Calling all lovers of literature! York’s most bookish festival is back.
York Literature Festival runs from 1-30 March 2024.
More than 20 events will be held throughout March at venues across the city – including York Theatre Royal, York St John University, St Peter’s School, Grand Opera House, and York Explore Library and Archive.
We’ve put together a guide of 11 events happening at this year’s festival, such as events with food critic and I’m A Celebrity contestant Grace Dent, Jonathan Creek and Men Behaving Badly star Caroline Quentin and poet Lemn Sissay.
“With events covering politics, literary fiction, genre fiction, food writing, music memoir, history, writing workshops and spoken word performances, there is a wide variety on offer throughout the 2024 York Literature Festival,” said festival director Rob O’Connor.
“York has a well-established literary heritage and we are pleased to highlight this connection with this engaging programme of events.”
York Literature Festival is sponsored by York St John University.
For more information and to see the full programme of events, visit the York Literature Festival website.
Highlights
Caroline Quentin: Drawn to the Garden
Find solace in your outdoor space in this delightful horticultural journey with actress Caroline Quentin, as she draws on her life-long passion for gardening. Through the pages of this gift book, Caroline shows how much joy she gets from spending time in her garden, whether it be grappling with the best way to grow plants and vegetables, or raising seeds in her potting shed.
- York Theatre Royal, St. Leonard’s Place, York, YO1 7HD
- Wed 28 Feb
- 7pm
- £10
- Tickets
Iain Dale: Kings and Queens
Iain Dale will chart the long history of the English and British monarchy, joined by a panel of experts who have contributed to his book, Kings and Queens: 1200 Years of English and British Monarchs, on every individual to have sat on the throne.
- St Peter’s School, Clifton, York, YO30 6AB
- Fri 1 Mar
- 7pm
- £12
- Tickets
Scarred For Life Folk Horror Show
‘Folk Horror’ has become a thrilling genre in its own right, from terrifying films like The Wicker Man to the gentle eeriness of Worzel Gummidge. In this brand new live show, Stephen Brotherstone – co-author of the acclaimed Scarred For Life books – joins writer and broadcaster Bob Fischer to explore ancient magic, eerie stone circles and ask… what does actually lie beneath?
- York St John Creative Centre, Lord Mayors Walk, York YO31 7EX
- Sat 2 Mar
- 7pm
- £12
- Tickets
Polari LGBTQ Literary Salon
Award-winning Literary Salon Polari, inspired by the gay slang of the same name, is a celebration of LGBTQ+ words and voices – whether written, spoken or sung. This evening is an exciting and eclectic showcase of LGBTQ+ writers and performers, both local and from outside York. Founder Paul Burston will also be in conversation discussing LGBTQ+ writing and publishing.
- Theatre@41, 41 Monkgate, York, YO31 7PB
- Thu 7 Mar
- 7pm
- £10
- Tickets
Food Writing: Nina Mingya Powles & Ella Risbridger in discussion
Join award-winning writers Nina Mingya Powles (Tiny Moons, Small Bodies of Water and Magnolia) and Ella Risbridger (Midnight Chicken, The Dinner Table and The Year of Miracles) in conversation on all things food writing. Dip into the cuisines that have shaped these authors and their writing and discover that there is more to the genre than just delicious cookbooks.
- The Mount School, Dalton Terrace, York YO24 4DD
- Thu 7 Mar
- 7pm
- £12
- Tickets
International Women’s Day Poetry Reference
Celebrate International Women’s Day with a special performance from acclaimed poets Olivia Mulligan, Anne Caldwell, Simone Yasmin and Allie Esiri. As well as reading from their work, the poets will also be in conversation with Chloe Hanks, co-host of York-based open mic group Howlers.
- The Basement, City Screen, 13-17 Coney St, York YO1 9QL
- Fri 8 Mar
- 7pm
- £10
- Tickets
Mini Zine Fair and Workshop
A pop-up evening in collaboration with York Zine Fest, featuring stalls from local, grassroot publishers. If you have ever wondered what a zine is or wanted to have a go, there is an opportunity to get creative and make your own unique zine at a drop-in workshop. Friendly, fun and free for all.
- The Crescent Community Venue, 8 The Crescent, York, YO24 1AW
- Tue 19 Mar
- 6-9pm
- Free
Natalie Haynes: Divine Might
Natalie Haynes brings the divine women of Olympia kicking and screaming into the modern age. In Divine Might, Natalie Haynes, the bestselling author of Stone Blind and Pandora’s Jar, introduces us to the stories of the Greek goddesses.
- St Peter’s School, Clifton, York, YO30 6AB
- Tue 19 Mar
- 7pm
- £12
- Tickets
Sheena Patel: I’m A Fan
With a clear and unforgiving eye, Sheena Patel makes startling connections between power struggles at the heart of human relationships to those in the wider world, offering a devastating critique of social media, access and patriarchal systems. I’M A FAN is an exhilarating, addictive take on obsession, race, gender and power dynamics through the lens of a corrosive relationship.
- York Explore Library and Archive, Museum St, York YO1 7DS
- Thu 21 Mar
- 6pm
- £8
- Tickets
Lemn Sissay: Let the Light Pour In
For the past decade, Lemn Sissay has composed a short poem as dawn breaks each morning. Life-affirming, witty and full of wonder, these poems chronicle his own battle with the dark and are fuelled by resilience and defiant joy. Let the Light Pour In is a collection of the best of these poems, and a book celebrating this morning practice.
- Grand Opera House, Cumberland Street, York YO1 9SW
- Sat 30 Mar
- 2pm
- From £16.25
- Tickets
An Audience with Grace Dent
Come and join us as we celebrate the end of the 2024 York Literature Festival with food critic, columnist, author and presenter Grace Dent. In this special event, Grace will be in conversation about all things food, her memoir Hungry and her other work.
- Grand Opera House, Cumberland Street, York YO1 9SW
- Sat 30 Mar
- 7pm
- From £22
- Tickets