. well lit path, our panel join forces Taylor-Stone, for a frank conversation on how author of Sold we can better shape our cities, Out: How Black towns, villages and open spaces Feminism Lost its

Anita Sethi, author of 7 6 I Belong Here Soul; Debbie Smith, guitarist and bass player with to an Irish mother and a Caribbean father; author Cut from The Same Cloth escape from Idi Amin, and the Curve, Echobelly, Snowpony and Ye Nuns; Debbie Eva Verde who is of dual heritage and writes about home they left behind; Rosanna Saturday 11am • TWAISB Stage Googe, bass player with My Bloody Valentine and identity, class and otherness; and Hafsa Zayyan Amaka, whose debut The Book Primadonna co-founder and the Thurston Moore Group, and former member whose debut novel explores the experience of of Echoes follows the lives of two programmer Sabeena Akhtar of Snowpony. Chaired by Primadonna Jane Dyball, South Asian migrants expelled from Uganda. In young people in both London and crowdfunded, edited and contributed one of the fi rst CEO-level women executives in the chair is journalist and broadcaster Kieran Yates. Nigeria; and Christy Lefteri, author to this remarkable anthology of writing the music industry who was recognised for her of the bestselling The Beekeeper by visibly Muslim women. From contribution to the songwriting community at the of Aleppo and herself the child of Resistance and Change: The modern pop culture to anti-Blackness, Ivors Academy Gold Badge Awards in 2019. Cypriot refugees who settled in the faith and family, politics, education, Politics of Protest UK following the Turkish invasion If you like this, make your own zine with our creativity and working life, Cut From Friday 8pm • Main Stage of Cyprus. In the chair is award- special Moxie session on Saturday. The Same Cloth creates a space Our panel of extraordinary women examine some winning publicist and Primadonna for hijab-wearing women to look of the protest movements and moments of the co-founder Shona Abhyankar. Master Minds: Andi Osho in past 12 months to ask how effective our resistance beyond the tired tropes and explore Conversation with Catherine Mayer can be in creating change. Who are our allies, how the breadth of their experience and spirituality. Here, Sabeena and sister Q&A: I Am A Cliché Friday 7pm • Main Stage can we infl uence others and what does it mean Actor and writer Andi Osho’s screen credits include to see ourselves represented on screen, online contributor Sofi a Rehman talk about Saturday 2pm • TWAISB Stage As the frontwoman of X-Ray Spex, Holby City, EastEnders, Death In Paradise, I May and on the streets? Tackling everything from the book, its reception and the Poly Styrene was a key inspiration Destroy You and Line of Duty. Her formidable the politics of the protest march to the tyranny ongoing issue of hijab-splaining with for the riot grrrl and Afropunk writing career includes credits for print, radio, of tweeting, the principle of putting statues up Primadonna Amie Corry. movements. Poly’s daughter fi lm and TV for broadcasters such as Fox, BBC — or tearing them down — to simple pen power, Celeste became the guardian of and Sky. Her debut novel, Asking For A Friend, these brilliant writers bring their own expert Allied forces: Emma her mother’s legacy after her early was published earlier this year and is soon to be insights to this timely discussion of resistance Dabiri in conversation death and, with her friend Zoë followed by her second piece of romantic online and in real life. With with Nikesh Shukla Howe, an internationally published fi ction, Tough Crowd. She would also beat you writer Bee Rowlatt who led Saturday 12 noon • Main Stage author, broadcaster, musician and visual artist, hands down in a quiz. Here, she talks about her the campaign to have a Join Emma and Nikesh for this wrote the acclaimed varied and inspiring career with fellow master statue of feminist icon Mary Dayglo: The Poly Styrene unmissable conversation on , which was then made into the fi lm I Am A mind Catherine Mayer, a bestselling author, Wollstonecraft erected in Story solidarity, sharing experience Cliche with director Paul Sng. Celeste and journalist and activist. Catherine last year moved London; author and historian and staying hopeful — and Zoë talk here to Primadonna from writing books to producing records when Alex von Tunzelmann whose how we can all help make Amie Corry about the process of she took on the role of executive producer on most recent book Fallen the change we want to making both the book and the the album The Problem of Leisure following the Idols looks at the politics of see. Irish-Nigerian author fi lm, and the lasting legacy of sudden death of her husband, guitarist Andy Gill toppling monuments; and author Karline Smith who Emma Dabiri drew on her Celeste’s mother, in all her glory. who co-founded the band Gang of Four. Here, experience of racism growing these two multi-talented women talk about their contributed to the collection Poly Styrene: I Am A Cliché is Resist: Stories of Uprising; up to write her 2019 bestseller screening at the Regal cinema writing, their lives, and their chosen specialist Don’t Touch My Hair. Her subjects for quizzes. and professor of history, at various times throughout the author and broadcaster latest book, What White festival. Watch it for free — just show Kate Williams. People Can Do Next: From your festival wristband. Mother Tongue Allyship to Coalition covers Friday 7pm • TWAISB Stage colonialism, capitalism and Do you have fond memories of your parents’ ‘posh Oui, J’adore: Michèle Roberts in power, and has become Perfectly Tasteful: Grace voice’ when someone you didn’t know came Conversation with Viv Groskop another bestseller. Here Dent and Sandi Toksvig to the house? Have you Friday 9pm • Main Stage she talks with novelist and in Conversation put on an accent to ‘talk Writers’ writer Michèle Roberts now has more screenwriter Nikesh Shukla, 3pm on Saturday • Main Stage tough’ in order to be taken than 20 novels, short stories and poetry collections author of Coconut Unlimited Two queens of the TV top table talk food, glorious seriously at work... or at the to her name, the most recent of which, Cut (shortlisted for the Costa First food and plenty more besides in this intimate DIY store? Or did you spend Out, is published next month. Set in Nice in the Novel Award), Meatspace, conversation that will satisfy your appetite for a your childhood fi lling out 1950s, Michèle returns to the subject of female The One Who Wrote Destiny good story or two, as well as some insider insights forms or on the phone to the friendship, while also placing motherhood, and Brown Baby: A Memoir Of into the British TV foodie scene. Grace Dent council, changing language, immigration, family secrets and self-discovery Race, Family And Home, as well became a regular judge on Masterchef before accents and voice to make at the centre of her story. She is joined by writer, as editor of the bestselling essay returning to the Guardian as a regular columnist yourself understood? From comedian, presenter and host of the hit podcast collection The Good Immigrant. for its Feast magazine. She has written 11 YA novels northern accents abandoned How To Own The Room Viv Groskop, a committed We’re thrilled to welcome them to Primadonna to and the non-fi ction title How to Leave Twitter. on the M25 to ‘character- Francophile whose love of French literature in discuss their work, and explore how we can all step Her recent memoir Hungry traces her story from building’ telephone tasks, we particular is the subject of her most recent work up to make change. growing up in the northeast eating beige food to examine how our relationship Au Revoir Tristesse. Together they discuss the becoming one of our most-loved foodies. Sandi Kit de Waal with language and the way allure of our friends across the Channel and the No Place Like Home? Toksvig was co-host of The Great British Bake-Off we communicate with way we imagine ourselves as romantic heroines in for three years, and is a fan of all kinds of food… the books that we read. Saturday 1pm • TWAISB Stage the different people in We ask a selection of writers to share their except cheesecake. our lives manifests — thoughts on the place(s) they call home, refl ecting and what it says about Adults Only Campfi re Storytelling on the borders that defi ne them and the sense of us as individuals and Friday 10pm • TWAISB Stage belonging they evoke. We ask how the invisible communities. Our expert Professional storyteller Justine de Mierre brings lines on maps shape our imaginations and sense code-switchers tell us a taste of her Darklove storytelling show to of place, looking at the impact of boundaries their stories: with author the Primadonna campfi re. Expect tales of sex, and multicultural experiences on what makes a Nikesh Shukla, who dismemberment, ghosts and shewolves in a place a home. With Melody Razak, whose debut gathered BIPOC voices selection of late-night bedtime stories that are Moth examines a family’s experience of Partition; from across Britain in strictly for the grown-ups! Florence lájídé, who spent her early childhood his edited collection The in a white foster family before moving with her Good Immigrant; writer birth family to Nigeria aged 6 — as described in Kit de Waal who was her memoir Coconut; Neema Shah, who centred born in Birmingham her debut novel Kololo Hill on one family’s Nikesh Shukla

Grace Dent 9 8 Sandi Toksvig This Is How We Come manifesto that mentioned Lesbians, Kate Davies, winner of the 2020 Polari You Had To Be There award for LGBTQI writing, and Catherine Riley, the menopause (it did); Sunday 2pm • Main Stage Back Stronger Primadonna’s Director and author of Feminism Sangeeta Pillai who founded Historical drama sells, but are we buying Saturday 3pm • TWAISB Stage and Women’s Writing. Gender inequalities were laid bare — and Soul Sutras to tackle taboos into it for more than the corsetry and compounded — by the COVID-19 pandemic, within the South Asian wigs? We speak to creators, stars and whose impact on women was seen in job and community; and in the chair Because You Watched This fans of work about long-gone women salary cuts, greater responsibility in the home Eleanor Mills who recently Sunday 12pm • TWAISB Stage about what drives their interest in and in schooling, and greater threat from male set up Noon, a new platform NowTV not only knows you enjoyed Bridgerton, characters from the past, and who’s violence. In spite of the complex challenges for women in mid-life. but which scenes you re-watched. Spotify ‘curates’ missing from the stories when we talk women from all walks of life faced, there were This panel is sponsored what you hear. Amazon anticipates which books about historical fi ction or drama. We some bright sparks of joy last year: personal, by Northumbria you might want to read and directs you to them. also ask: how important is it that professional, communal. Our panel discuss their University, and is part News is reported and consumed according not we reimagine women’s histories in reasons to be cheerful and refl ect on what of their pilot study only to human judgments of what matters, but particular, in order to imagine more matters to them the most, (funded by the Northern Sangeeta Pillai the whims of algorithms which favour clickbait positive futures? Join Adjoa Andoh, featuring authors Medical Humanities over substance and drive fake news with as much TV, radio, fi lm and theatre star Stella Duffy, Rosanna Research Network) enthusiasm as real stories. Tech pioneers believed and stand-out performer in recent Amaka, Sophie into representations of the menopause in the proliferation of digital platforms and services Netfl ix smash-hit Bridgerton; Sandi Williams and Jenny contemporary culture, including literature. would open up the world for content creators and Toksvig, whose most recent book Sealey. Things are consumers and it has, but the same technologies Toksvig’s Almanack recovered the looking up! also risk creating feedback loops, shaping and stories of countless women from the Consent: Laying Down The Law narrowing global tastes. How should the creative past; author of historical fi ction novel Women writers have Saturday 7pm • Main Stage industries respond and what does this mean for In the Palace of Flowers Victoria refl ected on what The passing of the new police, crime and writers and artists, performers and fi lmmakers? Princewill; and poet, playwright and matters to them most, sentencing bill has brought the conversation Featuring Hannah Griffi ths, whose job is to decide author Kiran Millwood Hargrave. and what they will of the curtailing of freedoms to the fore. From which books might make great TV; Sam Hoyle, do to make change, the BLM movement to Reclaim the Streets, who has worked on Doctor Who, Broadchurch, Looking After Number One in an intersectional marginalised communities are increasingly and is now an Executive Producer at Netfl ix; anthology published impacted and frustrated by inequality, but where Waterstones Children’s Book Prize winner Elle Sunday 3pm • TWAISB Stage After a year that many of us by the Feminist does consent begin and end, and what does McNicoll whose second children’s novel Show Us This Is How We spent alone, we slow things Society: accountability look like when we can’t publicly Who You Are is set in a dystopian future where AI down to consider how we can Come Back Stronger, gather to protest? How can we set out clear is being used to fi lter out neurodivergences; and look after ourselves and others which features essays lines of personal and communal consent, and chair Catherine Mayer, writer, Primadonna and better — whether we’re happy by two of the panellists what lessons can we learn from the past to fi ght former director of Datum Future, a think tank on our own or not. We might in this session. You can injustices now? Featuring Katherine Angel, author examining the impacts of data-driven technology. buy your copy of This Is of Tomorrow Sex Will Be Good Again; psychologist, think we have a handle on the How We Come Back Stronger author, speaker and activist Nina Burrowes who language and application of in the festival bookshop: 20% of the is the founder of The Consent Collective; Mandu On Being self-care — but are we doing cover price goes to Women’s Aid and Reid, leader of the Women’s Equality Party, Other: Monique it right? And how do we build Imkaan. throwing a spotlight onto the issue of sexual Roffey in better emotional resilience as harassment and assault in schools; and Jude Kelly, Conversation well as connect to ourselves Nature Rights Primadonna co-founder and also founder of the with Natalie — mentally, emotionally and Women of the World: WOW festivals. physically — in the context Saturday 4pm • Farm Barn Morris of an exploitative ‘wellness’ Seldom do we have time to consider our Sunday 1pm • culture and an increasingly personal relationship to nature. Nature Rights is Literary Lesbians: terrifying world? We look at an invitation to explore the history of humans’ Main Stage Queers in the the psychological benefi ts and relationship to nature and your personal thoughts Join this year’s Costa Canon downsides of isolation and an on the question, ‘Should Nature Have Rights?’ Join winner Monique immersion in ‘self-care’, and artists Natalie Koffman and Flora Gregory for this Sunday 10am • The Chapel Roffey as she talks Invisibilised, reviled and ask: how do we best take care interactive participatory performance workshop, about her remarkable persecuted throughout of our creative output, our which maps the history of the human/nature novel The Mermaid history, the lesbian fi gure mental health, and our whole relationship. Imagine what the future might look of Black Conch with has nonetheless prevailed selves? With journalist, author like and how might our lives change if nature author of incredible in a huge variety of literary and Primadonna co-founder had rights? debut Mixed/Other forms: from the ‘invert’ of Natalie Morris. Catherine Mayer who has written Radclyffe Hall’s scandalous They will explore about her experiences of early Is It Me or Is It Hot in Here? A The Well of Loneliness to the shared themes Natalie Morris widowhood in her new memoir Roundtable on Menopause romping Victorian music of otherness, Good Grief; clinical psychologist hall ‘toms’ of Sarah Waters’ outsider syndrome Dr Frances Goodheart; author Saturday 5pm • TWAISB Stage Diane Souhami It will affect every woman who lives long novels; from the genius of and how to write Radhika Sangani who spent enough, but in the media and in literature, there Jeanette Winterson’s magical different kinds of her 30th birthday alone in is a cultural absence of conversations about creations to the anguish stories, as well as lockdown (and loved it); the menopause. From the anecdotal to the of a gay ‘re-education’ their experiences and writer Nadia Gilani, the ‘Yoga Dissident’. In medical, this roundtable discussion will offer a in Emily Danforth’s The of fi nding a place the chair is Francesca Specter, internationally- frank conversation about the sobering, funny, Miseducation of Cameron between two published author of Alonement: How to be Alone empowering and sometimes outright awful Post… it seems you can’t cultures. Chaired and Absolutely Own It, and the creator of the ‘change’. We’ll also look for — but don’t expect to keep a good lesbian down by writer and Alonement podcast. fi nd! — literary representations of the menopause for long! Join us for this programmer of as we discuss the disappearance of older women discussion of the historical writer’y things, from public life, and from the pages of the books contributions of lesbian Bee Rowlatt. Monique Roffey we read. With broadcaster, writer and national authors and characters to treasure Sandi Toksvig, who was determined when modern literature, with co-founding the Women’s Equality Party that Diana Souhami, author of it should be the fi rst political party to publish a No Modernism Without Catherine Riley

