Hay Festival 2021

Enjoy a half-hour open air performance between events. A crew of local landlubbers singing rollicking, traditional sea shanties in a cappella three-part harmony, as well as other songs on a nautical theme. Enjoyment is guaranteed or else you’ll walk the plank!

Hay Shantymen have been together for over seven years, raising more than £10,000 for the RNLI. They’ve performed widely, including Latitude and Falmouth International Shanty Festival. In 2023 they wrote a shanty of their own (‘Seaweed Revolution’), performed at the Natural History Museum in London. Their album Songs from the Shed is available at hayshantymen.com.

The most talked about British story of the year so far has been the Post Office scandal, thanks to a television drama. ITV’s Mr Bates vs The Post Office, starring Toby Jones as the titular Mr Bates, dramatised the case of hundreds of subpostmasters across the UK who were wrongly prosecuted after faulty computer software found money missing from post office branches.

Join Toby Jones to discuss both his role in this series, and his extensive TV and film career as one of the UK's most regarded stage and screen actors, and the unique power of television and film to shed light on human stories as he talks to author and broadcaster Viv Groskop.

The Nobel Prize-winning biologist and former president of the Royal Society explores the science of why and how we age and die. The knowledge of death is so terrifying that we live most of our lives in denial of it, and our fear has underpinned our religions, inspired our cultures, and driven our science. Today giant strides are being made in our understanding of death, and immortality might even be within our grasp. But what are the social and ethical costs of attempting to live forever? He talks to the Radio 4 broadcaster and president of the British Humanist Association.

Sarah Marsh discusses her accomplished debut, inspired by her experiences of growing up deaf and her family’s history of deafness. Receiving an unexpected visit from Alexander Graham Bell, Ellen Lark knows at once what he wants from her. Ellen is deaf, and for a time was Bell’s student, when he confided in her his dream of producing a device to transmit the human voice along a wire: the telephone. Now, Bell wants Ellen to speak up in support of his claim to the patent, which is being challenged by rivals. But she has a different story to tell: that of how Bell betrayed her, and other deaf pupils, in pursuit of ambition and personal gain. Marsh talks to historian Professor Suzannah Lipscomb.

There will be a BSL interpreter at this event

Join us for a recording of The Verb, BBC Radio 4’s poetry celebration and ‘language lock-in’, hosted by its kindly pub-landlord Ian McMillan. In this special festival edition Ian has invited a host of award-winning poets, writers and performers to join him on stage for a spoken word party. He’ll be revelling in the poetry of deep cool rivers, teenage angst, in verse inspired by minotaurs and labyrinths, and he’ll celebrate poetic forms from around the world, His guests include the Poet Laureate Simon Armitage, National Poet of Wales Hanan Issa, Children’s Laureate Joseph Coelho, Owen Sheers – a poet and a Professor in Creativity, and Wiradjuri poet and artist all the way from Sydney- Jazz Money.

Dermot O’Leary, the popular presenter and author of the Toto the Ninja Cat series, swoops into Hay Festival to tell us all about his brand new action-adventure story with a feathery twist. Wings of Glory is a wartime tale guaranteed to make you laugh and cry – featuring courageous loop-the-loops, top secret plans and more than a smattering of bird poo!

Unlock the mystic art of curse writing in this hands-on ‘invocations’ workshop, where you’ll craft personalised spells with Krystal Sutherland, inspired by the witchy world of The Invocations. Join the bestselling author for an enchanting session of creativity and magic, and leave with your own bespoke curse. No humans are harmed in the making of this curse!

Please bring your own notebook and pen or pencil to this event.

Do you ever get stuck for a story idea, or when you’ve started writing quickly run out of steam? Author Emma Carroll (The Somerset Tsunami, The Week at World’s End) shares tips on how to fire your imagination in this fun, interactive workshop, searching out potential ideas and inspirations to encourage you to keep writing. You’ll consider how the unique experience of being you can be useful when writing, as well as trying out some short exercises to warm up your creativity so you’re ready to put pen to paper.

Come to the Family Garden for a pizza masterclass with Kitchen Garden Pizza. In this one-hour session your imagination and creativity will be fed along with your belly! You’ll get your hands messy with freshly grown and foraged ingredients, make and top your own dough and observe the pizzaioli at work at the wood-fired oven. And while you wait for your pizza to cook, you can decorate your own pizza box!
Dairy-free and gluten-free options available.

