The festival returns for its fifth year with an outstanding line up of authors, poets, writers, storytellers, speakers and performers from across the UK, as well as celebrating online the creative communities living and from the Black Country.
Among the headliners for this year’s festival are journalist and documentary filmmaker, Jon Ronson, who will be joining the festival from New York and recounting some of his greatest adventures from across his 30 year career; and author and TV star of Coronation Street and Dinnerladies, Shobna Gulati, who will be speaking with award-winning artist Dawinder Bansal to discuss her newly-released book ‘Remember Me’.
Home-grown talent includes Patrick Vernon OBE, who will be sharing a few different approaches and lessons for Wolverhampton on celebrating and recording our collective history; author and columnist, Sathnam Sanghera, who will be discussing his latest Book ‘Empireland: How Imperialism has Shaped Modern Britain’.
Jed Mercurio, creator of Line of Duty and Bodyguard, will be discussing his outstanding crime writing career. The Kates Hill Press Book launch will feature Ian Henery, Shaun Patrick Hand and Greg Stokes sharing their own style, from dark humour to messages of hope and a presidential palace in Abu Dhabi.
Poets, Prattlers and Pandemonialists will also be involved again as they bring their Fringe Room, Poetry Slam and a Valentine’s workshop to Zoom. Joelle Taylor, award-winning poet, playwright, author and editor, will be telling audiences of her travelling the world with her poetry and giving an insight into her debut book of short stories ‘The Night Alphabet’. Local poet, Kuli Kohli, will be exploring her rise to fame, from her childhood in Wolverhampton, her journey to publication, and recent international coverage of her life story.
There will be a number of outstanding workshops that will help any writers, poets and performers with takeaway tips and approaches to help on a creative journey. Learn about character-building, poetry writing and performance. Nick Bailey, EastEnders star of stage and screen, will provide a special masterclass.
On Saturday 13 February Wolverhampton will see the Children’s Festival take place. Sohan Kailey returns and will take an amazing musical dance journey from Wolverhampton around the world. Ben Davis, award winning author, gives a rundown of his top writing tips and children can get interactive by helping him create a new character.
City of Wolverhampton Council Cabinet Member for City Economy, Councillor Stephen Simkins, said: “We are so pleased that during these difficult times the Wolverhampton Literature Festival can go ahead and that organisers have been able to work closely with city centre venues that have had to remain closed to the public, such as Wolverhampton Art Gallery, Grand Theatre and Newhampton Arts Centre, to deliver events.
“All events have now been moved to an online platform so that audiences can enjoy storytelling, literature, poetry, workshops and performance from the comfort and safety of their own home.
“Whether audiences want to listen and enjoy a breadth of writers and poets, or hone your own literary skills, there really is something for everyone.”
Tickets are available at Wolverhampton Literature Festival and some booking fees do apply.
You can also find us on Twitter @WolvesLitFest, Facebook @WolvesLitFest and Instagram #wolveslitfest.