11 10 Ambient Sounds Sixty Minute Stand-Up Saturday 10am onwards • Edgar’s Farmhouse Saturday 8pm • TWAISB Stage DON’T FORGET Drop in to discover new music throughout Join us for an hour of top-notch Saturday afternoon. Aural bliss. standup comedy featuring Ada Campe, a variety artiste who Together In Riverland: Stow Stories delights audiences across the UK with Saturday 11am, 1pm, 6pm, Sunday 11am • her unique blend of cabaret, comedy, variety and magic; stand-up Izzy Asquith Meet at Shepherd's Hut Join Stow Stories as they guide you through the who won the 2020 Funny Women award; FUN grounds of the Museum, exploring the biodiversity Mary O’Connell, a comedian, writer and North London socialite whose stage presence and heritage of the river walk and sharing their North London socialite whose stage presence is dangerously aloof; comedian and writer Ania passion for town heritage, culture, landscape and is dangerously aloof; comedian and writer Ania Magliano, founder of Stockings Comedy collective the natural environment. Stow Stories is a Suffolk Magliano, founder of Stockings Comedy collective for female and non-binary comedy performers; Archive partnership and they will be bringing their for female and non-binary comedy performers; Shepherd’s Hut and vintage Massey Ferguson Jen Ives, known for her often sideways look at what it means to be a trans woman today, as well Resting Bitch Place fi nd that we don’t move enough, and we override 135 tractor on site so you can step inside and what it means to be a trans woman today, as well as mischievous takes on her family, gay rights, self- Take some time out from being positive and put our body’s needs in order to ‘get more done’. In uncover how Stowmarket heritage, biodiversity as mischievous takes on her family, gay rights, self- image and whatever else is on her mind; and Rosie your feet up in our specially designated discussion this session you will be guided through practices and landscape infl uenced the development and image and whatever else is on her mind; and Rosie tent. There’s no need for niceties here, it’s a safe that you can integrate into your daily routine prosperity of the town. Wilby, a Funny Women fi nalist and regular on the space to vent whatever you feel like getting off your with ease. To be mindful doesn’t mean you have standup circuit as well as comedy podcaster. chest, or just chill out for a while in the company of to sit still. To move doesn’t require a lot of space. BOSH! Live others. Feel free to carry on the conversation from Please bring a mat and/or blanket. Yoga pants not Eliza Shaddad, Mega and Amahla Saturday 1:30pm • Main Stage whichever panel has inspired or energised you, or required! Just comfortable clothes that allow you Join us for a live cook-a-long with Henry and Ian, — LIVE! start your own discussions on whatever’s getting space to feel free. authors of BOSH!, the bestselling debut cookbook Saturday from 8pm • main stage your goat. Whether you’re travelling alone and of 2018 and the biggest selling vegan cookbook of Equally at home perusing murder ballads and would like to meet others, or want some time away Never Mind the Bollocks... Live all time. With 26 decoding Arabic scales, Eliza’s singular artistry is from the hustle and bustle of the wider festival Friday 8pm million views a the product of an incredibly diverse and borderless to strike up a conversation, this tent has got you Following our session on women in the alternative month and now upbringing. Eliza released her debut album covered! music scene, we’re showcasing a range of female- double National Future in 2018, receiving praise from the likes of fronted bands. Admission free. With Three Years Book Award Rolling Stone, MOJO, Refi nery29 and The Sunday Welcome to the World As It Younger, NIA and the Amethysts — just show your winners, Henry Times. Named a Rising Star of 2019 by the BBC, Should Be! wristband. and Ian have her reputation for powerful live shows has seen Friday 2:30pm • TWAISB Stage taken vegan her touring extensively. She has also collaborated Live music from Rosie Trentham and Sophie ENN — LIVE! mainstream. with award-winning poet Anthony Anaxagorou Mahon and the Ready Mades will help get you Friday 10pm • Main Stage They’ve now had and contemporary jazz group Hansu-Tori and is into the Primadonna vibe. Brighton based trans-national genre blenders over 2 billion a founding member of seven-year-strong female ENN (pronounced Jenn) are a musical riot views online arts collective Girls Girls Girls. Real Life (or Death) Cluedo ready to command your attention and mess with and are the Mega is one of the strongest voices to surface your brain. They’re serving playful, alternative Friday 4pm • Meet in the Conservatory authors of three from the contemporary soul scene in London. tunes with a punk attitude born from their Sunday Times Making an instant impact with her debut single Meet us the drawing room, with a candlestick… if humble DIY beginnings. The Great Escape, NME, Henry and Ian of BOSH! best-selling ‘Chariot’— which has already amassed nearly 6 you dare. Making the most of the beautiful Abbots BBC Introducing The South, BBC 6 Music, and cookbooks. million combined streams — she’s been quick to Hall, we’re getting stuck into the classic board game Glastonbury Festival have all championed the cement her status as a star. ‘Let Me Let You Go’, a — but not as you know it! band over the last year, who were chosen as one of 30 European acts to represent Malta at the Music Beyonce vs Madonna: The Dance-Off deeply personal single released earlier in 2020, was Scratch Choir with RedHouse Europe Day online festival, and reached the semi- Saturday 4pm • TWAISB Stage picked by Jack Saunders for his Future Artists on fi nals of the Grammy endorsed e-festival, Listen A bold, fearless dance off, celebrating two music BBC Radio 1 and was chosen by the Brit Awards for Friday 6pm • TWAISB Stage their Sunday Spotlight. Give us an hour, and we’ll turn you into a choir! to Womxn, 2020. ENN’s EP, Liminal, contains icons — Beyonce and Madonna. No dance An all-ages session for all standards of singers, unshakeable tunes with a nod to 90s grunge and experience needed, just enthusiasm and energy. Soul singer-songwriter Amahla entered 2020 this heart-and-throat-warming session will be led a no BS approach to the zeitgeist Our experts from Dance East will teach you the rest. with high ambitions having ended 2019 with by tenor and conductor Ben Vonberg-Clark who in their lyrics. over 1 million streams, sold out shows and critical has run ‘come and sing’ events for many years at Cocktail Hour in the Conservatory acclaim for her bold addressing of sociopolitical Britten-Pears. Get your evening underway in the DD Disco Saturday 7pm • Conservatory issues and for her exceptional voice. Despite best possible way. Friday 11pm • Join us for some civilised supping in the beautiful festival and tour cancellations due to Covid-19, this Engine Room Bar conservatory of Abbots Hall, as you slip gently into year has seen Amahla granted funding from PRS Mindful Movement with Dr Stacie Late night the mood for our Saturday night lineup of top Foundation, mentorship from Kobalt, mentorship CC Graham shenanigans from musical talent. from Apple and international recognition from two of the best Midem as part of their talent exporter programme. Friday 6pm • Debbies we know: Make Sioned Laugh (Again) Bee Garden stoking fi res in the Join writer and Saturday 7pm • TWAISB Stage The Yoga Dissident Engine Room until Primadonna’s very own game show is back! Sign Sunday 8am • TWAISB Stage founder of OYA: the wee small hours. Body-Mind-Spirit up to spend a maximum of three minutes trying to Nadia Gilani has extensive experience of working Retreats for a special make Sioned Wiliam — Radio 4’s commissioning with people with different bodies and from session of intentional editor for comedy — and Kate Stone of Funny all walks of life: from complete beginners to movement and Women laugh. Win the Curly Wurly of comedy if more experienced, teenagers to the over 70s, mindfulness. Even you come top of the chuckles in this Primadonna refugees and asylum seekers, women who have with the best of perennial. experienced domestic violence and people living intentions, we often with mental illness and those in recovery from

