Bradford Literature Festival 2020 Digital Programme Brochure by bradfordlitfest

L A T I G DI E M M A R G O PR 0 2 0 2

FRIDAY 26TH JUNE - SUNDAY 5TH JULY 10 DAYS OF FREE ONLINE EVENTS BRADFORDLITFEST.CO.UK #BRADFORDLITFEST

BRADFORD LITERATURE FESTIVAL 2020 DIGITAL PROGRAMME

SPONSORS & FUNDERS Title Partner

Key Partners

Funded By

Supported By

Legal Partner Â

Book Partner

CULTURAL PARTNERS

With thanks to all our Sponsors, Funders and Cultural Partners whose dedicated support has made the Bradford Literature Festival 2020 Digital Programme possible.

CONTENTS

Director's Welcome

Friday 26th June

Saturday 27th June

Sunday 28th June

Monday 29th June

Tuesday 30th June

Wednesday 1st July

Thursday 2nd July

Friday 3rd July

Saturday 4th July

Sunday 5th July

Events For Schools & Families

BRADFORD LITERATURE FESTIVAL 2020

DIRECTOR'S WELCOME

@BRADFORDLITFESTÂ #BRADFORDLITFEST

IT IS MY GREAT PLEASURE TO WELCOME YOU TO THE BRADFORD LITERATURE FESTIVAL 2020 DIGITAL PROGRAMME. When we are unable to meet in person, it is words that have the power to bring us together, allow us to share our stories and ideas, inspire reflection and create empathy between us. The BLF programme always seeks to create understanding and to open doors. I hope that this year’s programme will also transport you; across time and space with ‘Christopher Eccleston and Lemn Sissay in Conversation’, across the Atlantic with rapper Lowkey to meet inspirational Minneapolis Congresswoman, Ilhan Omar, and back to 19thCentury Haworth, to engage with ‘Anne Bronte: In Her Own Words’. In these exceptional times, it is more important than ever to remember that it is words that have the power to shape new narratives and create new realities. We look forward to welcoming you to the live festival again soon, in the meantime welcome to the wonderful (digital) world of words. Syima Aslam Festival Director

BRADFORDLITFEST.CO.UK

THE RESTLESS DEAD: VAMPIRES, ZOMBIES & GHOSTS

@BRADFORDLITFESTÂ #BRADFORDLITFEST

AVAILABLE ON DEMAND FROM FRIDAY 26TH JUNE | 9AM CLICK HERE TO WATCH Medieval ruins have long inspired the ghostly literary imagination. Perhaps most famously, the shell of the magnificent 13th-century church at Whitby Abbey provided an atmospheric backdrop to chilling scenes in Bram Stoker's Dracula, the vampire novel par excellence. But elements of Stoker's story of the blood-sucking Transylvanian count have historical antecedents from across medieval Europe, evidence of which is buried in the histories of English Heritage sites in northern England. Excavations at Wharram Percy revealed skeletons with their heads removed, likely ritual mutilation to prevent the dead rising from their graves to trouble the living. Monastic chroniclersÂ documented the horrific deeds perpetrated by Satanic corpses during the hours of darkness. Twelve chilling ghost stories written by a monk of Byland Abbey at the turn of the 15th-century show that protection against the restless dead was provided by saying the name of Christ, crucifixes and holy relics. Join Dr Michael Carter, Senior Properties Historian for English Heritage in this talk exploring the ghastly, gory, gothic history of some of the North's most fascinating locations.

BRADFORDLITFEST.CO.UK

YOUR LOCAL ARENA PRESENTS

THREE FACES OF BRADFORD

@BRADFORDLITFESTÂ #BRADFORDLITFEST

AVAILABLE FOR 5 DAYS FROM FRIDAY 26TH JUNE | 10AM CLICK HERE TO WATCH Stereotyped as a city of industry and mills, Bradford’s long history of art and writing can easily be overlooked. Three Faces of Bradford refocuses our gaze, with an exclusive screening of three short films made between 1975 and 1980 from the BBC Arena archives. Highlighting artists David Hockney and David Oxtoby and playwright Andrea Dunbar, the documentaries capture their distinctive individual creativity yet also their shared Bradford roots. Enjoy the films and then watch responses from four Bradfordians noted for their contributions to the arts today: Bradford Community Broadcasting director Mary Dowson, artist Mick Manning, actor Kat Rose-Martin and scriptwriter Tajinder Singh Hayer. Read and listen to new poems from Yorkshire poets Adam Lowe and Rommi Smith and then try your hand at writing your local memoirs, with a masterclass from author Monique Roffey. Your Local Arena is a Lucy Hannah & Speaking Volumes coproduction featuring BBC Arena’s film archive. Funded by Arts Council England.

