Wimbledon Bookfest2007 www.wimbledonbookfest.org
sponsors & supporters
Wimbledon Bookfest is part of Wimbledon Arts. Registered charity No. 1120297 email: [email protected]. www.wimbledonbookfest.org Wimbledon Arts is a Company limited by Guarantee. Registered in England and Wales, No. 06083408. Registered Office: Barry House, 20/22 Worple Road, Wimbledon, London SW19 4DH. Supported by Strover Leader & Co, Chartered Accountants, Registered Auditors, Independent Financial Advisers.
02 Wimbledon Bookfest2007 www.wimbledonbookfest.org introduction
Welcome to the Wimbledon Bookfest 2007. We are proud to present such a packed programme in our first year.
Many only know Wimbledon for its tennis but those who live and work in the area are well aware of the thriving and vibrant arts and cultural community that exists here and in the borough. We have no less than four theatres, our own symphony orchestra, choral society, arts and lifestyle magazine and an art college. Our motivation with Wimbledon Bookfest is to celebrate and further develop the cultural landscape by offering the community the opportunity to take part in a festival promoting the active enjoyment of books. Wimbledon is certainly ‘no cultural desert’, highlighted by the huge amount of talent that has come forward to support this festival.
We hope the programme of events, in the second week of October, will appeal to the whole range of diverse interests that are present in Merton and will foster the sense of community that already exists in this Borough. Many of the authors taking part in the festival live in the area.
The idea for the festival was conceived last summer and there has been a lot of hard work to get Wimbledon Bookfest this far. It has been a true partnership between publishers, theatres, bookshops, the voluntary sector, schools and libraries, council and the community in general.
The trustees cannot thank enough the numerous individuals and companies who have contributed in time, expertise and money to get the first Wimbledon Bookfest off the ground.
We hope you enjoy it.
Russell Humphreys,Tony Kane, Fiona Razvi Festival Directors
A full list of volunteers, friends and people involved can be found on www.wimbledonbookfest.org
The Festival team would especially like to thank festival co-ordinator Libby Asher, fundraiser Lindsay Wilson, and our photographer, John Stone. Thank you to Morgan Lewis for their legal support, chartered accountants, Strover Leader & Co and De Facto for their PR support.
03 Wimbledon Bookfest2007 www.wimbledonbookfest.org
the patrons
Tony Hawks, Martin Jarvis OBE, Michelle Paver, Sandi Toksvig, David Wood OBE, Penny Vincenzi
pre-festival events
Saturday 6 October
01SA WIMBLEDON SOCIETY LITERARY WALK The walk encompasses houses and places in Wimbledon Village and the Common where notable authors were born, lived or forged important literary connections.
Walks at 2, 2.30pm *Tickets: £5: [email protected] or 020 8543 5816. Duration: 11/2 hours, inc tea/coffe break at Southside House
Sunday 7 October
02SA GYLES BRANDRETH PRESENTS ONE MAN AND HIS BEAR Join the author, broadcaster, former MP and government whip as he brings his acclaimed one-man show to Polka.Ticket price includes a drinks reception and all money raised goes towards the upkeep of the Teddy Bear Museum collection at Polka.
Polka Theatre, 7.30pm Tickets £15
04 Wimbledon Bookfest2007 www.wimbledonbookfest.org
Monday 8 October
03M CATERPILLAR TIME Fun for 3-4-year-olds.The Golden Treasury joins forces with Southfields library to explore a bumper box of new activity books.
Southfields Library, 10.30am *Free event, but places are limited. Please apply at the library, 300 Wimbledon Park Road SW19, 020 8871 6388 Sponsored by Caterpillar Books
Monday 8 October
04M BOOKS COLLECTORS’TEA Rick Gekoski, rare book dealer, author, and broadcaster, tells the extraordinary stories of some of the 20th Century’s most celebrated books. Followed by an opportunity to have books from your own collection valued by modern firsts expert Natalie Galustian and antiquarianJustin Croft of the Antiques Road Show.
Cannizaro House Hotel, 3pm Tickets: £10 (incl live music from cellist Mayda Narvey and Cannizaro’s special buffet tea.)
Monday 8 October
05M GIRLS NIGHT OUT WITH PENNY VINCENZI, SOPHIE KINSELLA & SANTA MONTEFIORE
Share a glass of wine, canapés, and a laugh with bestselling authors Penny Vincenzi, Sophie Kinsella and Santa Montefiore, in the stylish surroundings of Cannizaro House Hotel.
Cannizaro House Hotel, 7pm Tickets: £15 (incl wine and canapés)
Tuesday 9 October
06TU JAYNE BUXTON: TAKE SOMEONE LIKE ME Local author Jayne Buxton talks about her latest novel at Wimbledon Library’s popular Coffee Morning.