13 12 Dr Stacie CC Graham substance misuse. She is Sally Army — LIVE! The Poly Styrene Story, which was then made into the fi lm I Am A Cliché with director Paul Sng. deeply committed to making Sunday 12pm • Main Stage FILMS @ THE REGAL Featuring unseen archive material and rare diary yoga inclusive and her teaching What do you need after a entries narrated by Oscar-nominee Ruth Negga, approach is contemporary, self-wedding? A nice cuppa this documentary follows Celeste as she examines non-dogmatic and explorative, tea and a biscuit — which is while maintaining a deep her mother’s unopened artistic archive and actually the title of a rip-roaring Join us at our partner venue — the newly respect for the ancient Indian traverses three continents to better understand song by Essex’s female version refurbished, beautiful art deco cinema The Regal, practice. In her view, anyone Poly the icon and Poly the mother. of Chas and Dave. Sally always just fi ve minutes from the festival site — for can practice yoga if they want performs in a wedding dress our fi lm programme, with features running Lady Boss: Jackie Collins to — it’s down to the teacher to — how convenient for our little throughout the weekend. Nadia Gilani take a fl exible, compassionate shindig! Expect ska, expect 7pm every day • 1h 36m Literary phenomenon. and intelligent approach to help audience participation, expect Dying to Divorce Revolutionary storyteller. students fi nd what best suits them. All are welcome chaos, expect to wet your pants for this special session. 2pm every day • 1h 20m Feminist icon. Novelist laughing. Filmed over 5 years, Jackie Collins’s trailblazing Dying to Divorce takes and glamorous life Rhyme and Shine The Breakup Monologues with viewers into the heart is remembered and Sunday 10am • Main Stage Rosie Wilby (Live Podcast of Turkey’s gender- reconsidered in Laura Welcome back to Primadonna’s Sunday special: Recording) based violence crisis Fairrie’s admiring our poetry slam where you get to showcase and the recent political documentary portrait. your own writing Sunday 1pm • The Chapel events that have eroded Award-winning comedian Rosie alongside some democratic freedoms. It Felt Like A Kiss of the best poets, Wilby shares funny, bizarre and Through intimately shot poignant tales of heartbreak and stories, the fi lm gives a 9pm every day • 54m rappers, emcees Adam Curtis’ mysterious musical fi lm that has and other spoken recovery with special guests Helen unique perspective on Lederer and Samantha Baines — in the struggle to be an never been shown on TV. Now for the fi rst time in word artists at work a cinema. right now. Poets a live recording of her acclaimed independent woman in podcast. Rosie has been obsessively modern Turkey. from yesterday’s Afternoon open mic session researching the psychology of get the chance to love for a decade and has even Imogen Holst: A Showreel in the perform alongside been dubbed the ‘the queen of Musical Life Bone Building breakups’ by BBC Radio 4. Take some time our headliners The 4pm every day • 15 min out and tune in Zoë McWhinney, Breakup Monologues is now also Composer, conductor, educator and dancer: to our showreel of 4 BROWN GIRLS available as a book combining Imogen Holst lived a completely musical life. exceptional shorts, WHO WRITE’s Zoë McWhinney humour, heartache and science She is mainly associated with the achievements and investigating how on of male composers — her father Gustav, and near- featuring The Stars Sunnah Khan and Are Brighter Here, Joelle Taylor. earth to actually stay in a contemporary Benjamin Britten with whom she relationship in the modern age worked for over ten years. But throughout her life which tells the stories of ghosting, breadcrumbing she made sure to have space for her own projects of some of Suffolk’s rural LGBTQ+ communities; Going to the Chapel and We’re and conscious uncoupling. as a freelancer — writing books, forming choirs, Day of the 20,000 Gammon, a female-fi rst creative venture which depicts the horrifying Going to Get... Self-Partnered It has been described by Red conducting bands and orchestras at a time it was consequences of a woman’s decision to care Sunday 11am • The Chapel (you can also get Magazine as a ‘gem of a book’ rare to see a woman in the podium, and composing for a talking gammon head; and three fi lms yourself wedding-ready with our hour of prep at and by Viv Groskop as ‘funny, music that is increasingly being discovered and performed. This short fi lm, specially commissioned from Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds Digital the TWAISB stage from 9-10am) sweet, entertaining, insightful performance scheme: The Moral Steam Engine, Following Emma Watson’s lead, we’re providing and life-affi rming.’ for Primadonna, was shot in her former home in Aldeburgh and is presented by Dr Lucy Walker which explores the life of Thomas Clarkson — in the wedding chapel, confetti, congregation and partnership with Ivy Scott / Aspire Black Suffolk; cake for anyone who wants to ‘self-partner’ at this (Head of Public Engagement at Britten Pears Self Esteem — LIVE! Arts). It celebrates her life in music, and features Special Delivery, which draws on letters sent from year’s festival. Being in a relationship does not Sunday 3pm • Main Stage movements from one of her most beautiful works, the front in Dunkirk — in partnership with Suffolk defi ne a person as successful or As we saw recently on Later with Jools Holland, Fall of the Leaf for solo cello, performed by Wallis Archive, Suffolk Regiment and Suffolk Artlink; approved of or socially accepted, ‘I Do This All The Time’ has to be THE song of Power. and Big Skies, a collaboration between Albany so we’re celebrating the single 2021. Self Esteem is an experimental-pop project PRU, St Benedicts life in our special Sunday created by Rebecca Lucy Taylor. The inspiration School Bury St morning ceremony. for the nom de plume comes from the evolution Poly Edmunds, The Meet- Whether you’re currently of Taylor’s confi dence from her early 20s. ‘All my Styrene: Up Cafe Benjamin Foundation Thetford single, married, sworn upcoming work is exploring how complicated I Am A and The Mix off relationships for life… it is to just be a human. I’m wonderful and I’m Cliché Stowmarket. you’re welcome here. terrible. I hurt people and people hurt me. I feel 5pm every The point is to show everything and nothing. It’s a shit laugh but then day • 1h 36m a commitment it can be quite jolly can’t it.’ What better way Poly Styrene to being kind and to close Primadonna than with Self Esteem’s was the fi rst good to the most Sunday afternoon headline slot. As the title of her woman of important person in forthcoming album directs: Prioritise Pleasure. colour in the your life: you. Join UK to front a the wedding successful rock band as the frontwoman of X-Ray parade to the Spex. She introduced the world to a new sound of chapel on Sunday rebellion, using her unconventional voice to sing morning — wearing white is about identity, consumerism, postmodernism, and entirely optional — and we’ll add everything she saw unfolding in late 1970s Britain, you to the registrar’s list. with a rare prescience. Her daughter Celeste and her friend Zoë Howe wrote the acclaimed Dayglo:

15 14 Show Us Who You Are Diverse Book Awards 2020, Saturday 7pm • Farm Barn and shortlisted Author of the 2020 Children’s Debut of the Year for the YA Elle McNicoll reads from her new book Book Prize Show Us Who You Are. 12-year-old Cora and the Foyles is dragged to a party by her brother Children’s Book FOR KIDS Gregor, who is keen for her to meet of the Year; his boss — the intimidating CEO of and Samantha the Pomegranate Institute, Magnus Baines’ Harriet Kiran Millwood Hargrave Hawkins. Once there, she unexpectedly Versus the strikes up a friendship with his son, AND THE YOUNG AT HEART Galaxy has Adrien. They soon discover that their won a slew of prizes including at the difference is what draws them together Coventry Inspiration Book Awards 2021. — Cora is autistic and Adrien has ADHD. Cora is intrigued by Pomegranate, who are using AI to create Hula with Abby Feed the animals Craft activities with life-like holograms Sunday 11am • Farm Barn Get ready to bring your Daily 3pm • Meet at Farm Barn of people to provide Suffolk Artlink core to the fl oor for a Join staff from MEAL as they feed the animals comfort to grieving Saturday 12pm • seriously good fun fi tness on site. families. Magnus Farm Barn and the charming class for the whole family! Crafty goings on with head scientist Dr This is a class for the total Morning Movie Magic in the Suffolk Artlink who will be Gold are keen to beginner as well as the Bone Building on hand for pebble painting, get Cora more fi tness fanatic. We combine Every morning, all morning drawing and sketching involved, but her tried and tested fi tness Take some time out from the grown-ups in our and lots of other artistic Dad is suspicious techniques with hip shakin’ dedicated kids’ fi lm shed, where we’ll be screening endeavours. Drop by and of their motives. It Hula for a great full body a range of classic and contemporary fi lms to keep devote a little time to making becomes clear that cardio workout. You’ll be you entertained. Bring your own popcorn, we’ll your own masterpiece. Pomegranate have spinning like a pro in no provide the beanbags, some steam engines and Elle McNicoll a much darker aim. time! Hula hooping is a great a lot of lawnmowers to look at (no, really!). Make a Movie on your Can Cora be the one to low-impact exercise so it Smart Phone stop them? can be good for those who Samantha Baines with Farm Barn fun with Museum can’t do regular exercises like her book Harriet Versus Saturday 12pm • Waterstones, Home Close running, but don’t be fooled... Join us for this documentary-making masterclass Campfi re storytelling for Families the Galaxy Experts we aim to hoop you hard, Drop in to the Farm Barn throughout the where you’ll be guided through the process of Saturday 8pm • Farm Barn so spin steady, spin fast and day for a range of crafty, creative and clever making your very own Primadonna movie. You Professional storyteller Justine de Mierre will be you will get a mega calorie blast! With qualifi ed activities, including charcoal making/drawing; just need to bring your imaginations, and your telling tales from around the world, suitable for HulaFit instructor Abby Close. lino cutting workshops; beeswax wrap making; smart phones, as you create a short fi lm about all ages, as well as getting interactive with some mini beast walks; and the chance to make your ‘the world as it should be’, led by fi lmmaker Remi Extreme Storytelling — where Justine will make own macrame plant hangers. Morrison. There are prizes for Best Movie, and we’ll up a story on the spot from audience suggestions Craft activities with Suffolk Artlink screen our favourites on our YouTube channel too. thrown in as the tale is told. Plus a chance for Sunday 12pm • Medieval Barn, Home Close Holly Webb — Earth Friends Reading graduates of the Introduction to Storytelling Crafty goings on with Suffolk Artlink who will be on hand for pebble painting, drawing and Friday 8pm • Farm Barn Magic Floor Productions: Alice In workshop on Friday evening to tell their fi rst tales. sketching and lots of other artistic endeavours. Holly Webb started out as a children’s book Wonderland Drop by and devote a little time to making your editor and wrote her fi rst series for the publisher Parents Get Lost: Writing New Saturday 2pm • Farm Barn own masterpiece. she worked for. She has been writing ever since Meet the characters from Magic Floors Production Heroes for Young Readers — although her pet cats are always nosing around of Alice in Wonderland. Say hello to Alice and the Sunday 10am • TWAISB Stage when she is trying to Mad Hatter and look out for the White Rabbit and This special session for under- type on her laptop — the Queen of Hearts as you join 18s features some of the best YA with over 150 books them for their tea party and and middle grade writers around. to her name. Holly across the site. Ditch your adults and come join will read from her the conversation as these wildly Earth Friends series Workshop with Zoe successful writers cut to the chase about four girls about how they come up with trying to make a Antoniades stories that work for young people, difference to the Saturday 5pm • Farm Barn what inspires them, and how world by caring for Join author of Callie and many swear words they’re allowed the environment: Jimmy children’s books, Zoe in each novel. With bestselling there will be craft Antoniades, for a creative novelist Juno Dawson, who activities and a writing workshop for kids won the 2020 YA Book Q&A too! aged 6-10 years. Prize for her YA novel Meat Market; Elle McNicoll’s Bake Your Holly Webb Moxie: Make Your fi rst superhero story Show Own Bread Own Zine Zoe Antoniades Us Who You Are won the Animals Saturday 6pm • Farm Barn 2020 Children’s Debut of the Year; Kiran Millwood Saturday 9am & 11am, Sunday 11am • Join us for this Moxie-inspired zine workshop: just like in Amy Poehler’s hit Hargrave moved from Bread Oven in Home Close movie, you’ll be given everything you need to children’s fi ction to Join writer and artisanal baker Sonya Hundal for this create your own zine, and start your own kick-ass YA with her book The special baking session for kids. Shape and bake your movement. Scissors at the ready! Deathless Girls which own animal bread rolls and make your own pizza. was longlisted for the

17 16 Juno Dawson Key

FRIDAY 30 JULY Writing Fun

Curious Other

Wellness Area Farm Barn Film Area Main Stage Marquee Stage TWAISB Stage Chapel Home Close Regal Cinema Engine Room Bar (Bee Garden) (Upper Field) (Upper Field) 2pm

Mini beast Dying to Divorce Adventure Walk Rosie Trentham

3pm Sophie Mahon and the Ready Mades (3:10 –3:40pm)

4pm

Hopeless Otherhood Imogen Hoist: Lino Cutting Romantics A Musical Life

Real Life Cluedo (meet 5pm in the conservatory)

Killing It: Crime Writers Environmental Health Poly Syrene: Nature Walk (Mandy Primadonna Surgery Festival Craft Activities Panel I Am A Cliché Rawlings) Afternoon Film Reel:

The Stars Are Brighter 6pm Here Why Women Are Poorer Than Men: A Mindful Movement Theatre Royal Bury The Politics of Narration Scratch Choir Money Workshop Charcoal Making with Stacie Graham St Edmunds Digital Performance: Moral Steam Engine

7pm Justine de Mierre: Day of the 20,000 Creative Writing Introduction to Master Minds: Gammon Masters 1: On Jackie Collins: Storytelling Catherine Mayer and Mother Tongue Screenwriting (Sam Lady Boss Workshop Andi Osho Hoyle from Netfl ix)

8pm Resistance and Creative Writing Change: The Politics of Masters 2: How to Plot Holly Webb’s Earth Protest a Novel with Christy Friends Lefteri

9pm J’adore: Michele Roberts in Conversation Adam Curtis: with Viv Groskop It Felt Like A Kiss

10pm Justine de Mierre Campfi re Storytelling GENN Live

11pm

DD Disco: Pop/Northern Soul

19 18 SATURDAY 1 JULY Key Writing Curious Fun Other

Farm Barn Film Area Edgar’s Main Stage Marquee Stage TWAISB Stage Chapel Home Close Regal Cinema Engine Room Bar (Upper Field) (Upper Field) Farmhouse 8am

Yoga for Writers

9am Creative Writing Masters Meet the Animals / 3: What’s in a Word Sheep Dog Demo (Diane Samuels) Saturday Morning Cartoons (DVDs played 10am Creative Writing Masters throughout) 4: Creative Writing Masterclass (Kit de Waal)

11am Better Cut From the Same Bake Your Own Bread Have A Go: Farming Together Cloth Animals

12pm Allyship: Emma Dabiri in Conversation with Make A Movie On Your Sealing the Deal Primadonna Surgery Nikesh Shukla Smart Phone

1pm Creative Writing Masters No Place 5: Literary Journalism Introduction to Improv Like Home? (Julie Wheelwright) BOSH! Live Cooking Demo Found Music: ambient 2pm music — and surprise Poly Styrene: Alice In Wonderland Morris dancing display! I Am A Cliché Dying to Divorce Walkabout + Q&A Afternoon Film Reel: The Stars Are Brighter 3pm Here Perfectly Tasteful: Grace Poetry Open Mic Drop-In This Is How We Come Dent and Sandi Toksvig Feed the Animals Back Stronger Theatre Royal Bury in Conversation St Edmunds Digital Performance: Moral Steam Engine 4pm Creative Writing Masters 6: On Poetry and Getting Day of the 20,000 Dance East Flash Dance/ Over Writer’s Block Imogen Hoist: Gammon Nature Rights Workshop Workshop (4 BROWN GIRLS A Musical Life WHO WRITE)