BRADFORDLITFEST.CO.UK

ILHAN OMAR

IN CONVERSATION WITH

LOWKEY

@BRADFORDLITFESTÂ #BRADFORDLITFEST

AVAILABLE ON DEMAND FROM SATURDAY 27TH JUNE | 9AM CLICK HERE TO WATCH Ilhan Omar represents Minnesota’s 5th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. The first Somali-American Member of Congress, the first woman of colour to represent Minnesota, and one of the first two Muslim-American women elected to Congress. Born in Mogadishu, Omar and her family fled war-torn Somalia and spent four years in a Kenyan refugee camp before securing asylum in the U.S. and arriving in New York in 1995. In this unique conversation with rapper and activist Lowkey, Omar will discuss her own incredible story and how the challenges, trauma and fear she has faced have shaped her political life, alongside her autobiography This Is What America Looks Like: My Journey from Refugee to Congresswoman. Join Omar and Lowkey as they explore American idealism and identity, liberation movements and advocating for the rights of the people, and why Omar’s presence in US politics commands confrontation from the establishment, despite which, Omar continues to believe in the potential for change within the US political system.

BRADFORDLITFEST.CO.UK

IN CONVERSATION WITH

SHAYKH ABDAL HAKIM MURAD

@BRADFORDLITFESTÂ #BRADFORDLITFEST

AVAILABLE ON DEMAND FROM SUNDAY 28TH JUNE | 9AM CLICK HERE TO WATCH Shaykh Abdal Hakim Murad discusses his new bookÂ Travelling Home: Essays on Islam in Europe, dissecting the rise of Islamophobia on the basis of Muslim theological tradition. Murad argues that although the proper response to the current impasse is clearly indicated in Qurâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;an and Hadith, some have lost the principle of trust in divine wisdom and are responding with hatred, fearfulness or despair. Murad believes that a compassion-based approach, rooted in an authentic theology of divine power, could transform the current quagmire into a bright landscape of great promise for Muslims and their neighbours. Travelling Home: Essays on Islam in Europe describes how everywhere, the far right is on the march, with nationalist and populist parties thriving on the back of popular anxieties about Islam and the Muslim presence, and asks: how should we react to the new Islamophobic movements now spreading in the West? Shaykh Abdal Hakim Murad will be in conversation with journalist, Remona Aly.

BRADFORDLITFEST.CO.UK

ASPEN UK SEMINAR WITH ANTHONY ANAXAGOROU

@BRADFORDLITFESTÂ #BRADFORDLITFEST

LIVE ON ZOOM MONDAY 29TH JUNE | 6PM CLICK HERE TO REGISTER Aspen UK is an independent charity which supports and inspires leaders to transform themselves and their society by bringing them together to debate and confront their own ideas and values. Using the unique Aspen method of text-based, professionally guided conversations, participants explore effective solutions to pressing social issues. In this very special event, Aspen UK have partnered with Bradford Literature Festival to host an online seminar, open to all, providing a unique opportunity to participate in an Aspen UK event. Leaders come in many guises, whether you are a leader at home or at work, within your social sphere or your community, this inclusive event recognises the many leadership roles that we all take on at different times in our lives. Participants will join poet and educator, Anthony Anaxagorou, and a moderator, to discuss ideas of ‘Identity and Memory’. Like all Aspen UK seminars, this will help participants to consider their values and how to meet leadership challenges in uncertain times, hear different views, and to consider their own contribution to a good society. Closing date for registration: Thursday 25th June

BRADFORDLITFEST.CO.UK

THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF LITERATURE:

ON THE SAME PAGE

@BRADFORDLITFESTÂ #BRADFORDLITFEST

BROADCAST LIVE TUESDAY 30TH JUNE | 10PM BBC RADIO 3 Throughout 2020, as part of their bicentenary celebrations, the Royal Society of Literature have curated a special series of conversations. On The Same Page brings together RSL Fellows who would not normally share a stage, to discuss the role of the writer in uncertain political times. Broadcast on BBC Radio 3, tune in for a conversation with Tahmima Anam and Ian Rankin, who were both elected as Fellows in 2016. Tahmima is a Bangladesh-born British anthropologist and novelist. Her debut novel, A Golden Age, was winner of the 2008 Commonwealth Writers Prize for Best First Book. Ian Rankin is a Scottish novelist and has received an OBE for services to literature. His Rebus series has been translated into 22 languages. This is a Royal Society of Literature event in partnership with Bradford Literature Festival and was originally planned to take place as part of the 2020 festival. Due to Coronavirus, RSL have collaborated with BBC Radio 3’s Free Thinking to adapt three episodes of On the Same Page for broadcast. All episodes will be available on the BBC Arts and Ideas podcast.

BRADFORDLITFEST.CO.UK

THE FAMILY TREE IN CONVERSATION WITH

SAIRISH HUSSAIN

@BRADFORDLITFESTÂ #BRADFORDLITFEST

AVAILABLE ON DEMAND FROM WEDNESDAY 1ST JULY | 9AM CLICK HERE TO WATCH Sairish Hussain is an author who was born and brought up in Bradford. Her debut novel The Family Tree follows the stories of Amjaad and his children Saahil and Zahra, after his wife, their mother, dies shortly after Zahra is born. Described as “the moving story of a British Muslim family - full of love, laughter and resilience, as well as the faults, mistakes and stubborn loyalties which make us human”, Sairish’s book explores social and political as well as domestic themes. In conversation with Festival Director, Syima Aslam, Sairish will talk about the plot and themes of The Family Tree, her sources of inspiration and her own journey as a writer.

BRADFORDLITFEST.CO.UK

LIVE Q&A WITH

KIRAN MILLWOOD HARGRAVE

@BRADFORDLITFESTÂ #BRADFORDLITFEST

LIVE ON YOUTUBE WEDNESDAY 1ST JULY | 6PM CLICK HERE TO WATCH Join us for a live Q&A with award-winning author Kiran Millwood Hargrave, exploring the Gothic world of Kiranâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s debut novel for young adults, The Deathless Girls. Written as a prequel to Bram Stokerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Dracula, the book marries the classic Gothic milieu with very contemporary themes such as representation of marginalised communities, LGBTQ relationships, feminism and friendship. Gothic, intoxicating, feminist and romantic - this is the breathtakingly imagined untold story of the brides of Dracula. Before the event, you may want to watch Kiran's interview with Jean Menzies recorded in May 2020 as part of our Digital programme for Schools & Families - click here.

BRADFORDLITFEST.CO.UK

B-LIT POETRY WORKSHOP WITH

TESTAMENT

@BRADFORDLITFESTÂ #BRADFORDLITFEST

LIVE ON ZOOM THURSDAY 2NDÂ JULY | 4PM CLICK HERE TO REGISTER For young people aged 12-19. Join rapper, critically acclaimed playwright, and Guinness World Record-holding beatboxer, Testament, for a supportive and welcoming poetry workshop for young people aged 12-19. Whether you're new to the art form and are interested in tips and tricks to get started, or an experienced writer looking to develop your work, Testament will offer advice and inspiration to help you build confidence and get writing.

BRADFORDLITFEST.CO.UK

LIVE Q&A WITH

SHAYKH ABDAL HAKIM MURAD

@BRADFORDLITFESTÂ #BRADFORDLITFEST

LIVE ON YOUTUBE THURSDAY 2ND JULY | 6PM CLICK HERE TO WATCH Join Shaykh Abdal Hakim Murad for a live Q&A, taking questions on his latest book Travelling Home: Essays on Islam in Europe. Murad's book dissects the rise of Islamophobia on the basis of Muslim theological tradition. Murad argues that although the proper response to the current impasse is clearly indicated in Qur’an and Hadith, some have lost the principle of trust in divine wisdom and are responding with hatred, fearfulness or despair. Murad believes that a compassion-based approach, rooted in an authentic theology of divine power, could transform the current quagmire into a bright landscape of great promise for Muslims and their neighbours. Before the event, you may want to watch Shaykh Abdal Hakim Murad's interview with Remona Aly - click here.

