Stuart to tell tales of historic walk at festival
ANOTHER famous name has been added to the line-up for next month’s Literature and Ideas Festival.
Writer and broadcaster Stuart Maconie will be sharing stories and insights from his retracing of the famous Jarrow March, as explored in his latest book Long Road from Jarrow: A Journey Through Britain Then and Now.
His latest book recounts how in the autumn of 1936, 200 men from the Tyneside town of Jarrow marched 300 miles to London in protest against the destruction of their towns and industries – 80 years on, Stuart walked from north to south retracing their route.
From choral evensong to curry house, from austerity to affluence and from Wearside to Westminster, the evening at St Chad’s Parish Church promises an entertaining, impassioned and enlightening journey through Britain, then and now.
The event, on Wednesday, October 17, forms part of the Rochdale festival which runs between October 15 and 22.
Councillor Janet Emsley, Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods, Community and Culture said of the festival: “With just under a month to go we’ve already sold well over 1,000 tickets, make sure you check out the website and book your tickets. I’m excited to welcome all the performers and audiences to Rochdale this October. We have a packed programme – an amazing combination of international names from theatre, comedy, poetry, workshops and more.”
The festival features poet Simon Armitage CBE, BBC presenter and triathlete Louise Minchin, actress, author and presenter Baroness Floella Benjamin OBE, author and poet Gervase Phinn and women’s rights activist Dr Helen Pankhurst. The Mad Theatre Company will present its latest play – an irreverent and heartwarming look back at what life was probably like in the North West 100 years ago.
Plus an assistant BBC producer will be providing tips on getting your script commissioned for television or radio in a ‘BBC Writersroom’ event.