Welcome to the Leeds Big Bookend 2014!

Latest News: News Coverage

from The Yorkshire Post

“…Inclusive festival’s passion for words..”

“Big Bookend Festival in Leeds manages to pack in about as many cultural and literary events as it is possible to feature in just two days.”

“...the scope of the festival is wide-ranging…”

“…meaningful community engagement…“

from The Culture Vulture

“knock-your-socks off books events”

“What’s especially marvellous about this year’s programme is its breadth and its balance. ”

“…Leeds Big Bookend 2014 looks set to deliver in spades…“

from Leeds List

“Celebrating Leeds’ rich literary heritage by bringing the entire city into the fold…”

“...an eye opening look at the diversity of Leeds with ‘Leeds Cycle Story’.”

Video of the Dead Ink Event of Big Bookend ’14

Headliner: Alan Bennett

Alan Bennett by Antony Crolla

The Big Bookend is delighted to announce that our head line author for 2014 is the brilliant Alan Bennett, presented by the West Yorkshire Playhouse as part of their Alan Bennett Season. Join us in the Quarry theatre for An Audience with Alan Bennett, an afternoon in the company of one of the UK’s most highly regarded playwrights.

From humble origins as the son of a Co-Op butcher in Armley, Bennett has become one of the UK’s most distinctive and compelling voices - with an undeniable Leeds accent. He’ll be sharing his work and taking questions from the audience in this rare opportunity to meet Leeds’ most famous living author.

We are back for our third year of festival fun with three programmes which hopefully will have something for everybody. To see the full list of events click here

In our main programme we have writers, poets, musicians and performers. There are panel events covering crime fiction, sport and media, propaganda and war and the Great War. Eddie Waring, jazz, food and drink, art, Alzheimer’s, protests and radical Chapeltown all sit side by side.

There will be a big focus on our local communities in the Leeds Story Cycle which will express the voice of Leeds, captured at the historic moment of the Grand Depart of the Tour de France. Seven stories will be created by six diverse community groups, each telling the tale of a different character’s journey to see the race begin.

For children, we have a fun filled and action packed programme featuring authors, poets and performers and a very large yurt for storytelling!

We have two competitions: a pirate themed writing competition for ages 5-11; and a review writing competition for young people aged 11 to 18.

Our programme for young people will launch with a big party at Waterstones on Friday 6th June, 6.30pm with with live music from Lucy and Jo, and award winning author Martyn Bedford.

Amy Keen and Sufiya Ahmed will be at Waterstones on Saturday evening.

Keep up to date with us on Facebook and Twitter. We look forward to meeting you in June!