BRADFORDLITFEST.CO.UK

SHAAM-EGHAZAL

@BRADFORDLITFESTÂ #BRADFORDLITFEST

AVAILABLE ON DEMAND FROM FRIDAY 3RD JULY | 7PM CLICK HERE TO WATCH Our annual international mushaira, hosted in partnership with the Yorkshire Adabee Forum, has been mesmerising and delighting festival audiences since the very beginning. A beloved part of North Indian, Pakistani and Deccan culture for over three centuries, the mushaira is an intellectual forum, showcasing the most talented and innovative Urdu-speaking poets. This year, from the comfort of your own home, explore the rich cultural heritage of the Urdu language with the brightest stars of Urdu poetry. Join Ambareen Haseeb Ambar, Hameeda Shaheen and Tehzeeb Hafi from Pakistan, Tahir Faraz from India, Atif Tauqeer from Germany and Ghazal Ansari and Ishtiaq Mir from the UK for an unforgettable event.

BRADFORDLITFEST.CO.UK

ROSE CONDO:

THE EMPATHY EXPERIMENT

@BRADFORDLITFESTÂ #BRADFORDLITFEST

LIVE ON ZOOM ON FRIDAY 3RD JULY | 6PM CLICK HERE TO REGISTER Could you survive for one day without your phone? In this award-winning interactive show, featuring poetry and discussion, Rose Condo asks if empathy is facing extinction and whether smartphones are to blame.Â Having embarked on her own 'Day Of No Mobile Phones', Rose explores the links between tech addiction and compassion using herself as the test subject ... but does her experiment even work?Â Written and toured before the outbreak of Coronavirus, tune in to see this very special edition of The Empathy Experiment where Rose will reveal her findings against the backdrop of lockdown, social isolation and our increased reliance on digital technology. During the show, audience members will be asked to lock away their phones in a sealed envelope (unless, of course, you're watching on you phone). Afterwards, stick around for a group discussion and Q&A. Click here to see a trailer of the show.

BRADFORDLITFEST.CO.UK

CREATIVE WRITING WORKSHOP

HAVE A (KIND) WORD WITH YOURSELF

@BRADFORDLITFESTÂ #BRADFORDLITFEST

LIVE ON ZOOM ON SATURDAY 4TH JULY | 11AM CLICK HERE TO REGISTER Join poet Rose Condo in this creative writing workshop that explores our relationships with our mobile devices. Through poetry and prose we will pause the ‘mindless scroll’ and discover new and creative ways to increase our wellbeing. This workshop is suitable for writers at any level of experience aged 16 and over. You will require: Pen/pencil Paper/notepad A blank envelope (sheet of A4 paper can be used as an alternative)

BRADFORDLITFEST.CO.UK

OMID SAFI: RE-DISCOVERING RUMI

@BRADFORDLITFESTÂ #BRADFORDLITFEST

LIVE ON ZOOM ON SATURDAY 4TH JULY | 2PM CLICK HERE TO REGISTER He’s one of the best selling poets in America, with 1.7 million followers on facebook, the darling of Instagram influencers and has inspired celebrities from Madonna to Jay-Z. He’s also a 13th century mystic, variously described as a “Sufi”, “a Saint” and a “scholar”; less often as a Muslim whose very name Jalāl ad-Dīn Rūmī - Rumi to many who know him today - means Glory of the Faith (Jalal-ad-Din). Rumi’s epic poem The Mathnavi, from which the internet one-liners spring, is also know as the Persian Qur’an. So who was Rumi and what were the sources of his inspiration? And is the poetry we love in English truly reflective of his message? Join Dr. Omid Saafi from Duke University for our annual Rumi lecture to understand the man behind the message of transformation This is a wonderful opportunity for those new to his work, as well as long-standing followers, to reacquaint themselves with the beauty that lies at the heart of Rumi’s poetry.