5pm Is it Me Or Is It Hot In Here? Zoe Antoniades Creative A Roundtable Poly Syrene: Primadonna Surgery Writing Workshop on Menopause I Am A Cliché for Kids

6pm Screen Test (Female Pilot Moxie: Make Your Big Ambition Club) Own Zines

7pm Show Us Who You Are: Consent: Laying Down The Literary Jackie Collins: Make Sioned Laugh Elle McNicoll Reading the Law Lottery Lady Boss for Kids

8pm Justine de Mierre Primadonna Podcast: Sixty Minute Standup Campfi re Live Recording Storytelling

9pm Music Adam Curtis: It Felt Like A Kiss Eliza Shaddad 8:20pm 10pm Mega 9:15pm Amahla 10:15pm

Late Night DJs 11pm 21 20 SUNDAY 1 AUGUST Key Writing Curious Fun Other

Farm Barn Film Area Main Stage Marquee Stage TWAISB Stage Chapel Home Close Regal Cinema Engine Room Bar (Upper Field) (Upper Field)

8am Yoga with The Yoga Girls Rock London Dissident

9am

Self-Wedding Prep Primadonna Surgery

Saturday Morning Cartoons (DVDs played throughout) 10am Rhyme and Shine Parents Get Lost: Literary Lesbians: Bake Your Own Bread Poetry Slam Taking On YA Queers in the Canon Animals

11am Going to the Chapel and Call My Agents We’re Going to Get ... Hula with Abby Self-Partnered

12pm Creative Writing Masters 7: Because You Suffolk Artlink Sally Loader What Are You Waiting For / Watched This Craft Activities Get on With It (Shelley Silas)

1pm On Being other: Monique Roffey in Conversation The Breakup Monologues: Before the Book Zippo the Hose Grooming with Natalie Morris Live Recording

2pm You Had to Creative Writing Masters 8: Be There: Writing Historical Fiction Dying to Divorce Mini Beast Adventure Walk Historical Fiction (Amanda Hodgkinson, Panel Uni of Suffolk)

3pm Afternoon Film Reel: Looking After Self Esteem Down at the Dairy Tour The Stars Are Brighter Here Number One Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds Digital Performance: Moral Steam 4pm Engine Imogen Hoist: A Musical Life Day of the 20,000 Gammon

5pm Poly Syrene: I Am A Cliché

6pm

7pm Jackie Collins: Lady Boss

8pm

9pm Adam Curtis: It FeltLike A Kiss 23 22 Amethysts and worked in India and Colombia but still talks Electronic duo Amethysts are about Yorkshire way too much. Her play about renowned for expertly crafting their Mary Wollstonecraft debuted in London’s West WHO’S WHO brand of Indie Electro, using soothing End and she led the campaign for a memorial synths and biting guitars to create sculpture for Wollstonecraft (AKA the most trolled an intense, atmospheric experience. artwork in living memory). Bee is chair of the new With support from Radio 1, Radio 6, they have human rights education charity, the Wollstonecraft racked up over a million plays on Spotify. Tom Society. She judged the Poetry Society Young Poets’ award and the Stanford Dolman Travel Book the fast-paced co-working spaces of East London. Robinson calls this Suffolk duo “Genius” 4 BROWN GIRLS of the Year. She used to be a showgirl, has four During the pandemic, Abigail taught a number kids, loves books, and mostly lives at the British WHO WRITE of creative writing workshops online and regularly Roshni Goyate, Sharan Hunjan, Andi Osho Library. shares her writing journey on social media. Andi Osho’s 18 year career spans fi lm, Sheena Patel and Sunnah Khan television and theatre including TV are four writers that make up the shows such as Line of Duty, I May Belinda Kirk talented collective 4 BROWN GIRLS Ada Campe Belinda is an explorer and Ada Campe is a variety artiste who Destroy You, Death In Paradise, WHO WRITE. They have recently brought their entrepreneur, and the leading delights audiences across the UK Curfew, Kiri and EastEnders and radical, polyphonic performance style to bear voice promoting the benefi ts of with her unique blend of cabaret, feature fi lms like DC Comic’s Shazam and Lights on a series of individual pamphlets with Rough adventure on wellbeing. An Explorer comedy, variety and magic. In Out. As a comedian she appeared regularly on Trade Books (2020) which resonate with their in her own right, Belinda has walked 2018 she came Top of the Bill at Mock The Week, Room 101, Live at The Apollo and collaborative force. across Nicaragua, searched for camels in China’s the Hackney Empire New Act of the Year Show The Late, Late Show and toured three sell-out Desert of Death, discovered ancient rock paintings (NATYS) and won the Leicester Square Theatre Edinburgh shows. She has written for the BBC, Fox in Lesotho, pioneered inclusive expeditions for Abby Close Old Comedian of the Year competition. In 2019 US and Sky including her comedy horror short, Twin Abby has been hooked on hula people with disabilities, led dozens of youth she won the Stand’s Good Egg Award, and was Thing, E4 Pilot The Andi O Show and her award hooping for over 10 years. She development expeditions around the world and nominated for Best Variety Act in the Chortle winning short fi lms, Amber, The Grid and Brit.I.am. hooped her way through university gained a Guinness World Record for rowing Awards. Andi’s debut novel Asking For A Friend was and corporate jobs and it did published in Feb 2021 and her latest book, Tough unsupported around Britain. She is the founder wonders for her mental health and Crowd will be released in the summer of 2022. Andi of Explorers Connect, a social enterprise that well-being over the years. Having struggled to fi nd Adam Sharp connects people to opportunities for adventures Adam Sharp is an English writer, is also hosts the Creative Sauce podcast – a show any hula hooping classes in Suffolk she trained dedicated to the creative process. and expeditions. Over 10 years she has encouraged with HulaFit during the pandemic to start up her originally from Manchester but over 30,000 ordinary people to discover a world own, and to share the hoopy love when we all currently living in Newcastle-upon- of outdoor challenges and established needed it the most. She ran several classes initially Tyne. He’s also lived in London, Anita Sethi Britain’s National Night of Adventure all to raise money in aid of Suffolk Mind and has Melbourne, Sydney, Queensland, Anita Sethi was born in Manchester, #wildnightout2020. continued teaching ever since to encourage the Channel Islands, the Canary Islands, Mexico, UK. Her new book, I Belong Here: people of all ages, sizes and backgrounds to get and Nashville (he’s not very good at staying still). a Journey Along the Backbone of Adam has had over 30 jobs (he’s not a very loyal Britain is the fi rst in her nature writing BOSH! involved. She now runs hula hooping classes in The bestselling debut cookbook employee either). Some of the things he’s been trilogy, published by Bloomsbury. Stowmarket every Monday and online for those of 2018, the biggest selling vegan paid to do are as follows: catching footballs, I Belong Here has been described as “a thing of further afi eld. cookbook of all time, 26 million views teaching sport in kindergartens, changing beauty” by the Sunday Times, “a memoir of rare a month and double National book nappies, washing dishes, reviewing music, serving power” by the Guardian, and as “a magnifi cent and award winners — Henry and Ian Abi Fellows sandwiches in casinos, juggling bottles, and redemptive achievement” by The Bookseller. Her Abi joined The Good Literary Agency have taken vegan mainstream. They’ve now had walking on stilts. Adam ‘s most recent book is The writing has also appeared in anthologies including in March 2019 and works across over 2 billion views online and are the authors of Correct Order of Biscuits: And Other Meticulously Common People, The Wild Isles and Women on both fi ction and non-fi ction, for three Sunday Times best-selling cookbooks. Assembled Lists of Extremely Valuable Nonsense. . She has written for the Guardian, Observer, children and adults. Before joining Nature i, Sunday Times, Telegraph, Vogue, BBC Wildlife TGLA, Abi worked as a literary scout and appeared on various BBC radio programmes. Cara Tivey at Rosalind Ramsay Ltd for seven years. She has Alex von Tunzelmann Cara has worked with an incredibly Alex von Tunzelmann lives in Twitter: @anitasethi incredibly broad experience in the industry having diverse group of musicians from London. She read history at @ibelong_here. been a literary agent at Georgina Capel Associates The Au Pairs to Blur, the Fine University College, Oxford, and prior to becoming a scout and having also worked Young Cannibals, Billy Bragg afterwards worked as a researcher as a bookseller at Blackwell’s and on the sales Annabelle Williams and Everything But the Girl. Cara on books for authors including Annabelle is a fi nancial journalist team at Faber and Faber. Abi has a BA in English will be performing some of her spiritual jazz at Jeremy Paxman, Felicity Lawrence, John Kay and turned investigative author. She left Literature from Bristol University and an MA in Primadonna — perfect for a summer’s day. English Literature: Issues in Modern Culture from Alison Wolf. Her books include the international The Times to write her fi rst book, an University College London. Abi’s clients include bestselling Indian Summer. exploration of economic inequality Saima Mir, Musa Okwonga, Hafsa Zayyan and between men and women. The book Celeste Bell Celeste Bell spent her earliest years Lizzie Huxley-Jones. is called Why Women Are Poorer Than Men And Amahla living on a Hare Krishna commune Soul singer-songwriter Amahla What We Can Do About It, and it investigates why in the Hertfordshire countryside arrives at Primadonna fresh from women are the majority of the poor but also why Abigail Mann with her mother, Poly Styrene. a headline sold-out show at the there are so few women among the rich. The book Abigail is a comedy writer living in After completing her degree from Jazz Cafe. Receiving critical acclaim was published by Penguin earlier this year and is London and surviving on a diet of Queen Mary University of London, Celeste settled as much for her bold addressing available as an audiobook and e-book as well as a three-shot coffee, bourbons, and in Madrid where she worked as a teacher and of sociopolitical issues as for her exceptional physical book. vegetarian sausage rolls. She was formed the ska-punk band, Debutant Disco. After voice. Her latest single “Do Something You Can’t born and brought up in Norfolk, fi nishing a Master’s degree in Barcelona, Celeste Take Back” has been playlisted across all music which she says is to blame for the sardonic Bee Rowlatt returned to London to work alongside Zoë Howe platforms and, having been selected by PRS Bee is a writer and producer. Her humour that runs through her novels. Abigail was on Day Glo! The Poly Styrene Story, published by Foundation as one of their Despite festival and award-winning travelogue In Search the runner up in 2019’s Comedy Women in Print Omnibus Press in 2019. They then joined forces tour cancellations due to Covid-19, this year has of Mary was a ‘biography of the year’ award for The Lonely Fajita: her fi rst novel. Abigail with Paul Sng to make Poly Styrene: I Am a Cliché, seen Amahla’s momentum accelerate, Amahla (The Independent.) She co-wrote takes inspiration from unconventional cross- a fi lm to accompany the book, released earlier has been granted funding from PRS Foundation, the best-selling Talking About Jane sections of modern society and the impact this has this year with Modern Films and Sky Arts. Celeste mentorship from Kobalt, mentorship from Apple Austen in Baghdad, dramatised by the BBC, and on identity and the relationships we create. She currently manages her mother’s artistic estate, and international recognition from Midem as part was one of Virago’s Fifty Shades of Feminism. wrote her fi rst novel after teaching at secondary curating an exhibition at the 198 Contemporary of their talent exporter programme. Bee was a journalist at BBC World Service, the school for a number of years and whilst working in Arts and Learning Centre in Brixton in 2019. She Telegraph, and other curious places. She has lived

