Wimbledon Bookfest holds Sunset Festival from September 15 to 19 on Wimbledon Common
A literature festival is returning for a second live event this summer, writes Davina Hyde.
Wimbledon Bookfest will hold the Sunset Festival from September 15 to 19 on Wimbledon Common, with a host of big names including John Cooper Clarke, Miriam Margolyes and Robert Peston.
The Bookfest showcases new local talent alongside high-profile writers, artists and speakers.
The five-day event is hosting more than 40 talks, workshops and activities for public audiences and schools.
It follows the success of the Sunrise Festival in June, and will follow the same Covid-secure protocols, with pre-allocated seating and other safety measures remaining in place.
This summer there is a particular focus on memoir and life writing, alongside fiction, poetry, current affairs, history, science, performing arts, and the return of the popular sport night.
The “poet laureate of punk” John Cooper Clarke will look back over an extraordinary career in his memoir, I Wanna Be Yours.
BAFTA-winning veteran of stage and screen Miriam Margolyes will present her autobiography at the age of 80.
Award-winning TV and radio presenter Anita Rani will share her personal story of growing up in Yorkshire and navigating multiple identities in The Right Sort of Girl.
Celebrity chef and restaurateur Rick Stein is inviting audiences to share his favourite home-cooked recipes in his latest release, Rick Stein at Home.
For politics fans, the festival is holding events with journalists and politicians.
Labour MP Jess Phillips will talk about the House of Commons in her book, Everything You Really Need to Know About Politics.
Political journalist Robert Peston and former Labour Deputy Leader Tom Watson will go behind the scenes at Westminster, and former Liberal Democrat leader Vince Cable and journalist Ian Williams will discuss the role of China as a global superpower.
For fans of music, virtuoso cellist Steven Isserlis will discuss Bach’s much-loved Cello Suites in an event for classical music fans and Russian ballet dancer Sergei Polunin will talk about his career as the Royal Ballet’s youngest ever principal dancer.
British actor Giles Terera, winner of an Olivier Award in 2018 for his role in hit musical Hamilton, will also appear with other members of the cast.
The festival is also taking part in footballer Marcus Rashford’s campaign You Are A Champion by encouraging customers to donate a book to primary schools in Merton.
Sunset Festival will also feature the prize-giving ceremony for our Young Writers 2021 Competition, hosted by celebrated local author Michelle Paver.
The winner of the event is Jonathan Esenga, a Year 9 pupil at Raynes Park High School, for his powerful poem about the pandemic, My Name is 2020.
Festival Director Fiona Razvi said: “We exceeded all our expectations with our Sunrise Festival in June, so it’s wonderful to be running another five-day event this year with such a fabulous range of writers and speakers.”
Main Photograph: John Cooper Clarke. Credit Paul Wolfgang Webster
Tickets for Sunset Festival are on sale now. https://www.wimbledonbookfest.org/
Everyone at the South London Press thanks you for your continued support.
Former Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick has encouraged everyone in the country who can afford to do so to buy a newspaper, and told the Downing Street press briefing:
“A FREE COUNTRY NEEDS A FREE PRESS, AND THE NEWSPAPERS OF OUR COUNTRY ARE UNDER SIGNIFICANT FINANCIAL PRESSURE”
If you can afford to do so, we would be so grateful if you can make a donation which will allow us to continue to bring stories to you, both in print and online. Or please make cheques payable to “MSI Media Limited” and send by post to South London Press, Unit 112, 160 Bromley Road, Catford, London SE6 2NZ