The botanist draws on her expertise and experience as an indigenous woman to show how other living beings offer us gifts and lessons, even if we’ve forgotten how to hear their voices. Her subjects range from the Native American legend of the Skywoman to the language of wild strawberries and squash, asters and goldenrod, algae and sweetgrass. Her collection of essays weaves together traditional ecological knowledge and scientific knowledge to examine the relationship people have, and can have, with the living environment. Kimmerer lives in New York where she is founder and director of the Centre for Native Peoples and the Environment. She talks about her book Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants with farmer and author James Rebanks.

Join Professor Susanna Lipscomb, chair of judges for the inaugural Women’s Prize for Non-Fiction, in conversation with Laura Cumming (Thunderclap) Noreen Masud (A Flat Place), Tiya Miles* (All That She Carried)and Madhumita Murgia* (Code Dependent), four of the writers shortlisted for the 2024 prize. They discuss selected books, their broader themes and the importance of this new prize as a platform to elevate women’s voices in non-fiction that have previously been overlooked.

The winner of the 2024 Women's Prize for Non-Fiction will be announced on Thursday 13 June. Brought to you by the Women's Prize Trust, the charity which enriches society by creating equitable opportunities for women in the world of books and beyond.

*Tiya Miles and Madhumita Murgia will appear digitally.

Three authors who share a personal history of displacement and violence discuss writing about their birth countries with lawyer and writer Philippe Sands. Pulitzer Prize winner Hisham Matar is an American-Libyan writer whose novel, My Friends, is about three friends in political exile and the emotional homeland that deep friendships can provide. Elif Shafak is a Turkish-British novelist, author of The Island of Missing Trees, shortlisted for the Women's Prize for Fiction 2022, which follows a romantic relationship between a Greek and a Turkish Cypriot. Palestinian writer Adania Shibli is the author of PEN Translates Award-winning and International Booker Prize-longlisted Minor Detail, a meditation on war, violence and memory that dissects the Palestinian experience of dispossession and life under occupation.

Journey back in time 700 years with Honey & Co chefs Sarit Packer and Itamar Srulovich, as they explore connections between the food of medieval Moorish Spain and the recipes they have championed and popularised as two of the UK’s best-loved chefs. They draw on medieval recipes as revealed in the 13th century Andalusian manuscript Best of Delectable Foods and Dishes from al-Andalus and al-Maghrib: A Cookbook by Thirteenth-Century Andalusi Scholar Ibn Razīn al-Tujībī (1227–1293). Watch the couple demonstrate a recipe from the book, and try some delicious tastings.

Honey & Co’s cookbooks include Chasing Smoke: Cooking Over Fire around the Levant and Food from the Middle East. Packer and Srulovich talk to Polly Russell, a food historian and curator at the British Library.

Travel between the Rocky Mountains and Trinidad with authors Kevin Barry and Ingrid Persaud, who discuss their new novels with critic Alex Clark. Barry’s The Heart in Winter is about Tom Rourke, a young poet and a degenerate in Montana in the late 1800s. When Polly Gillespie arrives as the new bride of the devout mine captain, Tom falls in love with her and they ride into the sunset, but a posse of deranged Cornish gunsmen is soon in hot pursuit. Persaud's The Lost Love Songs of Boysie Singh is the tale of four women, connected and controlled by one man: the notorious, charismatic gangster Boysie Singh.

The world’s human population acquires two thirds of its calories from just three crops, each with one harvest in each hemisphere. With a burgeoning population, cities spreading onto productive agricultural land and climate change, the area we have for producing food is steadily declining. So where will we grow our food and what will it look like? Will we go vegan or produce all our food organically?

Agronomist Jonathon Harrington (Cardiff University) leads a discussion with three world authorities, Professor Tina Barsby (University of Cambridge), Professor Denis Murphy (University of South Wales), and International Agricultural Economist Graham Brookes, on this essential subject. Join the experts to hear the scale of the issues and then come together to workshop some solutions.

Ivor Novello Award nominated songwriter and international reggae artist shares his insights into writing global hits including Boom Shak-A-Lak and Arranged Marriage.

Author Annabelle Hirsch delves into her collection of 101 objects that make up the neglected history of women, in conversation with writer and books journalist Caroline Sanderson. This quiet, intimate and particular history takes in everything from humble household items to objects of female pleasure and of female subjugation. Readings from Julia Gillard, Helena Kennedy, Miriam Margolyes and Aditi Mittal bring to life these fascinating, too-often-overlooked, manifold histories of women.

Hirsch is a writer and translator; Gillard is former prime minister of Australia; Kennedy is a barrister and a Labour member of the House of Lords; Margolyes is an actor of stage and screen; and Mittal is a comedian and actor.

