Festival’s got write stuff
TOP AUTHORS, REPTON’S MP AND FORMER STRICTLY CHAMP TOM ON LAUNCH LINE-UP
ACTOR Tom Chambers is returning to his former South Derbyshire school to read some favourite children’s stories.
The Holby City and Casualty actor, who is from Derbyshire and also won Strictly Come Dancing in 2008, will read excerpts from Road Dahl’s best-loved tales as part of Big Stories, Little Village – the first literary festival to be held in Repton.
The event will be held at various venues within Repton School from October 26 to 28. Politician, journalist and writer Lord Hattersley, 85, will open the event, discussing his latest book, The Catholics.
South Derbyshire MP Heather Wheeler will shares stories from her career in Parliament and Sir Michael Pownall will discuss working in the House of Lords as clerk to Parliament. Authors taking part in the festival include bestselling romantic novel authors Christie Barlow and Bella Osbourne, and award-winning beer writer Pete Brown.
For families, there will be Spooky Storytelling sessions, creative writing workshops and a short story competition judged by fantastic children’s author Michael Molloy.
The festival, organised by Nick Brown and Chris Ward-Brown, is being supported by a Repton pub and restaurant, The Boot, and East Midlands Trains.
Nick said: “It seems only right that Repton should have a festival of its own celebrating the great literary connections and history that it has and an opportunity to bring exciting speakers to such a fabulous setting.
“With the support of the community, our aim is to establish a new tradition for this village with such a deep and rich history.”
To book tickets, visit: www.reptonliteraryfestival.co.uk