25 24 plans to tour the exhibition internationally after the Biography and winner of the Lambda Literary Emma Dabiri Eva Verde pandemic and is currently developing a new fi lm Award), Wild Girls, the bestselling Mrs Keppel and Emma Dabiri is an Irish-Nigerian Eva Verde is a writer from Forest project, with the working title of Mr. Gorbachev Her Daughter (also winner of the Lambda Literary academic, activist, broadcaster Gate, East London. She is of dual and the Krishna Kids. Award and a New York Times ‘Notable Book of the and teaching fellow in the Africa heritage. Identity and class are Year’), Selkirk’s Island (winner of the Whitbread department at SOAS and a Visual recurring themes throughout her Chardine Taylor Stone Biography Award), Coconut Chaos, Edith Cavell Sociology PhD researcher at work as she studies towards an MA Chardine Taylor Stone is an award (winner of the EDP Jarrold East Anglian Book Goldsmiths. She is the Sunday Times and Irish in Prose Fiction. Her love song to libraries, I Am Not winning Black feminist activist, of the Year Award), Murder at Wrotham Hill Times bestselling author of What White People Your Tituba forms part of Kit De Waal’s Common writer and public speaker. She was (shortlisted for the Crime Writers’ Association Gold Can Do Next and 2019 debut Don’t Touch My Hair, People: An Anthology of Working-Class Writers featured in The Voice newspaper as Dagger for Non-Fiction) and the novel Gwendolen. (both Penguin). A regular broadcaster on the BBC, with Unbound. Eva’s debut novel Lives Like Mine, one of the Women Who Rocked the She is a Rainbow List National Treasure and she Emma presented ‘Back in Time Brixton’ (BBC2), is published by Simon and Schuster. Eva lives in World in 2015, Diva Magazine’s LGBT Power List lives in London and Cornwall. ‘Britain’s Lost Masterpieces’ (BBC4), as well as the Essex with her husband, three daughters and 2016 and Buzzfeed’s ‘The Most Inspiring British sociological experiment ‘Is Love Racist?’ (Ch4). Labrador dogs. LGBT People Of 2016‘. A regular on the Pride Power Diane Samuels Most recently, she hosted Radio 4’s critically- List, in May 2017 Chardine won the British LGBT Diane grew up in Liverpool in the acclaimed documentary ‘Journeys into Afro- Florence Olájídé Award for ‘Outstanding Contribution to LGBT+ 1960s and 70s and now lives in futurism’. Emma Dabiri lives in London. Florence is an educator and writer. life’. In 2018 she was nominated by Diva Awards London. Her play Kindertransport Born in London, she spent her for LGBT Activist/Campaigner of the Year and has won the Verity Bargate and Meyer- Emma Shercliff early childhood in a white foster again been nominated by Diva Awards in 2020 Whitworth Awards, and has been Emma Shercliff is a literary agent family. At the age of six, she moved for Unsung Hero. Chardine previously founded performed all over the world. Recent work includes with over 20 years of experience in with her birth family to Lagos, Black Girl’s Picnic, a movement in collective self The A-Z of Mrs P, with composer Gwyneth Herbert, the publishing industry. In 2020, Nigeria where she grew up surrounded by a large care for Black women and girls, and Stop Rainbow Southwark Playhouse, 2014; Poppy and George, she founded Laxfi eld Literary extended family. Florence graduated from the Racism which worked to stop racist performances Palace Theatre, Watford, 2016; This is Me, snapshots Associates as a response to the University of Lagos, Nigeria, with a honours degree in LGBTQI venues. As a writer, educator and of girlhood, interactive memoir as monologue, lack of literary agents outside London. She in Education. She returned to the UK where she anti-racist activist Chardine often uses music, Chickenshed, 2018. Plays for BBC radio, include provides representation for authors in Suffolk worked as a teacher, before gaining an MA in art and fashion history to instigate socio-political Hen Party, Psyche, and Woman’s Hour serial, and Norfolk, and writers from under-represented Further and Higher Education from the Institute analysis. She lectures and facilitates workshops Tiger Wings. In 2019 she mounted 3 concerts of backgrounds. Her clients include Kalaf Epalanga, of Education, University of London. Florence on topics such as Black feminist histories, Black new opera Song of Dina, with composer Maurice Tom Shakespeare, Olumide Popoola and became the headteacher of a large London Queer identities, Afrofuturism, music subculture Chernick, giving voice to Dina, silenced sister of the Victoria Panton Bacon. Emma has worked for Primary school and was later appointed as one histories and Black involvement in the esoteric, Bible’s Joseph of multi-coloured coat fame. Her publishing companies in Paris, Melbourne, Abuja of Her Majesty’s Inspector of Schools in England. weird and downright bizarre! She is regularly asked plays and book, Diane Samuels: Kindertransport and London, and as a consultant for the British Florence now runs her own consultancy providing to speak and consult on these topics for media are published by Nick Hern Books. For thirty years, Council in Nigeria, Iran and Ukraine. She was school improvement guidance and support to a such as Channel 4 news, BBC Radio 4 Woman’s she has been facilitating writing workshops for formerly Managing Director of Macmillan English range of educational establishments. She lives in Hour, London Live and TedXTottenham as well as all ages, encouraging regular creative practice Campus, a global digital publishing division of Kent and is married with three adult children and fi lm/culture festivals, conferences, museums and for a vibrant, productive life. She invites child-like Macmillan Publishers, and Sales & Rights Director two grandchildren. Her memoir, Coconut, detailing art institutions such as the BFI, Tate Modern, ICA playfulness in all her workshops and a spirit of of Cassava Republic Press UK, an award-winning her early childhood in England, growing up in and British Library. Chardine has also been an “stop making sense, let go of thinking and give independent African publishing company. Africa and her subsequent return to the UK will be invited speaker at universities in the UK including it a go”. Her daily writing prompts on Instagram, Emma holds an MA in Modern Languages from published in July 2021 by Thread Books. Cambridge, Oxford, Manchester and many more. Facebook and Twitter are widely enjoyed @ Cambridge University and an MA in International Chardine is currently working on her fi rst book WritingBright. https://www.writingbright.org Development & Education from the UCL Institute Sold Out: How Black Feminism Lost its Soul, a Francesca Specter of Education. She is a doctoral candidate at the Francesca Specter is a London- critical analysis of the neoliberalisation of Black Eliza Shaddad UCL Institute of Education; her PhD research based journalist, podcaster and the Feminism, to be published by Cassava Republic Eliza’s singular artistry is the focuses on the role and contribution of women founder of Alonement – a platform press in 2022. product of an incredibly diverse and within the African publishing industry. She lives in dedicated to the time we spend borderless upbringing. Raised across Suffolk. alone, and why it matters. Formerly Deb Googe seven countries, she is the daughter deputy lifestyle editor at Yahoo, Francesca has Deb Googe is an English musician, of a Sudanese astrophysicist and a Erin Kelly worked for the Daily Express, Healthy magazine best known as bassist for the band Scottish diplomat. She has been championed by Erin Kelly is one of the most well and British Vogue, while she has written on a My Bloody Valentine, and cited as the Sunday Times, Rolling Stone, Zane Lowe, Huw respected and critically acclaimed freelance basis for The Telegraph, The Guardian the fourth most famous person to Stephens, the BBC, i-D magazine and multiple voices in the crime writing and Grazia. She has a Master of Arts degree in come from Yeovil. Deb currently other tastemakers. Her reputation for powerful community. She is the Sunday Times Magazine Journalism from City University. She plays with the Thurston Moore Band as well as live shows has seen her touring extensively, taking bestselling author of The Poison started the Alonement blog in 2019, and launched MBV, and has also played with Snowpony, Primal in the UK, Europe, and the USA. She has also Tree, The Sick Rose, The Burning Air, The Ties her podcast of the same name in early 2020 — Scream and Joybabe. collaborated with award-winning poet Anthony That Bind, He Said/She Said, Stone Mothers and interviewing guests including Alain de Botton, Anaxagorou and contemporary jazz group Hansu- Broadchurch: The Novel, inspired by the mega-hit Poorna Bell and Daisy Buchanan. Her fi rst book Debbie Smith Tori and is a founding member of seven-year- TV series. In 2013 The Poison Tree became a major Alonement (Quercus, 2021) empowers you to value Guitarist in a multitude bands strong female arts collective Girls Girls Girls. Her ITV drama and was a Richard & Judy Summer your own company and dedicate quality time over the years, playing Shoegaze new album “The Woman You Want” is already Read in 2011. He Said/She Said spent six weeks in to yourself, whoever you are and whatever your to Britpop, Electro-Filth to Music receiving great reviews. “It is a record of me the top ten in both hardback and paperback, was relationship status. Hall. Six string banjo player in Ye fi guring myself out,” she explains. longlisted for the Theakston’s Old Peculier crime Nuns, the world’s premier all-female novel of the year award, and selected for both the ENN Monks tribute group. Co-promoter and cunning Elle McNicoll Simon Mayo Radio 2 and Richard & Judy Book Brighton based, trans-national, manipulator of vintage vinyl at The Nitty Gritty, Elle McNicoll is an award-winning Clubs. She has worked as a freelance journalist genre blenders ENN (pronounced London. Subject of a Wikipedia page that she children’s author whose debut since 1998 and written for publications including Jenn) are a musical riot ready to didn’t create herself, honest. A Kind of Spark won the Blue the Guardian, The Sunday Times, Daily Mail, New command your attention and mess Peter Book Award for Best Story, Statesman, Red, Elle and Cosmopolitan. She with your brain, applying their Diana Souhami Blackwell’s Overall Book of the Year teaches creative writing for Curtis Brown Creative DIY approach to funk and punk. Championed Diana Souhami is the author of and was nominated for the Waterstones Children’s and Guardian Masterclasses. Born in London in by The Great Escape, Radio X, BBC 6 Music, and Gluck: Her Biography, Gertrude Book Prize. Her books are published by inclusive 1976, she lives in north London with her husband Glastonbury Festival over the past year, ENN’s EP, and Alice, Greta and Cecil, The indie press, Knights Of, and she is passionate and daughters. Liminal, contains unshakeable tunes with a no BS Trials of Radclyffe Hall (shortlisted about neurodivergent representation in fi ction. approach to the zeitgeist in their lyrics — and bags for the James Tait Black Prize for of attitude.

