David Peace Launches The First Ever Leeds Lit Fest on Monday!

Launching the first ever Leeds Lit Fest this Monday (18th) will be the internationally acclaimed Yorkshire-born writer David Peace. Named by Granta magazine in 2003 as one of twenty ‘Best of Young British Novelists’, he is the author of the Red Riding Quartet (Nineteen Seventy-FourNineteen Seventy-SevenNineteen Eighty, and Nineteen Eighty-Three); GB84, which was awarded the James Tait Black Memorial Prize; The Damned Utd, and Red or Dead, which was shortlisted for the Goldsmiths Prize.

David Peace will be in conversation with Yorkshire-based arts journalist and writer, Yvette Huddleston, on Monday 18 February from 7:30pm at the Leeds Library as part of the Leeds Lit Fest launch celebrations. There are a few tickets left, book here.

David Peace said, “Leeds has a long and rich literary history and a tradition of staging great local literary events. However, it is a great honour and privilege to be involved in the first ever citywide literary festival. I hope people from across the city and the region will come along, enjoy and participate in the many varied and exciting events. I also hope Leeds Lit Fest will grow from strength to strength and take its place alongside the other internationally-acclaimed festivals of Leeds.”

The first everLeeds Lit Fest is a citywide celebration of words and thought, with a creative programme that will see more than 60 events taking place over the festival period in a range of creative and exciting venues across the city – Carriageworks Theatre, Leeds Central Library, The Leeds Library, Hyde Park Book Club, HEART Centre, Leeds University, Leeds Beckett University, Holy Trinity Church, Chapel FM, Leeds Corn Exchange and Mill Hill Chapel. It will celebrate the vibrant and thriving literature scene that exists in Leeds with local writers, poets, performers and artists showcasing their talents alongside those from across the UK and internationally.

There will be a rare performance of Tony Harrison’s controversial poem “V” by Jonny Magnanti which will be followed by a panel discussion and Q&A; Dame Jenni Murray will be talking about her book, A History of the World in 21 Women; for sport lovers, Anthony Clavane will be talking From Tragedy to Triumph – how Leeds (and Yorkshire) lead the way, with fellow writer James Oddy; if you love stories, there’s a huge Storytelling Takeover at Carriageworks Theatre for the festival weekend which will bring a real international flavour to the programme.

There will be a series of Light Lunches with writer James Nash in conversation with Leeds writers Frances Brody, Chris Nickson, June Taylor, Paul Chatterton and SJ Bradley. Bring your sandwiches and enjoy some author chat! If you miss the lunchtime events, then catch Rush Hour Words with Richard Smyth,  Nick Ahad and Rose George; there will be a special  screening of the award winning film Polterheist to mark Script Yorkshire’s 30th anniversary; Leeds’ Peepal Tree Press will be celebrating 34 years of publishing the best in  Caribbean and Black British writing with an amazing showcase of writers – Malika Booker, Khadijah Ibrahiim, Desiree Reynolds, Roger Robinson, Nick Mahoka, Degna Stone, Anthony Joseph, Jacqueline Bishop, Seni Seneviratne and Jacob Ross.

These are just a few of the fantastic events on offer.

How Do You Book for a Leeds Lit Fest 2019 Event?

Leeds Lit Fest will take place from Wednesday 6 –Sunday 10 March 2019.

For the full details of all Leeds Lit Fest 2019 events, please visit https://www.carriageworkstheatre.co.uk/whats-on/festival/ 

Follow us on Twitter @LeedsLit #LLF19 or on Facebook: LeedsLitFest

 

 

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