BRADFORDLITFEST.CO.UK

CHRISTOPHER ECCLESTON IN CONVERSATION WITH

LEMN SISSAY

@BRADFORDLITFESTÂ #BRADFORDLITFEST

AVAILABLE ON DEMAND FROM SUNDAY 5TH JULY | 9AM CLICK HERE TO WATCH Known for roles in award-winning shows such as Our Friends in the North and Dr Who, as well as films like 28 Days Later and Gone in 60 Seconds, Christopher Eccleston is one of the UK's best loved stars of stage and screen. Lemn Sissay MBE is a BAFTA nominated International prize-winning author, poet and playwright. Roles such as the official poet of the London 2012 Olympics have solidified Sissay as one of Britains most recognisable poetic voices. Both Eccleston and Sissay were born and raised in working class households in the north of England in the 1960's. Eccleston's autobiography I Love the Bones of You and Sissay's My Name Is Why were both published to critical acclaim in 2019. Here we present a unique insight into the lives and experiences of two of our most loved and respected Northern artists, both of whom have overcome great hardship and join us here to tell their stories.

BRADFORDLITFEST.CO.UK

ANNE BRONTË: IN HER OWN WORDS

@BRADFORDLITFEST #BRADFORDLITFEST

LIVE ON ZOOM ON SUNDAY 5TH JULY | 9AM CLICK HERE TO WATCH The Brontë sisters - Emily, Charlotte and Anne - are often talked about in one breath without considering their own unique personalities. Anne Brontë's work, which included novels Agnes Grey and The Tenant of Wildfell Hall, address feminist issues that are still subject to debate and discussion today. But what do these novels tell us about Anne herself, and do her poems and letters reveal more? In this panel discussion, chaired by Bidisha, Brontë experts Adelle Hay, Samantha Ellis and Marianne Thormählen look at what we can learn about the 'real' Anne Brontë as a writer and as a woman.

BRADFORDLITFEST.CO.UK

EVENTS FOR SCHOOLS & FAMILIES HAVE FUN WHILST LEARNING!

Under normal circumstances, the Bradford Literature Festival Schools Programme welcomes students from across the city to take part in a series of day-long literary celebrations, each following a particular theme. Of course, these are not normal circumstances, and so our hugely popular programme will take place online inviting not just schools but also families to join us for fun, free, educational digital ‘events’ available on demand from the comfort of your home or classroom. Split into activity for both Primary age (5-11) and Secondary age (11 – 18) children, look out for age-range guidance, clearly stated at the top of each event listing. Age ranges reflect National Curriculum content but may also be enjoyed by older or younger children at teacher/parent discretion. Each ‘day’ of activity will become available on a set date and remain accessible for on demand viewing from that point forward. Featuring inspirational writers and performers from Bradford and beyond, including everything from talks and readings with your favourite writers to interactive performances and creative workshops, we hope you and your children will have fun learning with our 2020 Programme for Schools & Families.

REGISTER FOR THE 2021 SCHOOLS PROGRAMME We are already taking bookings for the 2021 Live Schools Programme which will take place at venues such as the University of Bradford, St George's Hall and City Park. Each Schools Day is specially tailored toward keystage specific National Curriculum objectives with a focus on interactivity and enjoyment. Attendance is FREE for schools in Bradford. For more information and to register your interest, contact us at:

SCHOOLS@BRADFORDLITFEST.CO.UK

COMPETITIONS! No BLF schools event is complete without the opportunity to win an amazing bundle of books! Click through to the festival website where underneath each of our events is a creative competition reflecting the skills children have worked on that day.