27 26 George Frampton / Dance face through TV roles in the sketch series Naked of ‘Where’s My Vagina? women’s collective www. nationwide group hikes, activity days and training Video and sitcom Absolutely Fabulous French/ wmv.org.uk. events and encourage Black women to reconnect East Saunders, Bottom Miss Marple etc. She wrote with nature. In 2020, Josephine was one of the George is a London-based dance and stared in her own BBC Radio series ‘Life with winners of a writing competition run by Black Girls artist who loves to get people Jini Reddy Lederer’ and ‘All Change’. Other books include Hike and The Great Outdoors magazine, with a dancing! Throughout her career Jini Reddy is the author of ‘Coping’, ‘Single Minding’ and ‘Finger Food’. She piece titled ‘A Place To Belong’. she has worked with a range of Wanderland, shortlisted for published a comedy novel ‘Losing It’ (Pan Mac) in choreographers in a variety of dance styles and the Stanford Dolman Award for 2015 which was nominated for the PG Wodehouse enjoys the excitement of jumping between Travel Book of the Year ’21 and Julie Wheelwright Comedy literary award, before setting up her own contemporary, hip-hop theatre and commercial for the Wainwright Prize ’20. She Julie Wheelwright is an author, literary prize: the Comedy Women in Print prize. projects. She still has a close connection with has contributed to anthologies and, penned a historian and journalist, who has been This offers a publishing deal to the unpublished Dance East since graduating their Centre for guidebook, and her texts and poems have been teaching creative writing for many winner from Harper Collins and a cash prize to the Advanced training in 2013 and is thrilled to displayed in exhibitions at London’s Royal Festival years. Her books of historical non- published winner. be working with them again to be bringing a Hall and at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. As fi ction include The Fatal Lover: Mata Madonna vs Beyonce dance off! a journalist and travel writer, she has written Hari and the Myth of Women in Espionage (1992), Holly Webb widely for national press and in 2019 was named and Esther: The Remarkable True Story of Esther Holly Webb lives in Reading with her a National Geographic Woman of Impact. Jini Wheelwright (2008) and most recently, Sisters in Girls Rock London husband, three children, and three holds an MA in English Literature from Avignon Arms: Female Warriors from Antiquity to the New Girls Rock London is an award- demanding cats. She started writing University, France and a BA in Geography from Millennium (Osprey 2020) which featured on BBC winning charity based in Hackney. eighteen years ago while working as McGill University, Montreal. In her work, she Radio 3’s Free Thinking, and on podcasts for Dan We provide high-quality music a children’s books editor. She now occupies a cross-cultural, cross-genre space where Snow’s HistoryHits, Prospect Magazine, Monocle programming for young and adult writes full-time, and has written over a hundred place, spirituality and culture meet. Jini was born Radio, BBC History Magazine, History Today, women, trans, and non-binary books, which have been translated into thirty in Britain to Indian parents from South Africa, and among others. Sisters has recently been published people, with a specifi c focus on increasing access languages. Her most recent titles are Nadia and was raised in Quebec, Canada. She now lives in in Italian and is short-listed as the British Army’s for people who face barriers to participation. the Forever Kitten, Earth Friends and the Museum south west London. Military History Book of the Year. She holds a PhD Kittens books. in journalism and is currently senior course tutor on Grace Dent the MSt Creative Writing at the University of Oxford. Grace Dent began her career Joelle Taylor Joelle Taylor is an award-winning She founded the MA creative writing non-fi ction at working as a journalist on women’s Jan Pulsford Jan Pulsford is a long time electronic poet, playwright, author and editor City, University of London where she taught for 13 magazines including Marie Claire, Composer, Virtual Performance who toured the world with her latest years. Cosmo and Glamour, before moving Artist, Songwriter/Producer. She has collection Songs My Enemy Taught to the Guardian as fi rst a TV and spent a lifetime as a professional Me. She is widely anthologised, the then a food critic. She spent seven years as a Juno Dawson creative, from songwriting with author of 4 full poetry collections and 3 plays and The bestselling author of Clean and restaurant critic for the Evening Standard, and Cyndi Lauper to touring with Thompson Twins, is currently completing her debut book of short This Book Is Gay, Juno is also became a regular judge on Masterchef before writing for fi lm & TV, studio sessions to producing, stories The Night Alphabet, with support from screenwriter, journalist and occasional returning to The Guardian as a regular columnist recording and remixing. Now also Festival Director the Arts Council. Her new poetry collection C+NTO actress; most recently seen in the for its Feast magazine. She has written 11 YA novels of Spirit of Place festival in Woodbridge. & Othered Poems was published in June 2021 by BBC’s Holby City and I May Destroy You. and the non-fi ction title How to Leave Twitter. Her Westbourne Press. She founded SLAMbassadors, recent memoir Hungry the UK’s national youth slam championships, traces her story from growing up in the northeast Jen Ives Justine de Mierre for the Poetry Society in 2001 and was its Artistic eating beige food to becoming one of our most- Jen is known for her often sideways Justine is a passionate, energetic and Director and National Coach until 2018. She has loved foodies. look at what it means to be a trans inventive performer who delights in woman today, as well as mischievous recently been commissioned to develop her connecting playfully with audiences, takes on her family, gay rights, self spoken word theatre show based in C+NTO to whether through her storytelling, Hafsa Zayyan image and whatever else is on her tour throughout 2021/2022. Joelle is the host her improvisation or her music. A Hafsa Zayyan is a writer and dispute mind. She has recently written for BBC Radio 4 and co-curator of Out-Spoken, the UK’s Centre’s professional performer for over 25 years, Justine resolution lawyer based in London. Extra, Dave, Pulped, as well as writing & performing premier poetry and music club, currently resident came from a background in community and She won the inaugural #Merky in the multi-award nominated SeanceCast for at the Southbank Centre Purcell Room. A Radio 4 street theatre and began storytelling in 2008. Her Books New Writers’ Prize in 2019. We HatTrick Productions. She has also written and documentary featuring poems from C+NTO and multifaceted storytelling practice ‘So… what’s the Are All Birds of Uganda is her debut presented by Joelle, Butch, was broadcast in May story?’ ranges from story play sessions for under novel, inspired by the mixed background from starred in a sketch for Channel 4. 2020. 5s, to adults only pub nights to story projects with which she hails. She studied Law at the University prisoners. Her love of live, spontaneous, responsive of Cambridge and holds a masters’ degree from Jenny Sealey performance runs through her other performance the University of Oxford. Josephine Hall Jenny Sealey has been Graeae’s Josephine Hall is a writer and creator practices, from co-founding improv company Artistic Director since 1997. She who enjoys experimenting and The Unqualifi ed Yes, to hosting open mic events Hannah Griffi ths has pioneered a new theatrical adventuring. Born in West Cornwall to support new performers, to gigging as her Hannah worked publishing for over language and coined the ‘aesthetics to Jamaican and English parents, musical persona Lady J who encourages audience twenty years – as an agent at Curtis access’ as an artistic expression, Josephine feels a connection to percussion and hands out cherry bakewell awards! Brown and most recently as an experimenting with bilingual BSL and English, coastal landscapes and is now based in Brighton. editor at Faber & Faber. Her authors pre-recorded BSL, creative captioning, in ear/ live She endeavours to make work that is honest, included Eimear McBride, Miriam audio description methods. Credits for Graeae Jyoti Patel accessible and amplifi es marginalised voices, Jyoti Patel is the 2020/21 #Merky Books Toews, Rachel Cusk & Max Porter. Her job now is include: Blood Wedding (co-produced with particularly those from the global majority. Her New Writers’ Prize Winner. She is a in TV. She works as a book scout for super-indie Dundee Rep, Derby Theatre), The Threepenny creative work tends to explore themes such as graduate of the Creative Writing Prose All3Media, fi nding books and writers for the many Opera (co-directed with Peter Rowe, co-produced identity, nature, adventure and healing. She has Fiction MA from the University of East producers in the group. All3Media produces a with New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich, Nottingham had a few homes, and her identity and sense of Anglia (2019-20) and is working on her huge range of TV shows including Call the Midwife, and Leeds Playhouses, Birmingham Rep); Reasons what it means to belong is constantly shifting and fi rst novel, which will be published by #Merky Books. Gogglebox, Fleabag, Race Across the World, To Be Cheerful (2010 co-produced with The New redefi ning. Supported by Arts Council England, Hollyoaks and many more. Wolsey, and Theatre Royal Stratford East). She is Josephine is currently working on multidisciplinary currently rehearsing a Tokyo production of The collaborative projects and planning her fi rst Karline Smith Tempest with artists from Japan, Bangladesh and Born to Jamaican parents who Helen Lederer novel. She recently created new work as part of came to Manchester in the sixties, Helen Lederer started her writing UK. Jenny co-directed the London 2012 Paralympic a soundscape installation for Brighton Festival. Karline was raised in Longsight, and acting career as part of the Opening Ceremony alongside Bradley Hemmings Josephine is a member of Black Girls Hike UK Manchester. She is the author of the alternative comedy scene of the (GDIF). She also won the Liberty Human Rights - an organisation that provides a safe space for dark and compelling crime novels, early 1980s. She became a familiar Arts Award. Jenny is also the founder member Black women to explore the outdoors. BGH host Moss Side Massive and Full Crew. Both books

29 28 received excellent reviews from, the Times Literary BBC and The Times, and is the founder of Asian Apple: A Life with Books, Writers and Virago was Melody Razak Supplement, and City Life Magazine. Her third Booklist, a non-profi t that advocates for diversity published in 2020 by OUP. She won A Lifetime’s Melody Razak is a British Iranian novel, Goosebumps and Butterfl ies Are Fairy in publishing. Her new novel, Truth Be Told, is out Achievement at WOW, London’s Southbank fi ction writer from London, with Tales a quirky, contemporary romance novel was now. Women of the World festival in 2018. an MA in Creative Writing from published recently. She currently works as a full Birkbeck. She has had short stories time Training Coordinator while writing a fourth Kieran Yates Louise Mumford published in the Mechanics Institute novel, and a collection of commissioned short Kieran Yates is a journalist and Louise Mumford was born and Review, the Bath Short Story Anthology and the stories. She is also the author of four published author who writes about culture, lives in South Wales. From a young Brick Lane Short Story Prize. Before she started short stories. Karline loves all things literature politics and the immigrant age she loved books and dancing, writing, she owned treacle&co, a cafe in Brighton related and loves to share this passion with imagination. She writes regularly for but hated having to go to sleep, and more recently worked in the kitchens of everyone. The Guardian, BBC and contributed convinced that she might miss Honey and Co in London as a pastry chef. She is to the award-winning book of essays The Good out on something interesting happening in the currently living in Brighton. Moth is her debut Kate Davies Immigrant in 2015. world whilst she dozed – much to her mother’s novel. Kate Davies is a novelist, screenwriter frustration! Insomnia has been a part of her life and author of children’s books. Kiran Millwood Hargrave ever since. She studied English Literature at Michele Roberts Her debut novel In at the Deep Kiran Millwood Hargrave is an university and graduated with fi rst class honours. Michele Roberts has published End won the 2020 Polari Prize and award-winning poet, playwright, and As a teacher she tried to pass on her love of novels, short stories, poetry, essays, was shortlisted for the Bollinger novelist. Her bestselling works for reading to her students (and discovered that the memoir and artist’s books. Her Everyman Wodehouse prize for comic fi ction. The children include The Girl of Ink & secret to successful teaching is… stickers! She is novel Daughters of the House won Guardian described it as ‘without doubt, the after- Stars, and have won numerous aware that is, essentially, bribery.) In the summer the W.H.Smith Award and was party book for anyone looking to continue their awards including the Waterstones Children’s Book of 2019 Louise experienced a once-in-a-lifetime shortlisted for the Booker Prize. Her memoir Paper Fleabag fun’. She lives in London with her wife. Prize, the British Book Awards Children’s Book of moment: she was discovered as a new writer Houses was a Radio 4 Book of the Week. She the Year, and the Blackwell’s Children’s Book of the by her publisher at the Primadonna Festival. is Professor Emeritus of Creative Writing at the Kate Williams Year, and been shortlisted for prizes such as the Everything has been a bit of a whirlwind since University of East Anglia. She lives in London. Kate Williams is a professor of Costa Children’s Book Award and the Blue Peter then. Louise lives in Cardiff with her husband and history, author and broadcaster. She Best Story Award. The Mercies is her fi rst novel for spends her time trying to get down on paper all the marvellous and frightening things that Monique Roffey writes historical biographies and adults. Kiran lives by the river in Oxford, with her Monique Roffey is an award winning happen in her head. Her debut book, Sleepless, historical fi ction and her ninth book husband, artist Tom de Freston, and their rescue Trinidadian born British writer of a “frighteningly inventive” speculative thriller was on Mary Queen of Scots. She cat, Luna. novels, essays, literary journalism inspired by her own experience of insomnia, was has presented various programmes on television, and a memoir. Her most recent published by HQ Digital in December 2020. It has including The Stuarts and Inside Versailles. novel, The Mermaid of Black Conch, Kirsty Capes recently been optioned for television. Kirsty Capes works in publishing (Peepal Tree Press) won the Costa Book of the Year Katherine Angel and, as a care leaver, is an advocate Award, 2020, and was nominated for seven major Katherine Angel is the author of for better representation for care- Mandu Reid awards. The fi lm rights were sold to Dorothy Street Tomorrow Sex Will Be Good Again experienced people in the media. In April 2019, Mandu became the Pictures and will be developed by Film Four. Her (Verso), Daddy Issues (Peninsula), She recently completed her PhD fi rst person of colour to lead a other Caribbean novels, The White Woman on and Unmastered (Penguin). She which investigates female-centric care narratives national political party in British the Green Bicycle and House of Ashes have been directs the MA in Creative and in contemporary fi ction, under the supervision history when she took the helm at nominated for major awards too (Costa, Orange, Critical Writing at Birkbeck College, University of of 2019 Booker prize-winner, Bernardine Evaristo. the Women’s Equality Party. Prior Encore etc). Archipelago won the OCM Bocas London. Her writing has appeared in The Guardian, Careless is her fi rst novel. to that she spent 12 years working at City Hall for Award for Caribbean Literature in 2013. Her work Granta, The White Review, Aeon, and Los Angeles all three Mayors of London. In 2015 she founded has been translated into several languages. She Review of Books amongst others. Laura Dockrill The Cup Effect — a charitable social enterprise, is a co-founder of Writers Rebel within Extinction Laura Dockrill is an award winning advocacy, and campaigning organisation that Rebellion. She is a Senior Lecturer at Manchester Kay Stonham author and illustrator. What Have I tackles period poverty in the UK and globally. Metropolitan University and a tutor for the Kay Stonham is a comedy writer/ Done? is Laura’s fi rst book for adults. In 2019 she was recognised by Apolitical as one National Writers Centre. performer with many credits on She has written thirteen books for of the top 100 most infl uential people in global Radio and TV. She has taught children and young adults. She has gender policy alongside Michelle Obama, Melinda Gates, and Ruth Bader Ginsburg amongst others. Nadia Gilani scriptwriting at Bournemouth been shortlisted for the Waterstones Book of The Former news journalist, Nadia Gilani Following a successful general election campaign University and works as a freelance Year Prize, long listed for the Carnegie Medal and is a writer with a nose for a good later that year which pushed ending violence screenwriting tutor and script coach. In 2019, with shortlisted for the YA Book Prize 2018. She has story. Inequality and social justice against women up the political agenda, Mandu Abigail Burdess, she founded Female Pilot Club earned plaudits like ‘Top 10 literary Talent’ from which are issues close to her heart is currently leading the Party’s campaigns in to address, in a positive way, the low numbers of The Times. Laura has appeared on a host of TV are themes that often fi nd their response to the Coronavirus crisis to make lasting female written sitcoms on British TV by producing programmes; CBeebies, Blue Peter, Newsnight way into her writing. After several years working in change for women’s equality. readings of comedy pilot scripts. The sell-out and BBC Breakfast to name a few. Her radio campaigns and communications jobs, Nadia left readings have been an enormous success with prowess spans across the entire BBC network, news desks to teach yoga and discovered quite top comedy talent like Sarah Hadland, Amelia having performed works on Radio 1 through 6 Mega quickly how the so-called wellness industry isn’t Bulmore, Amanda Wilkin, Jordan Stephens, including Woman’s Hour and Open Book. She Mega is one of the strongest voices all it’s cracked up to be. She later started writing Greg McHugh and Sindhu Vee taking part. has written for the BFI, BBC Radio, Channel 4, The to surface from the contemporary about what she sees as the darker side of wellness Grounded by the pandemic the pilots ran the Test British Council, The Young Vic and the National soul scene in London. Making an — from cultural appropriation and colonialism Flight Mentorship Scheme Plus, supported by Theatre. Laura is on the advisory panel at The instant impact with her debut to class and capitalism — on Instagram as @ ScreenSkills and Comedy50:50. You can fi nd out Ministry Of Stories, and has judged many literary single ‘Chariot’– which has already theyogadissident, a moniker which forms the title more about FPC on femalepilotclub.co.uk. prizes including the John Betjeman Poetry Prize, amassed nearly 6 million combined streams– she’s of her fi rst book of non-fi ction due to be published BBC National Short Story Prize and the BAFTA been quick to cement her status as a star. She’s in 2022. Kia Abdullah Children’s Prize. gained the early support of infl uential online Kia Abdullah is an author and travel platforms Mahogany, NME, Wonderland Magazine, The Clash Magazine and The Independent, as well Naoise Dolan writer from London. Her novel Naoise Dolan is an Irish writer born Lennie Goodings as recognition from BBC Radio 1, BBC Radio 2, BBC Take It Back was named a thriller Lennie Goodings is Chair of Virago in Dublin. She studied English Radio 5 Live and BBC London. Her phenomenal of the year by The Guardian and Press. Her authors include, amongst Literature at Trinity College Dublin voice is not to be missed in her co-headline slot on Telegraph and was selected for an many others, Sarah Waters, Maya and Oxford University. Exciting Times Saturday night at Primadonna. industry-fi rst audio serialisation by HarperCollins Angelou, Eileen Atkins, Natasha is her fi rst novel, an excerpt from and The Pigeonhole. Kia has written for The New Walter, Linda Gran, Susie Boyt which was published in The Stinging Fly. Exciting York Times, The Guardian, The Telegraph, the and Marilynne Robinson. Her book, A Bite of the