*Free event. Please apply at the library, 35 Wimbledon Hill Road, SW19, 020 8274 5757
05 Wimbledon Bookfest2007 www.wimbledonbookfest.org
Tuesday 9 October
07TU LADY EMMA HAMILTON’S ATTITUDES A night with Nelson’s mistress. Kate Williams, author of England’s Mistress: the Infamous Life of Emma Hamilton, with supporting dancer and singer, takes the audience back to 18th Century London and Naples, to experience Emma’s Attitudes, exotically costumed poses.
The Chapter House, Merton Abbey Mills 7.30pm Tickets: £7
Tuesday 9 October
08TU WILLIAM BOYD: RESTLESS Through former Secret Service agent Eva Delectorskaya, Boyd explores how far individuals are prepared to stretch their personal morality in the cause of the greater good and the far-reaching effects those judgements can have, both on their own lives and the lives of their families.
Books etc, The Broadway, Wimbledon 7pm,Tickets: £3 (incl glass of wine) Tickets also available from Books etc
Wednesday 10 October
09W VICTORIA HISLOP: THE ISLAND Victoria Hislop talks about her award- winning novel The Island, the sweeping story of families affected by the leper colony on the island of Spinalonga, off Crete - now topping the bestseller lists in Greece.
Wimbledon High School, 7pm *Tickets: £5 also available from Wimbledon High School (incl glass of wine/soft drink)
Wednesday 10 October
10W LITERARY PUB QUIZ Pit your wits against Wimbledon’s finest in a literary quiz chaired by author and comedian Tony Hawks, taking a break from his travels with kitchen, sporting and musical equipment around the globe.Tony will be assisted by fellow writer Andy Hamilton, taking a break from his travels with a plastic carrier bag on the District Line.
Dog & Fox, High St Wimbledon Village 9pm Tickets: £10 (dinners available beforehand: call the pub to reserve, 020 8946 6565
06 Wimbledon Bookfest2007 www.wimbledonbookfest.org
Thursday 11 October
11TH THEATRICAL MEMORIES WITH ANNETTE CROSBIE The Wimbledon Guild Book Group invites other elderly or sight-impaired people to join them to hear the distinguished actress Annette Crosbie read extracts from books of theatrical reminiscences.The reading and discussion will be followed by a buffet lunch.
Wimbledon Guild, 11am (duration 2 hours) Tickets: £5 (incl buffet lunch)
Thursday 11 October
12TH AS BYATT AT WIMBLEDON FILM CLUB Wimbledon Film Club welcome A.S Byatt to introduce the film adaptation of her Booker Prize-winning novel Possession.The film, starring Gwyneth Paltrow, follows two modern-day academics as they track a love affair between two Victorian poets and ultimately find themselves falling in love.
Polka Theatre, 7pm Tickets £7.50, Wimbledon Film Club members: £2.50 Sponsored by Wimbledon Film Club
Friday 12 October
13F JOHN O’FARRELL AND GILES MILTON: FACT OR FICTION A novelist who has written a history and a historian who has written a novel compare notes. John O'Farrell is that bloke off Grumpy Old Men whose bestselling novels include May Contain Nuts and the Best a Man can Get. Giles Milton specialises in the history of travel and exploration, and is best known for Nathaniel's Nutmeg.
Books etc,The Broadway, Wimbledon 7pm,Tickets: £3 (incl glass of wine) Tickets also available from Books etc
Friday 12 October
14F MALORIE BLACKMAN Polka is pleased to welcome award- winning author Malorie Blackman. Malorie will be in conversation about her successful writing career and her books including the Noughts and Crosses series, Pig Heart Boy and the forthcoming Stuff of Nightmares. For ages 8+
Polka Theatre, 7pm Tickets, £5 07 Wimbledon Bookfest2007 www.wimbledonbookfest.org
Friday 12 October
15F EXCHANGING NOTES Pianist Susan Tomes, author of A Musician’s Alphabet, talks to Robert Philip, author of Performing Music in the Age of Recording, about the pleasures and pains of a life in classical music.The event will include some live piano music and historical recordings.
Colour House Theatre, Merton Abbey Mills, 7.30pm (duration: 2 hours) Tickets: £10 (conc: £7.50) Sponsored by Hanna Pianos
Saturday 13 October
16SA THE LONGEST LITTLE BOOK Help make the longest illustrated book in London, as part of the Big Draw.Your instructions await you in a secret envelope! All welcome, materials provided.The finished work will be on display at the Old Sweet Shop gallery for two weeks following the event itself.