FRIDAY 26TH JUNE

PRIMARY AUTHOR EVENTS FOR AGES 5-11 This series of exciting author-based events, featuring your favourite writers from the UK and beyond, has been funded by The Pears Foundation and follows the theme of everyone’s favourite childhood story – Peter Pan by JM Barrie. Expect tales of pirates, fairies, crocodiles and more as we journey toward the “second star to the right, and straight on till morning”, transporting children aged 5-11 all the way to Neverland. Look out for our handy resource packs for teachers and parents, available on each event webpage. Funded by:

FRIDAY 26TH JUNE PRIMARY AUTHOR EVENTS Funded by:

FROM NEVERLAND TO ELLA ENCHANTED WITH GAIL CARSON LEVINE

THE PIRATE CRUNCHER WITH JONNY DUDDLE

DRAW ALONG WITH JONNY DUDDLE

FOR AGES 5-9+

FOR AGES 5-8+

FOR AGES 7-11+

Join acclaimed children’s author Gail Carson Levine (Ella Enchanted) on a magical adventure. Gail will read from her Peter Paninspired children’s book Fairy Dust and the Quest for the Egg, and her favourite section of JM Barrie’s classic novel, before having a chat with poet Jo Brandon about all things magic, fairies, and Peter Pan.

Yo ho ho and welcome to this very special event with author Jonny Duddle, as he reads from his debut children's book The Pirate Cruncher, following a scurvy crew on the hunt for an island of gold... with lots of twists and turns along the way!

Author and illustrator Jonny Duddle will show budding artists how to draw a fearsome, hookhanded pirate, give a quick glimpse at a treasure map, and share some of his top tips for creating your very own illustrations in this wonderful workshop finer than any you’ll find, anywhere in the Seven Seas.

AVAILABLE ON DEMAND FROM FRIDAY 26TH JUNE

CLICK HERE TO WATCH

PRIMARY AUTHOR EVENTS FRIDAY 26TH JUNE Funded by:

A SHORT HISTORY OF PIRATES WITH CAPTAIN DAN TASTIC

TALK LIKE A PIRATE WITH CAPTAIN DAN TASTIC

CRAFTY CREATIONS: MAKE A CROCODILE WITH MORWENNA CATT

FOR AGES 9-11+

FOR AGES 5-9+

FOR AGES 5-11+

Join Captain Dan Tastic, for a swashbuckling adventure to the 17th Century where he'll discuss all things pirate!

In this fun and educational session, Captain Dan Tastic will share the history behind pirate lingo, teach you exactly how to roll your rrrs for a proper "arrrgh", and answer the age old question - what exactly is a poop deck?!

Join artist Morwenna Catt for this craft session using materials you're likely to have at home.

Learn the special names for the different parts of the ship, find out why pirate weapons weren’t always very effective, and hear about the world’s most famous historical pirate, Blackbeard.

In this crafty workshop, learn how to make a snappy crocodile, just like Tick-Tock - the monstrous croc who tormented Captain Hook in Peter Pan. Check the website for a full list of materials and tools.

AVAILABLE ON DEMAND FROM FRIDAY 26TH JUNE

CLICK HERE TO WATCH

FRIDAY 26TH JUNE PRIMARY AUTHOR EVENTS Funded by:

CRAFTY CREATIONS: MAKE A FAIRY JAR WITH MORWENNA CATT

CRAFTY CREATIONS: MAKE A PIRATE SHIP WITH MORWENNA CATT

FOR AGES 5-11+ Join artist Morwenna Catt for this craft session using materials you're likely to have at home.

In this session, Morwenna will show you how to make a beautiful fairy jar that lights up the night just like Tinkerbell!

In this session, Morwenna will show you how to make a swashbuckling pirate ship fit for plundering the seven seas!

Check the website for a full list of materials and tools.

AVAILABLE ON DEMAND FROM FRIDAY 26TH JUNE

CLICK HERE TO WATCH

THURSDAY 2ND JULY

PRIMARY POETRY EVENTS FOR AGES 5-11 Whether you've got very young children just learning how to express themselves, or you've got a budding bard on your hands, our primary age poetry events have something for everyone. Covering everything from constructing beatbox rhymes to space inspired verse, poets from Bradford and beyond share their top tips for creating captivating poems. Look out for our handy resource packs for teachers and parents, available on the event webpage.

Funded by:

THURSDAY 2ND JULY PRIMARY POETRY EVENTS Funded by:

POEMS ALOUD WITH JOSEPH COELHO

POTATOES, CARROTS ...POETRY! WITH JOHN HEGLEY

RHYTHM & POETRY WITH KARL NOVA

FOR AGES 5-10+

FOR AGES 8-11+

FOR AGES 8-10+

Join award winning children’s poet Joseph Coelho, as he invites everyone to read along from his latest book, Poems Aloud.