31 30 Times has been longlisted for the Women’s Prize (shortlisted for a National Book Award) and The HWA Debut Crown. She is currently working on her Sairish Hussain and the Dylan Thomas Prize, and shortlisted for Boxer (longlisted for the Carnegie Medal). Nikesh second novel. Sairish Hussain was born and the An Post Irish Book Awards, Dalkey Literary was one of Time Magazine’s cultural leaders, brought up in Bradford, West Awards and Waterstones Book of the Year. Naoise Foreign Policy magazine’s 100 Global Thinkers and Rosie Trentham Yorkshire. She studied English was also shortlisted for the Sunday Times / The Bookseller’s 100 most infl uential people in A 17 year old vocalist and keyboard Language and Literature at the University of Warwick Young Writer of the Year publishing in 2016 and in 2017. He is the co-founder player writing tunes infl uenced by University of Huddersfi eld and Award in 2020. of the literary journal, The Good Journal and The Joni Mitchell and Stevie Wonder with progressed onto an MA in Creative Writing. Sairish Good Literary Agency. Nikesh is a fellow of the a maturity beyond her years. Currently completed her PhD in 2019 after being awarded Natalie Koffman Royal Society Of Literature and a member of the studying at the Brit school, alma the university’s Vice-Chancellor’s Scholarship. Her Natalie Koffman is an artist, social Folio Academy. Nikesh’s new book, Brown Baby: A mater of Adele, amongst others. debut novel, The Family Tree, was shortlisted for sculptor and photographer whose Memoir Of Race, Family And Home was released the Costa First Novel Award, and longlisted for the socially engaged work explores the on Bluebird in February 2021. Rosie Wilby Authors’ Club Best First Novel Award. She is now human nature relationship. Recent Rosie Wilby is an award-winning writing her second book. works include ‘Inventory of Stuff’, Nina Burrowes comedian, podcaster, speaker and ‘30 minutes to Pack a Bag’, ‘Seed’, ‘The Hope Map’, Dr Nina Burrowes is a psychologist, journalist. She regularly appears on Sam Hoyle ‘The Inverted Ark’ and ‘Nature Rights’. activist, author and founder of The BBC Radio 4, who dubbed her the Sam Hoyle is an Executive Producer Consent Collective an organisation ‘queen of breakups’ following the for Netfl ix. She was Co-Executive Natalie Morris that blends an expert lens with success of her podcast The Breakup Monologues Producer on Doctor Who, on Natalie is an author and journalist a creative vision in order to help (British Podcast Award nominee 2020). She also the series that introduced Jodie focusing on race, identity and communities respond to sexual violence and writes on sexuality and dating for publications Whitaker. Before that, she was belonging. She has worked in relationship abuse. Nina’s work ranges from her including Stylist, Cosmo and New Statesman the Script Executive and Associate Producer on TV news and print journalism, illustrated book ‘The courage to be me’, to her and performs at major festivals. Her fi rst book Is Broadchurch. Other credits include: A Robber’s covering stories from marginalised many Cooking Shows on consent and The Consent Monogamy Dead? was longlisted for the Polari First Tale and A Copper’s Tale for World Productions/ communities. Her debut book Collective’s podcast game show ‘How to be good Book Prize, shortlisted for the Diva Literary Awards BBC1, The Life and Adventures of Nick Nickleby Mixed/Other is an exploration of mixed identity in in bed’. Nina’s latest work is a pre-recorded online and followed a trilogy of internationally-acclaimed for BBC1 and Camelot, a 10 part series for US modern Britain. learning retreat called ‘How do people heal from solo shows investigating the psychology of love cable network, Starz. She was also the Head of trauma?’. and relationships. The Breakup Monologues is also Development for Kindle Entertainment, making Neema Shah the title of her brand new book, recently published Drama and Comedy for kids and family audiences. Neema Shah’s debut novel Kololo Pragya Agarwal by Bloomsbury. Viv Groskop describes it as ‘funny, She is also an experienced Audio Drama Producer Hill was chosen as a 2021 Pick for Pragya Agarwal is a behavioural sweet, entertaining, insightful and life-affi rming’. and made numerous plays, series and comedies Foyles, The Daily Mail and The Irish and data scientist. She is the author for the BBC, including the relaunch of the Agatha Times. It’s also been featured in of Sway: Unravelling Unconscious Sally Loader Christie brand for Radio 4. The Independent, Stylist and Marie Bias that was one of best science Sally is at the helm of her rip roaring Claire. Her grandparents left India for East Africa books of 2020 and Guardian Book festival band Sally Army, bringing Sangeeta Pillai in the 1940s. Kololo Hill is inspired by their lives, as of the Week, and Wish We Knew What To Say: humorous songs and lots of audience Podcaster, activist & speaker well as those who were expelled from Uganda by Talking with Children About Race. Her latest interaction. Sangeeta Pillai is the founder of the brutal ruler Idi Amin. Before publication, Kololo book is (M)otherhood: On the choices of being a South Asian feminist network Soul Hill won The Literary Consultancy Pen Factor Live, woman published on 3 June. Pragya is regularly Saima Mir Sutras which is all about tackling was shortlisted for the Bath Novel Award and First invited to speak on bias, racism, belonging and Saima Mir is an award-winning taboos within the culture. She’s Novel Prize among others. Neema continues to gender equality for global corporate organisations, journalist. She started her career at the creator of Masala Podcast, silver winner at work in marketing alongside her author work. charities and academic institutions around the the Telegraph & Argus and went on the British Podcast awards & also a winner at world. She is also the founder of a research think- to work for the BBC. She is a recipient Spotify SoundUp 2018. This podcast for South NIA tank called The 50 Percent Project. of the Commonwealth Broadcast Asian womxn deals with sex, sexuality, periods, NIA is an artist and songwriter Association’s World View Award, and has written for menopause & other taboos. Sangeeta is also the from Suffolk UK. The 22 year old Radhika Sanghani numerous publications including The Times and creator of the Masala Monologues series of writing grew up listening to an eclectic Radhika Sanghani is an award- The Independent. Saima’s essay for the Picador workshops & theatre shows in the UK & the US. She mix of musical genres. She began winning journalist and author. She book It’s Not About The Burqa appeared in Guardian has been featured on BBC Radio London, Evening songwriting at the age of 17 just is the author of two novels – Virgin Weekend and received over 250,000 hits over two Standard, Eastern Eye, Huffi ngton Post, BBC Asian before leaving school and went on to write and and Not That Easy – and her third days. Her work also appeared in The Best Most Awful Radio, Brown Girl Magazine and has been a writer co-produce all her singles to date. Her songs novel 30 Things I Love About Myself Job: 20 essays on Motherhood. Her debut novel, The for over 20 years. range from rap and grime, pop and R&B. She will be published in January 2022. She regularly Khan is out now. was introduced to her producer Ray Shell in writes features for The Daily Telegraph, Daily Mail, Sareeta Domingo 2020, who founded Street Angels Media. With his The Guardian, Grazia, Glamour and Elle magazine. Samantha Baines Sareeta Domingo is the author of If I extensive knowledge of multiple genres and NIA’s She is also an infl uential body positive campaigner Samantha Baines is an award winning Don’t Have You, The Nearness of You songwriting, together they produced NIA’s debut and founded #SideProfi leSelfi e, a movement to writer, performer and broadcaster. and creator, editor and contributing single, 2020 and continued to work together on celebrate big noses, which has reached millions. With acting credits in Netfl ix’s The writer of romantic fi ction anthology her next four tracks. She has given a TEDx talk on self-love, and Crown to BBC’s Silent Witness, sell out Who’s Loving You. Her books for regularly appears as a commentator on TV and stand up comedy tours, presenting on young adults are published under S.A. Domingo, Nikesh Shukla radio news shows. BBC Radio and her own critically acclaimed British including Love, Secret Santa. She has contributed Nikesh Shukla is a novelist and Podcast Award nominated podcast The Divorce to publications including gal-dem, Black Ballad, screenwriter. He is the author of Rosanna Amaka Club, Samantha likes to stay busy. She is also a proud Stylist and Token Magazine, and has taken part Coconut Unlimited (shortlisted Rosanna Amaka is the author of the hearing aid wearer, RNID ambassador and author in events for Hachette Books, Winchester Writers’ for the Costa First Novel Award), debut novel The Book of Echoes, of award-winning children’s books with awesome Festival, Black Girls Book Club and Bare Lit Festival Meatspace and the critically published Feb 2020. She began deaf protagonists. Her debut book Harriet Versus among others. acclaimed The One Who Wrote Destiny. Nikesh writing the novel over twenty the Galaxy won the Coventry Inspiration Book Award is a contributing editor to the Observer Magazine years ago to give voice to the 2021, was listed in The Book Trust’s Great Book Guide Self Esteem and was previously their columnist. Nikesh is the community in which she grew up in. Its depiction 2020, the Independent’s Children’s Books of the Year Self Esteem grew up in Rotherham editor of the bestselling essay collection, The Good of unimaginable pain redeemed by love and and has been optioned for TV. and has performed in bands since Immigrant, which won the reader’s choice at hope was also inspired by a wish to understand the age of 18. Formerly one half of the Books Are My Bag Awards. He co-edited The the impact of history on present-day lives. It has Sheffi eld band Slow Club, Taylor Good Immigrant USA with Chimene Suleyman. been short listed for the Author’s Club First Novel released her fi rst track under the He is the author of two YA novels, Run, Riot Award, The RSL Christopher Bland Prize and the