What can the history of slave revolts teach us about the power of rebellion to tackle the climate crisis? How might understanding the origins of capitalism spark ideas for bringing AI under control? What could we learn from the coffee houses of Georgian London to tame social media? Social philosopher Roman Krznaric looks at 1,000 years of history to help us confront the challenges of the 21st century, from bridging the inequality gap and reducing the risks of genetic engineering, to reviving our faith in democracy and avoiding ecological collapse. In conversation with publisher and writer, John Mitchinson.

Comedians and writers Dom Joly and Danny Wallace take a look at conspiracy theories, fake news and more in this funny, frank and sometimes frightening discussion. Joly’s new book The Conspiracy Tourist: Travels Through a Strange World sees him meeting followers of QAnon in Cornwall, New Age-ers in Glastonbury and UFO hunters in Roswell, and taking a flat-earther to the edge of the world. In Wallace’s book Somebody Told Me he encounters families torn apart by accusations and fake news, journalists putting themselves on the frontline of the disinformation war, reformed conspiracy theorists and more. Joly and Wallace talk to author and tech researcher Carl Miller.

Building on years of creative collaborations with survivors of terror attacks, Yordanka Dimcheva and Dr Katharina Karcher tell the stories of six inspiring people through three objects. From the narwhal tusk used by MoJ employee Darryn Frost and prisoner Steven Gallant in 2019 to tackle an armed attacker on London Bridge, to the camera of David Fritz Goeppinger, who survived the hostage-taking in the 2015 Bataclan attack, and the knitted teddy bear made by Figen Murray after losing her son in the Manchester Arena bombing, Karcher illustrates how creative practice can be used to remember violent loss, (re)claim agency and work towards less violent futures. Dimcheva is a PhD candidate in French Studies, focusing on terrorism in France, and Karcher is Senior Lecturer in the Department of Modern Languages, both at the University of Birmingham.

Looking for a new approach to life, a way to make your dreams reality and a stronger connection to yourself and those around you? Then author Candice Brathwaite (Manifest(o): Unlock the Life you Deserve) and consultant and coach Africa Brooke (The Third Perspective: Brave Expression in the Age of Intolerance) are here to help, in conversation with journalist Nichi Hodgson. Brooke shares her method for expressing yourself and embracing bravery, with the aim of placing you back in the driver’s seat of your own life. Brathwaite explores what manifesting looks like if you're not white, thin, traditionally pretty or able bodied. Prepare for a conversation that will leave you feeling inspired and ready to tackle any problem or achieve any dream.

“And how late it is already!” So ended one of Franz Kafka’s final diary entries; the last was dated 12 June 1923, less than a year before he died on 3 June 1924. The second weekend of this year’s Hay Festival coincides with the 100th anniversary of the last two days of Kafka’s life, a tragic moment in literary history but one also charged with hope, because of his irrepressible spirit and immortal work, which survived despite its author’s wishes.

To mark the centenary, the London Review of Books has mined its remarkable archive to publish a chorus of the different ways its writers have thought about Kafka over the years. This one-off performance is interspersed with readings from Kafka’s own later diary entries, by special guests Toby Jones and Julian Rhind-Tutt; and music from Max Richter’s The Blue Notebooks, itself inspired by Kafka’s journals, played by the celebrated organist James McVinnie.

Gain a rare insight into the life of the legendary, late comedian Barry Cryer, whose work included BBC Radio 4’s long-running I’m Sorry I Haven’t a Clue. His son Bob Cryer speaks to actor Miriam Margolyes about the man behind the jokes. Filled with candour and warmth, this discussion is an ode to Barry Cryer’s incredible life and to the lessons he imparted on the art of comedy during his 60-year career.

Bob Cryer is an actor and writer best known for Coronation Street and Hollyoaks. With his father, he created the book series Mrs Hudson’s Diaries, which was adapted into a play for Wilton’s Music Hall. Mrs Hudson’s Radio Show soon followed for Radio 4 in 2018. Their joint podcast, Now Where Were We?, launched just before Barry Cryer’s death in 2022. His book Same Time Tomorrow? is about Barry Cryer's life and career. Cryer and Margolyes talk to Alex Clark.

Simon Armitage’s reinvention of a fairy tale, Hansel & Gretel: A Nightmare in Eight Scenes, was published in 2023. It’s the third book by the Poet Laureate to be illustrated by Clive Hicks-Jenkins, following Sir Gawain & the Green Knight in 2018 and The Owl and the Nightingale in 2021.