Saint Cecilia’s school, Southfields 11am - 3pm *Free event for children and adults of all ages. More info 020 8780 1244, www.theoldsweetshopweb.com
Saturday 13 October
17SA ROY WILLIAMS A special performance of Polka’s show There’s Only One Wayne Matthews! This fast, action-packed new play about a boy who dreams of becoming the world’s greatest footballer has been written by award-winning playwright Roy Williams. Join Roy at Polka for a post-show discussion about the play and his writing career which has included writing sell-out plays for the National Theatre and the RSC. For ages 10+
Polka Theatre, 2pm Tickets £9, £6 concessions
Get involved If you would like to ensure the future success of Wimbledon Bookfest, become a friend. See the booking form on page 11 or email [email protected].
There are corporate marketing opportunities available for 2008. For more information contact [email protected]
08 Wimbledon Bookfest2007 www.wimbledonbookfest.org
south park gardens Saturday 13 October SOUTH PARK GARDENS MARQUEE Throughout the weekend of the festival, there will be a marquee in South Park Gardens, with a full range of catering offered by the Friends of South Park Gardens. Drop by to enjoy a lunch, tea, or stroll in this beautifully restored Victorian garden, and stay to join the lively programme of events.
Sponsored by Hanna Pianos and Samuel Estates.
18SA THE GARDEN AS ART AND METAPHOR Katie Campbell (novelist and poet), Anne Jenning, (Garden Director at the Museum of Garden History) and Emma Townshend (who writes the gardening feature for the Independent on Sunday Magazine) talk about the meaning of gardens to them and their ways into garden writing.
11am. tickets £3
19SA LITERARY PAPERS Anna Sander, Archivist at Balliol College Oxford, offers a short talk, and answers questions on this fascinating field.
1pm, tickets £2
20SA ASPIRING AUTHORS Q&A Author and broadcaster Sandi Toksvig presents prizes to the winners of the Writing Challenge, and leads a discussion of the winning entry with a panel of experts: Mary Mount, Editorial Director of Viking Penguin, Peter Straus, literary agent, of Rogers, Coleridge & White, and two local authors, Michelle Paver, best known for her Chronicles of Ancient Darkness, and Jayne Buxton, chair of the judging in the Writing Challenge.The panel will take questions and offer advice about writing for publication.
3pm, tickets £5
LITERARY DINNER WITH PENNY VINCENZI 21SA Wimbledon Bookfest and the Friends of South Park Gardens invite you to enjoy an Indian dinner in the marquee. Come and meet Bookfest authors and organisers. Guest speaker: Patron, Penny Vincenzi. All profits from the meal will go to support future festivals.
7pm, tickets £20 Licensed bar
09 Wimbledon Bookfest2007 www.wimbledonbookfest.org
Sunday 14 October
22SU GRAND BOOK FAIR June Whitfield opens proceedings at 11am. A day for all the family, with BBQ and refreshments provided by the Friends of South Park Gardens, and children’s activities provided by the Golden Treasury Children’s Bookshop. Large and small groups from the Wimbledon area will sell and promote books and book-related activities; there will also be a select range of craft stalls. South Park Gardens Marquee 11am-3pm *Entry free Sponsored by the Golden Treasury Children’s Bookshop, Southfields
Sunday 14 October
23SU JOHN HUMPHRYS – IN GOD WE DOUBT John Humphrys comes hot-foot from the Cheltenham Literary Festival to talk about his latest book In God We Doubt. In 2006, for Radio 4, he challenged the leaders of three main religions to prove to him that God does exist. As an agnostic, he argues here that doubt is not the easy option.
Polka Theatre, 5pm Tickets: £10
Sunday 14 October
24SU DODO MODERN POETS Edinburgh regulars Project Adorno, passionate people’s poet Patric Cunnane, surreal poetry doctor, Emile Sercombe, Cornish pearl Sue Johns and every girl’s heroine, Rachel Pantechnicon. A song in your heart and time to enjoy a beer with the cast.
Studio Theatre, New Wimbledon Theatre, 7.30pm *Tickets: £10 from New Wimbledon Theatre only - 0870 060 6646 or www.theambassadors.com (online bkg fee) Sponsored by the Founder Friends of New Wimbledon Theatre
Schools events Events have been going on in schools throughout the area to celebrate Wimbledon Bookfest. Special events include writing competitions, launched in the Ursuline High School and Wimbledon Chase Primary School in June; prizes will be awarded at the Wimbledon Odeon on Saturday 13 October by author Paul Geraghty and scriptwriter Michael Crompton. Authors Ifeoma Onyefulu and Michelle Paver will also be visiting primary school children in Mitcham for special storytelling events during the festival week. Supported by Merton Arts Development Fund
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booking form
BOOK NOW Please note some tickets are available direct from the venues and not from the Polka Box office. See event listing for more information.
Event code Event name Price Qty Subtotal
I would like to support the future of Wimbledon Bookfest and become a friend £20
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Box Office:020 8543 4888 Polka Box office online: www.polkatheatre.com (booking fee applies)
The Polka box office will be open from 3 September 2007.
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