I’m off to my first ever Latitude Festival tomorrow and I could not be more excited! As well as the fantastic weather (sorry wellies, I think you’re staying at home this year), the abundance of live literary events is really incredible, considering that Latitude is primarily a music festival. Latitude began 7 years ago in 2006 and showcases music, theatre, art, comedy, cabaret, poetry, politics, dance and literature events across one weekend in July.
Up for literary guzzling this year there is:
The Poetry Arena buzzing with spoken word and performance poetry events. I’m hoping to see Rosy Carrick from Brighton’s Hammer and Tongue slam poetry and spoken word events company and the performance poetry organisation Apples and Snakes perform.
The Literary Arena stuffed to the brim with brilliant writers and novelists. As a Hadley Freeman adoree, I would love to see her speak. I’m also hoping to pop in on Dawn O’Porter (loving the new O’ prefix to her surname after marrying Chris O’Dowd!) and Tracey Thorn.
The Literary Salon is hosting some intriguing talks and performances. The geek in me would love to sit through all of them I’m feeling the talk about social media by Brian Lobel will win when I’m forced to choose!
Other stages and tents such as The Faraway Forest, Pandora’s Playground, Comedy Arena, Outdoor Theatre and Theatre Arena will also hosting sketch shows, performances and talks too so I’m pretty sure seeing some form of live literature will be inescapable this weekend!
Now, I’ve just to pack my sun cream and persuade my music obsessed boyfriend that it IS really worthwhile going to see a few literary events while we’re at Latitude. Tracey Thorn is at least one performance he’ll be happy to go along to see!