Join comic poet John Hegley for a lively performance of the poems that have made him so beloved of children and teachers alike, as he reads from his collections I Am A Poetato and My Dog is a Carrot. John will then sit down for a chat about everything, his life, his poetry, his music, his glasses....we'll just have to see where it goes!

Join hip hop artist, author, poet and beat-maker Karl Nova to hear all about his poetry and music, and enjoy a very special performance from his collection Rhythm and Poetry.

AVAILABLE ON DEMAND FROM THURSDAY 2ND JULY

CLICK HERE TO WATCH

Joseph will explain ideas such as rhyme, rhythm, alliteration, onomatopoeia and crescendo (volume) so you can create your own poems.

PRIMARY POETRY DAY FRIDAY 26TH JUNE Funded by:

ASTRO POETRY WITH DOM CONLON

BEATBOXING, RHYTHM & RHYMES WITH TESTAMENT

ZIM ZAM ZOOM FAMILY POETRY WITH JAMES CARTER

FOR AGES 5-9+

FOR AGES 0-6+

Dom Conlon LOVES space. He also loves poetry. This might be why he’s been called 'Poet Laureate to the Moon'.

World-record holding beatboxer Testament knows a thing or two about using the human voice in inventive and awe-inspiring ways.

James Carter provides some fast-paced fun, as he brings poetry and music together for the youngest children. You’re in for a treat, as punchy poetry and masterful melodies combine to introduce your little ones to the magical possibilities of poetry.

In this stellar performance, Dom takes you on a journey through our solar system and beyond, into the far reaches of the known universe.

In this workshop he'll teach you all about sound, rhythm and rhyme - the building blocks of not only beatboxing and rap music but also poetry.

AVAILABLE ON DEMAND FROM THURSDAY 2ND JULY

CLICK HERE TO WATCH

THURSDAY 2ND JULY PRIMARY POETRY EVENTS Funded by:

Look out for more Primary Poetry Events to be announced soon.

FRIDAY 26TH JUNE

SECONDARY AUTHOR EVENTS FOR AGES 11-18 Our diverse and exciting programme of events for secondary school age children focuses on the Gothic genre and celebrates local contemporary authors. We'll unpick the idea of the Gothic novel, discuss the influence of place and how to 'write where you are' and examine the genre of Gothic films. Contemporary Bradfordian authors will discuss the influence of the city of Bradford on their writing. Look out for our handy resource packs for teachers and parents, available on the event webpage.

Funded by:

FRIDAY 26TH JUNE SECONDARY AUTHOR EVENTS Funded by:

THE DEATHLESS GIRLS WITH KIRAN MILLWOOD HARGRAVE FOR AGES 11-18+ Award-winning author Kiran Millwood Hargrave discusses the Gothic world of her debut novel The Deathless Girls with book blogger Jean Menzies Written as a prequel to Bram Stoker’s Dracula, the book marries classic Gothic with themes of marginalised communities, LGBTQ relationships, feminism and friendship.

DON'T MISS KIRAN'S LIVE Q&A! THURSDAY 2ND JULY AT 4PM Join us for a live Q&A with award-winning author Kiran Millwood Hargrave, exploring the Gothic world of Kiran’s debut novel for young adults, The Deathless Girls.

AVAILABLE ON DEMAND FROM FRIDAY 26TH JUNE

CLICK HERE TO WATCH

SECONDARY AUTHOR DAY FRIDAY 26TH JUNE Funded by:

GOTHIC ON FILM WITH COLIN McCRACKEN FOR AGES 14-18+ This unique, narrated visual presentation weaves archive footage, pop culture references and film trailers into a half hour odyssey into the Gothic genre. Join Colin McCracken as he re-introduces familiar characters such as Dracula and Frankenstein’s monster, with a very modern twist.