33 32 nom de plume Self Esteem in 2017, going on to Sophie Mahon and the Thora Hjörleifsdóttir Zoe Antoniades release her debut album, ‘Compliments Please’ in Thora Hjörleifsdóttir is an Icelandic Zoe Antoniades was born in West 2019. Ready Mades Suffolk singer/songwriter Sophie writer born in 1986, she has London of Greek Cypriot parents. Mahon is not your usual girl-with-a published three poetry collections She has taught English and the Shelley Silas guitar. She takes inspiration from with her poetry collective, Imposter arts and worked on a wide range Shelley’s stage plays include Eating her Eighties New Wave infl uences Poets. Translation of Hjörleifsdóttir’s of creative projects in partnership Ice Cream on Gaza Beach (NYT/ Roxy Music, Duran Duran and David Bowie “but far debut novel, Magma, will be published by Picador with the Southbank Centre, the Royal Albert Soho Theatre), Falling (The Bush). from being a mere pastiche of bigger-haired times, in July 2021. Magma is a story about love, abuse, Hall, the Young Vic and the Polka Theatre. With Plays for Radio 4 include The Trial of [Sophie’s] music is fresh, urgent and oddly moving” — and sex in an era of pornifi cation. Andersen Press, Zoe has recently launched a the Well of Loneliness, two series in Seymour Quigley. brand-new series of stories for children about Val McDermid’s comedy crime DEAD series, Dead Victoria Princewill twins, Cally & Jimmy. The fi rst title, Twins in Weight and Dead Cert. The People Next Door, Mr Victoria Princewill FRSA is a historical Trouble was published in September 2020 and Jones Goes Driving, I am Emma Humphreys (winner Sophie Williams Author of Millennial Black and Anti- novelist, drawn to uncovering untold the second, Twintastic, in April 2021. The third, of the 2010 Clarion Award), The Sound of Silence Racist Ally, TED Speaker, Founder of stories. Her fi rst novel, In The Palace Twins Together is out in January 2022. Zoe also (short-listed for the Imison Award). Adaptations of @Offi cialMillennialBlack, and Racial of Flowers, set in 19th century Iran, writes collaboratively with young people and Ruth Prawer Jhabvala’s novel Heat and Dust and Equity Consultant and Activist by night, explores the inner lives of enslaved, has published four anthologies of short stories: Paul Scott’s The Raj Quartet (with John Harvey), Manager, Production Planning at prized Abyssinians serving in the Qajar royal court Invincible Voices – Long Shorts, Medium Shorts, Comfort Girl in the From Fact To Fiction series. Her Netfl ix by day. of Iran in 1895, as they pursue lives of meaning Short Shorts and Winter Shorts. Her memoir, VR short The Turning Forest was originally written at the height of political turmoil. It was released Tea and Baklavas, won the Winchester Writers’ as an experimental piece for BBC R&D. With visuals globally in June 2021. Her next novel will be YA, the Festival Memoir Prize. created by Oscar Raby, it has featured in many fi lm Stacie Graham fi rst of a two-book deal she signed, recently, with festivals and was chosen to launch the original Dr Stacie CC Graham, certifi ed mindfulness teacher and E-RYT 500, is Scholastic. Born and raised in the UK, Victoria is Zoë Howe Google Pixel and Daydream headset. Google of West African descent. Educated at Oxford and Zoë Howe has written acclaimed nominated this for best VR Experience in the 2017 the founder of OYA: Body-Mind-Spirit Retreats, the fi rst holistic wellness UCL, she holds an MA Oxon in Literature, a Masters biographies of artists including The Play Awards. Her monologue, Muvm-Bai! was part of in Philosophy and is working towards another Slits, Poly Styrene (a collaborative Kali Theatre’s digital 2021 Winter Solos. She is writing brand serving Black women and women of colour communities in the UK. She is also graduate degree in Neuroscience at King’s College project with Styrene’s daughter a play for Rifco Theatre, and contributing to a series London. A lifelong learner, stints at Accenture, Celeste Bell), the Jesus & Mary Chain, for BBC Radio 4 and Pier Productions. Shelley is a the co-founder of Radical Darshan, a Yoga Alliance accredited 300-hour advanced yoga teacher training the Financial Times, the WPP & Demos, taught Wilko Johnson, Stevie Nicks and Lee Brilleaux. Zoë Fellow of the Royal Literary Fund. In September 2021 her about a breadth of industries from fi nance was also part of the team behind hit documentary she starts an MA in Existential Coaching. school committed to racial and intersectional equity in yoga. She has an MS in economics and a doctorate to fashion to think tanks — and about what she Poly Styrene: I Am A Cliché. A visual artist and in psychology, where she focused on neuro-affective did not enjoy. Writing for the Guardian, the LRB, sometime musician, she has worked with Viv Sofi a Rehman cognitive science and leadership behaviour. In her n+1, BBC and more crystallised what she did. Albertine, Helen McCookeryBook, Steve Beresford, Dr Sofi a Rehman is an academic fi rst profession she works as the Global Racial Equity Which involved writing to interrogate the human Yumi Hara and others. Zoë currently presents the specialising in Islam and Gender. Programme Director at WPP. condition, so we might grow to recognise and Rock ’n’ Roll Witch show on Soho Radio. When she is not reading books for understand ourselves. research, she is reading them for Stella Duffy Zoë McWhinney pleasure. She is the founder and Viv Groskop Zoë McWhinney is a Visual co-ordinator of Leeds Lit Book Club which is now Stella Duffy is an award-winning writer with over seventy short stories, Viv Groskop is a writer, critic, Vernacular performer and a poet in in its 7th year. During the global pandemic she broadcaster and stand-up British Sign Language (BSL). As a launched the Islam and Gender read alongs in fourteen plays written and devised, and seventeen novels published in comedian. She is the author of How Deaf person and native BSL signer, which she facilitates readings of academic texts to Own the Room: Women and the she works as a freelance theatre penned by Muslim female scholars in conversation fi fteen languages. She worked in theatre for over thirty-fi ve years as an Art of Brilliant Speaking, also a Top maker, consultant and workshop facilitator in BSL with a global virtual audience and has recently been 10 iTunes podcast, now in its 9th series, featuring storytelling, poetry and Deaf culture. As an actress, featured by both Vogue Arabia and Refi nery29. She actor, director, playwright, and facilitator. She is the co-founder of the UK-wide Fun Palaces campaign guests like Hillary Clinton, Margaret Atwood, she performed internationally both on stage and is also a contributor to Mapping Faith: Theologies Nigella Lawson, Julie Andrews, Sarah Hurwitz in fi lms. Over the last 5 years, she participated of Migration edited by Lia Shimada and to the supporting creative community connection. She was awarded the OBE for Services to the Arts in (Michelle Obama’s speechwriter). Her latest books in national and international Visual Vernacular anthology Cut From The Same Cloth? edited by are Lift As You Climb: Women, Ambition and shows and championships both on and offl ine; Sabeena Akhtar, as well as having a publication 2016. Stella is also a yoga teacher running workshops in yoga-for-writing and is training in Existential How to Change the Story and Au Revoir Tristesse: and graduated from University of Birmingham (BA of her own due out with Kube Publications in Lessons in Happiness from French Literature. She International Relations and Political Science) and 2022 and a chapter in an upcoming anthology on Psychotherapy towards eventually combining psychotherapy, embodied practice and creative work. has presented Front Row and Saturday Review École de Théâtre Universelle in Toulouse. The iconic Decolonising Translation with Tilted Axis. on BBC Radio 4, is a regular on BBC1’s This Week and visual-based bilingual poetry and VV pieces and has hosted book tours for Graham Norton, Jo she creates and performs are insights inspired by Sophia Money-Coutts Three Years Younger Brand and Jennifer Saunders. her own personal life as an ocularcentric human Sophia Money-Coutts is an author Already talent spotted by BBC being with in-depth physical language knowledge and journalist who spends most Introducing Suffolk, this duo of sisters from a lifetime as a signer. has a natural genetic advantage Yara Rodrigues Fowler of her time writing at her kitchen Yara Rodrigues Fowler is a writer table and making 59 cups of tea a when it comes to creating beautiful harmonies. from South London. Her fi rst novel, day. She’s written four novels — The Stubborn Archivist, was longlisted Plus One, What Happens Now?, The Wish List and for the Desmond Eliot and Dylan the forthcoming Did You Miss Me? — and hopes Tracey Bleakley Speakers will be signing books at our on-site Thomas Prizes and shortlisted for Waterstones bookshop 15 minutes after their to carry on writing books that make people laugh Tracey Bleakley led the successful the Sunday Times Young Writer of the Year 2019. forever, because we could all do with a bit of that campaign to embed fi nancial sessions. Head to Home Close to see them Her second novel, there are more things, will be there, and get your signed copies. at the moment, couldn’t we? Before books, Sophia education in the national curriculum published in April 2022. As a work in progress there worked for various newspapers and spent fi ve in 2013. As a former trustee of the are more things received the Society of Authors’ years studying the British aristocracy as Features Money Advice Trust and Director of the John C Lawrence Award 2018 and was shortlisted Director for Tatler. She now contributes to a variety Insolvency Service, she is passionate about the role of for the Eccles Centre and Hay Festival Writers’ of publications including The Times, Grazia and fi nancial literacy in tackling inequalities and poverty. Award 2019. YOU magazine, and writes a weekly column for The Tracey is now CEO of Hospice UK and a Primadonna Sunday Telegraph called Modern Manners, in which board member, and leads the Dying Matters she discusses important topics like hot tubs, Kate campaign to normalise death, dying and grief. Middleton’s hair and posh crisps.

35 34 made out of recycled fabric, and certain to be In the Camping Field un-put-downable for years to come! Stow Stories Nomad’s Bazaar — Together Nomad’s Bazaar is a family shop based in in Riverland MARKETPLACE Suffolk. Selling treasures, toys and gifts – Stow Stories is all made in Britain, all Fairtrade – there’s a Suffolk Archive something for all kids, large partnership and or small! they will be bringing their shepherds hut and Braidy bunch crew vintage Massey Ferguson In the Big Barn Edmunds, Turning Point, Stowuplands High Offering not only the original and best quality 135 tractor on site so School and Stowmarket High. hair-braids around, but an extensive range you can step inside and of hand crafted jewellery bags and uncover how Stowmarket Girls Rock London Book Clubs in Schools accessories. heritage, biodiversity and All day Friday, Saturday, Book Clubs in Schools is a registered charity landscape infl uenced Sunday which delivers book clubs to help young the development and Calling all young rock stars! people develop a love of reading, build prosperity of the town. Come and practice your their communication and social skills, and singing, guitar, bass and gain transferable leadership skills through Recoveries Got Talent drum skills with Girls volunteering. The long-term goal is to create Meet with the group at their Rock London (GRL), an book clubs in every school across the gazebo and fi nd out how award-winning charity country, starting with the most disadvantaged. you can get involved in providing high-quality music creativity in Suffolk; writing programming for young and Woodle Books workshops, music sessions adult women, trans, and non- Woodle Books is an independent company and performance, to support binary people, with a specifi c selling bespoke, handmade notebooks. Their or start your own recovery focus on increasing access for unique design incorporate centuries-old journey from addiction, people who face barriers to techniques as well as modern and traditional trauma and mental health. touches. Gender equality and female participation. Meet expert empowerment inspire this beautiful collection of tutors who will help you In the Bee Garden Animal Cancer Trust notebooks with strong feminist messages. have a go at making your Meet with Animal Cancer Trust — fi ghting cancer in our pets. Supporting owners and own music, setting you up University of Suffolk Sarah Woodhouse therapies dealing with cancer in their pets throughout with ideas to take home and Learn more about what’s on offer at Suffolk’s Need some time to relax, repair, restore? Sarah, the whole journey. Meet staff and their cats at develop so that we’ll see you develop so that we’ll see you university, including its creative writing offer, and Millie and Clare will be in the bee garden their gazebo and learn how to health check offering a wide range of holistic treatments next year on the main stage! hear from current students as they read some of your pet. including Refl exology, Full Body Massage, their work aloud. Reiki, Bowen and Head and Neck Massages. To Suffolk Artlink pre-book your treatment or check availability Suffolk Artlink works to improve the quality call 07715213392 or DM Sarah via IG at @ of life of people of all abilities through taking sarahwoodhousetherapy. part in engaging and inspirational creative On the Main Lawn activities. Suffolk Libraries Cherry Pie Makeovers Join Ipswich and Stowmarket libraries at their Bury St Edmunds for Black Lives Matter Treat yourself to new hair, makeup, nails or gazebo for some storytelling, song and rhyme, The BSE for Black Lives was born from the brows with Clare’s team of experts, who will get books giveaway and craft. Bury St Edmunds Black Lives Protest that you in the mood – and the look – for a sparkling festival weekend. took place on 7 June 2020. The protest was a Botany&Books show of solidarity for local black lives in light of Beautiful mindful gifts and the brutal murder of George Floyd and many experiences for book lovers others and to highlight the oppression and and creative souls: preloved inequality that black people have endured for books paired with soy candles centuries. Join the organisers and learn more inspired by the location of about their work and planned actions each story, designed to of solidarity in the coming months. transport you into the author’s world as you How To Be An Activist: with the WEP read. Academy The Women’s Equality Party Academy will Art by equip women from across the UK with the Adonia skills, knowledge and confi dence to become Adonia’s active in politics and in their communities to textiles are deliver change and empower others. Join the made from team to learn more, and take your fi rst steps on repurposed your own activist journey. fabrics. Each design is Poetry Wall completely With contributions from The Mix ‘’Detached’’ unique and outreach program in Stowmarket and a one of a Needham Market, Womens Aid Bury St kind,

37 36 Green area is accessible to the public SITE MAP MAIN ENTRANCE Volunteers welfare area Stalls = pay barrier Toilets Disabled Tickets, shop, parking fi rst aid for day Bread visitors oven Osier Café Green room

Bookshop Toilets Toilets THANK YOU Stalls Bar Gin Stalls bar We’re very grateful to all our amazing partners for helping Edgar's Farmhouse Hay us create the world as it should be, for this weekend. Stalls bales Main Stage Thank you so much to all of you. Marquee Primadonna lettering Stage Toilets

Wellness Area Food trucks Info, fi rst aid, TWAISB Lost child point Stage Fire pits Camping Campervans Disabled parking for Cinema campers Toilets Engine Showers Room Bar Washing up

Crafts Breakfast Takeaway

The Chapel

39 38 primadonnafestival.com @PrimadonnaFest primadonnafestival @primadonnafestival 40