Award-winning author, screenwriter and Brighton Festival 2024 Guest Director Frank Cottrell-Boyce brings a host of beloved children’s writers, spoken word artists and acclaimed novelists to this year’s event from 4-26 May, including Joseph Coelho, Julia Donaldson, Sarah Perry, Michael Morpurgo and former Guest Director, Kae Tempest. The Festival’s Books & Debates events also return to Brighton Dome’s historic, recently refurbished Corn Exchange and Studio Theatre, allowing for an expanded programme that includes a staged reading of Joelle Taylor’s acclaimed debut novel and poetry from Henry Normal and Brian Bilston.
On 11 May, The Wonder Panel is a celebration of the glory of the story with some of the nation’s best loved story tellers, suitable for all ages. In a lively discussion, Frank Cottrell-Boyce, current and former Children’s Laureates Joseph Coelho and Cressida Cowell and award-winning illustrator Chris Riddell will explore the wonder of literature and investigate how stories help us build the machinery of happiness.
The film adaptation of Michael Morpurgo’s best-selling children’s novel Kensuke’s Kingdom, by Frank Cottrell-Boyce, is shown on 12 May. With an impeccable voice cast including Oscar-winner Cillian Murphy, Sally Hawkins and Ken Watanabe, this gripping hand-drawn animated tale, with a timely message of working together to protect nature, will be followed by a Q&A with both author and screenwriter.
Frank Cottrell-Boyce and children’s writer and illustrator Nadia Shireen have been shipwrecked on The Island of Brilliant for a year now, with nothing but hammocks, children’s books and a massive horde of biscuits to help them pass the time. On 19 May, they are joined by the most widely – and joyfully – read children’s writer in the world, Julia Donaldson, for a live recording of this hugely popular podcast. Earlier in the day, Frank will introduce children aged 7 to 11 to his latest novel, adventure mystery The Wonder Brothers, with live drawing from the book’s Brighton-based illustrator, Steven Lenton.
On 10 May, former Brighton Festival Guest Director (2017) Kae Tempest returns to the city for an exclusive night of mesmerising spoken word from their back catalogue. Their latest collection of poetry, Divisible by Itself and One, longlisted for the Dylan Thomas Prize 2024, is a political and moral exploration of the human form, the body as a boundary and how we are read by the world.
Several authors introduce new books at this year’s Brighton Festival, including Sarah Perry’s unforgettable love story Enlightenment (7 May) and Salena Godden’s collection of poems for people and the planet, With Love, Grief & Fury (9 May). On 5 May, Brighton’s own Caroline Lucas shares her new book, Another England, in discussion with Frank Cottrell-Boyce. Delving deep into our national history, Lucas explores what England’s progressive spirit – its multicultural heritage, radical inclusivity and commitment to the natural world – can teach us about the most pressing issues of our time: from the fraught legacies of Empire and the accelerating climate emergency, to the benefits of migration.
Brighton Dome’s restored and updated Studio Theatre is the venue for a staged reading by award-winning poet Joelle Taylor from her mesmerising debut novel The Night Alphabet (24 and 25 May), directed by acclaimed theatre-maker Neil Bartlett. Set across geographies and timespans, the novel is furious, gripping, dazzlingly original and a deep and bold investigation into violence, resilience and women’s stories.
On 10 May, the Studio Theatre hosts Jason Okundaye to discuss his astonishing new work of social history, Love & Brotherhood in Black Gay Britain, with one of the book’s subjects, LGBTQ+ campaigner Marc Thompson and poet and performer Keith Jarrett. Writer and novelist Sunny Singh explores A Bollywood State of Mind on 18 May, while debut author of The Library Thief, Kuchenga Shenje and writer of the upcoming House of Shades, Lianne Dillsworth reveal the secrets of their Victorian era fiction.
Elsewhere, in the beautifully restored 200-year-old Corn Exchange, poets Henry Normal and Brian Bilston stop off on their nationwide tour on 15 May, to read from their vast catalogues of crowd favourites in an evening of poetry to be enjoyed, not endured. On 24 May, comedian Sara Pascoe is joined by award-winning novelist and screenwriter Nikesh Shukla to discuss her debut novel Weirdo, soon to be released in paperback.
For young readers, Alexandra Sheppard introduces her brand-new novel for children aged 9 to 12, Alyssa and the Spell Garden, in an interactive writing workshop on 5 May. On 12 May, children aged 4 to 8 can step into author and illustrator Sophy Henn’s playful picture book series Lifesize to learn some incredible facts and 8- to 12-year-olds can create their own fantasy world in a drawing session with Vashi Hardy, author of the action-packed adventure North and the Only One on 26 May.
Established in 1967, Brighton Festival is the largest annual curated multi-arts festival in England. This year, Frank Cottrell-Boyce invites everyone to experience the Hope, Magic and Wonder of the arts, with an inclusive and accessible programme of events across the city.
Additional Highlights
Festival of Ideas
A collaboration between Brighton Festival and its higher education partner, University of Sussex, Festival of Ideas harnesses the transformative power of the arts and humanities to develop new ways of thinking about the past, present and future. Events this year include Bird Bath (5-12 May), a soundscape of spring birdsong from local nature reserves; a discussion with Turner Prize winning artist Jeremy Deller (21 May) and 10-minute magic tricks in a café in Close-up (24 May).
Throughout Brighton Festival
Children’s Illustration Exhibition
In celebration of the wealth of talented children’s book illustrators in Brighton, Hove and close by, children’s booksellers The Book Nook will be hosting a free exhibition of their work across the Festival.
Throughout Brighton Festival
Enchantment: Reawakening Wonder in an Exhausted Age with Katherine May
Author of bestselling memoir Wintering, Katherine May, discusses her latest book with comedian and podcaster Cariad Lloyd. Enchantment considers a different way of living, focused on the restorative properties of the natural world.
14 May
Noreen Masud & Polly Atkin: Writing a Life
Writers of extraordinarily raw and open memoirs, Noreen Masud (A Flat Place) and Polly Atkin (Some of Us Just Fall: On Nature and Not Getting Better) discuss the art of life writing from a perspective of living with chronic illness.
16 May
Real Readers Circle
Samuel Burr & Tanya Byrne: Connecting with Wonder
An evening of wonder, connection and joy in conversation with Samuel Burr, author of heartwarming debut Fellowship of Puzzlemakers and novelist Tanya Byrne. Hosted by local writing group Real Writers Circle, this event is an opportunity to meet like-minded book lovers and to leave feeling part of a community.
17 May
Paul Lindley: Raising the Nation
Award-winning founder of Ella’s Kitchen and social campaigner Paul Lindley’s Raising the Nation is a manifesto for why – and how – we must nurture smart, strong and kind children to deliver our brightest possible future. Lindley will explore some of the ways we can support young people growing up in an increasingly volatile and uncertain world.
23 May
Brighton Festival takes place from 4-26 May 2024.
