Margate Bookie literary festival is back this October with a jam-packed line up including Deborah Levy, Adam Kay, A.C. Grayling, Sathnam Sanghera, Andi Osho, Yomi Adegoke, Rob Newman, Mat Osman, Miki Berenyi, Ian Dunt and Daisy Buchanan.
Margate Bookie, now in its eighth year, has also announced a new venue partnership with Dreamland, alongside long-standing venue partners Turner Contemporary and The Margate School.
From October 20-22 the Bookie festival will include poetry and music, comedy and art, politics and fiction, and an extensive fun-packed children’s programme. There will be creative writing workshops, a poetry slam headlined by UK Poetry Slam Champion Rick Dove and two full days of children’s events.
Adam Kay (pictured) and fellow comedian and illustrator Henry Paker will be tickling funny bones on the Saturday and Sathnam Sanghera kickstarts Sunday with his family-friendly adaptation, Stolen History, taking children on an illuminating tour of the hidden secrets and stories of the British Empire over four centuries.
Youngsters will find lots to make them laugh and fire their imaginations with authors including Roopa Farooki (Double Detectives), Garry Parsons (The Dinosaur that Pooped a Planet), Paul Deslandes-pictured- (The Garden Monster), John Condon (The Pirates are Coming), Gianna Pollero (Monster Doughnuts), Anna Orenstein (The Tree of Hope),Tamara McFarlane (The Book of Mysteries, Magic and the Unexplained), Sam Gayton (World Weavers), Tamara Rattigan (Everybody’s Special), Susie Darnton (A Dance in the Moon Garden), Zoe Antoniedes (Cally and Jimmy) and Mr Gilbert Giggles (Master of Disaster) as the special MC.
Other highlights include:
- ‘Let’s Talk Art’ with Robert Diamant(pictured), Director of the Carl Freedman Gallery and Counter Editions and co-host (alongside Russell Tovey) of the UK’s leading art podcast Talk Art.
- Franny Moyle on The Extraordinary Life and Momentous Times of J.M.W. Turner at Turner Contemporary.
- Bookie regular, award winning journalist and author Daisy Buchanan chats with actor, writer, comedian and film maker Andi Osho (Asking for a Friend, Tough Crowd) for a live recording of the much loved You’re Booked podcast.
- Mat Osman (author of The Ghost Theatre and Suede bassist) joins former Lush frontwoman and author of the music Book of the Year Fingers Crossed: How Music Saved me from Success, Miki Berenyi to talk Britpop, becoming bestselling authors and more. Festival goers will also be able to catch a live set from the Miki Berenyi Trio.
- Italian singer-songwriter and novelist Erica Mou (Thirsty Sea) joins author and art critic Chloe Ashby (Wet Paint, Second Self) in exploring women’s place in the world in words and music.
- Multi-award-winning journalist and author Yomi Adegoke (Slay In Your Lane, The List) joins Laura Kay (The Split) to discuss Alternative Romance and the cool rebirth of the modern romcom.
- Discover the literary stars of tomorrow with the Faber & Faber Academy, Vanguard Readings and contributors to the 14 Anthology, as part of Margate Bookie’s commitment to supporting writers and authors at all stages of their career.
- Live podcasts with special guests Lucy Vine, Olivia Petter and Zahra Barri with Rosie Wilby (The Breakup Monologues) and visual storyteller Karrie Fransman with Miriam Robinson (The Unlived Life).
The Bookie is supported by Thanet booksellers Moon Lane Books, Book Bodega and Seadog Books from Ramsgate and Westgate’s Books That Expand The Mind.
Director and founder Andreas Loizou said: “I’m overjoyed that Bookie has put Margate on the UK’s literary map. Over the last few years we’ve had big name authors alongside local writers, seen literary legends side by side with up-and-coming stars, and brought people together to celebrate words and books in the seaside town we love. With new partnerships and an expanded programme, Bookie 2023 really will be bigger and better than ever.”
Dreamland will be the host venue for this year’s Bookie with events taking place across The Ballroom, the Roller Room and Cinque Ports.
Tickets for Margate Bookie are on sale now via www.margatebookie.com