The Poet Laureate and the artist/illustrator hold a conversation with pictures, talking about their experiences of working together and reading favourite passages from the three books. Hicks-Jenkins directed and designed the music theatre production with actors and puppets of Armitage’s Hansel & Gretel when it premiered in 2018, and two members of the original cast make a special appearance.

Join the literary director of Shakespeare and Company Adam Biles (author of Feeding Time and Beasts of England), with journalist and novelist Hari Kunzru (The Impressionist, Blue Ruin) Isabella Hammad (author of The Parisian and Enter Ghost) and other guests for a far-ranging conversation on the role writers play in our cultural discourse, the art of the author interview and the importance of independent bookshops.

Shakespeare and Company, Paris, is one of the world’s most iconic and beautiful bookshops. Long favoured as a meeting place for writers and readers, it has hosted events with some of the greatest authors of our age. Highlights from these conversations are captured in the new Shakespeare and Company Book of Interviews, bringing their insights together with warmth, sensitivity and humour.

The nation’s twelfth-favourite doctor brings his brand new show to Hay Festival, fresh from a record-breaking run at the Edinburgh Fringe and a sell-out season in the West End. His book This is Going to Hurt was a literary sensation, selling three million copies and becoming a multi-BAFTA-winning BBC series. Undoctored follows on from This is Going to Hurt, and will leave you laughing and crying with Kay’s unique tales of life on and off the wards. It also contains the ‘degloving’ story because people ask for refunds if they don’t hear it. “Darkly hilarious – this show will have you in stitches” – The Standard.

Join Angela Barnes (Mock the Week, Live at the Apollo, 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown) as she tries out some new ideas she’s had. There will be thoughts, there will be stories, there will be successes, there will be failures, and there will be jokes – so come along to find out which is which… “She’s just a gloriously down-to-earth, straight talking and extremely funny comic” – The Guardian.

Angela Barnes swapped a career in health and social care for stand-up in 2010 and hasn’t looked back. Within just a couple of years she had won the 2011 BBC New Comedy Award and toured around the country with her stand-up shows. She is a firm favourite on BBC Radio 4, having featured on The Now Show and The News Quiz.

Start your day with an hour of yoga blending movement, mantra, meditation and breathwork. The classes support detoxification and regeneration – physically, emotionally and spiritually. Our daily yoga classes are brought to you by a collective of ten highly skilled practitioners, all local to Hay-on-Wye. Each practitioner has their own style, but with all you can expect a mindful, student-focused practice with clear cueing and functional sequencing.

Whether you need grounding and recharging before a busy day at the Festival, an opportunity to stretch and move your body, or simply an hour to focus on your breathing, these classes are open and accessible to all. Practitioners will adapt to different levels of experience, providing options for deepening or softening within poses so that each student takes what they need from the practice. Beginners and experienced students are most welcome. Yoga mats are provided.

Please contact Clare Fry at hello@larchwoodstudio.com with any questions relating to these classes. As capacity is limited, we recommend booking in advance to avoid disappointment.

A fantastic opportunity to see behind the scenes of this unique and historic building. Visit at a time of your choice during Castle opening hours.

Hay Castle’s executive director Tom True introduces the key moments and characters from the castle’s past followed by a continental breakfast.

Come for a wild swim in the Wye with adventure and wild swimming specialist Angela Jones. The author of Wild Swimming the River Wye is passionate about protecting and respecting the river, its environment and wildlife. She shows how to engage in wild swimming with love and respect, testing the water for cleanliness and observing when it’s safe, before leading a guided wild swim session. Beginners and seasoned swimmers alike will gain a wealth of knowledge, including tips on acclimation, water safety, equipment, technique, reading the river and undercurrents.

You will meet Angela on the banks of the river at By the Wye Glamping Site, HR3 5RS, located just past the main bridge into Hay on the B4351
(What3Words : lifestyle.waving.cavalier).

The session starts at 10am and ends at 12pm at the river.

There is no parking at the swim site, please park in one of the designated car parks around town.

Start your day at Hay Festival with our daily news review. Join leading journalists and special guests as they take us behind the headlines with insider perspectives, insights and an eye on what’s next. Strong coffee recommended!

Among today’s guests are Reverend Richard Coles, co-presenter of BBC Radio 4’s Saturday Live and author of the Canon Clement Mystery series, Dharshini David, author, broadcaster and Chief Economics Correspondent for BBC News, Professor Suzannah Lipscomb, host of Not Just the Tudors podcast from History Hit and Chair of Judges for the inaugural Women's Prize for Non-Fiction and chaired by former BBC Arts Correspondent and Chief News Presenter Rebecca Jones.