WRITE WHERE YOU ARE WITH A.A. DHAND FOR AGES 14-18+ Bradford-based crime writer A.A. Dhand reads from his book One Way Out and talks about how the place where you live can be a rich source of inspiration – from derelict buildings to family traditions; from the shopping centres you visit at weekends, to the way your friends talk, and offers some great ideas for how aspiring fiction writers can get started “writing where they are” too.

AVAILABLE ON DEMAND FROM FRIDAY 26TH JUNE

CLICK HERE TO WATCH

FRIDAY 26TH JUNE SECONDARY AUTHOR EVENTS Funded by:

FLASH FICTION WORKSHOP WITH KATY DARBY

ANNE BRONTË AND THE GOTHIC WORKSHOP WITH MICHAEL STEWART

FOR AGES 11-18+

Flash Fiction is a form of very short storytelling, with anything between 5 and 1,500 words. For this workshop, author Katy Darby will guide you through the dos and don'ts of writing compelling Flash Fiction so you have everything you need to get started writing your own.

Bradford-based author of Ill Will, Michael Stewart leads a workshop on writing your very own Gothic story. Using Emily Brontë's The Tenant of Wildfell Hall as a focal point, Michael will explore Gothic tropes and themes and explain how you can use these in your own story.

AVAILABLE ON DEMAND FROM FRIDAY 26TH JUNE

CLICK HERE TO WATCH

THURSDAY 2ND JULY

SECONDARY POETRY EVENTS FOR AGES 11-18 OurÂ amazing line-up of poetry for secondary age children is still growing - look out for more events to be announced soon. Including award-winning poets and educators such as Peter Bearder, Nadine Aisha Jassat and Anthony Anaxagorou, our poetry programme is packed full of inspiration for budding bards and reluctant readers. Do you know a teenager who thinks they're not interested in poetry but spends every evening holed up listening to rap and hip hop? Perhaps these events are for them.

Funded by:

THURSDAY 2ND JULY SECONDARY POETRY EVENTS Funded by:

FROM HOMER TO HIP HOP WITH PETER BEARDER

YORKSHIRE POETRY WITH NADINE AISHA JASSAT

POETRY WORKSHOP WITH ANTHONY ANAXAGOROU

FOR AGES 13-18+

FOR AGES 11-18+

FOR AGES 13-18+

Join National Poetry Slam champion Peter Bearder to find out why wordsmiths have always been vilified, feared and revered, from ballad singers and Beat poets, to the icons of dub, punk and hip hop.

Yorkshire poet Nadine Aisha Jassat shares poetry written by Yorkshire folk in Yorkshire dialect and accents, exploring the diversity of heritage and language in our county and showcasing the importance of voice and point of view.

Join award winning poet Anthony Anaxagorou for this creative poetry writing workshop giving you the skills and inspiration needed to pick up a pen and get writing.

AVAILABLE ON DEMAND FROM THURSDAY 2ND JULY

CLICK HERE TO WATCH

SECONDARY POETRY DAY THURSDAY 2ND JULY Funded by:

FINDING YOUR INNER VOICE IN VERSE WITH FARAH CHAMMA

SLAM & SPOKEN WORD POETRY WITH JOANNA HOFFMAN

POETRY ON YOUR TERMS WITH CARLOS ANDRÉS GÓMEZ

FOR AGES 14-18+

FOR AGES 13-18+

Join Palestinian spoken word poet Farah Chamma as she delivers a very special performance, before talking about the ways in which poetry can be a way to express your inner voice, whatever you have to say - in however many languages you speak.

Veteran New York slam poet Joanna Hoffman talks about how coming out as a lesbian informed the themes of her work, how she got into performing and what poetry means to her.

Colombian-American poet and author Carlos Andrés Gómez shares his experiences of breaking down the traditional 'rules' of poetry and the importance of finding your own style. He also looks at the Bradford diaspora and how your unique life experiences can inform your work.

AVAILABLE ON DEMAND FROM THURSDAY 2ND JULY

CLICK HERE TO WATCH

Look out for competitions, worksheets and more on our website

HOW TO WATCH All events in our digital programme are free to watch, accessible via our website, and streamed via Youtube or Zoom.

BRADFORDLITFEST.CO.UK

JOIN THE CONVERSATION

@BRADFORDLITFEST #BRADFORDLITFEST