VOICEBOX at The Times and Sunday Times Cheltenham Literature Festival
Be part of the conversation as VOICEBOX returns to The Times and Sunday Times Cheltenham Literature Festival. Hear short talks, chats and debates about today’s hottest topics and delight in pop-up performances from the biggest names and rising stars.
VOICEBOX is back for its third year, bringing you the best and brightest young talent in a vibrant series of events.
From short talks, chats and debates about today’s hottest topics, to comedy, music and spoken word, VOICEBOX is home to unmissable experiences and one-off moments.
Be part of the conversation as we create change from the ground up and amplify the issues you care about. Through VOICEBOX it’s time for your voice to be heard.
All events are free, no ticket required.
Books from speakers at VOICEBOX
Buy their books now from our Waterstones Cheltenham Literature Festival bookshop.
Why not get ahead of your Festival reading and support Cheltenham Festivals with every purchase.
FRIDAY 6 OCTOBER
BOB AND ROBERTA SMITH: ART MAKES PEOPLE POWERFUL
7.30 - 8.30pm
Don't miss this drop-in workshop with acclaimed artist Bob and Roberta Smith, whose work brings together sign writing, activism and discarded materials. Create your own piece of protest art and hear about why art is a crucial part of democratic life, and how we can use it to make us powerful.
VOICEBOX LAUGHS
9 - 10pm
Grab a drink and join us for laugh-out-loud stand-up. Back by popular demand, host Shirley Halse introduces a line-up of spectacular comedians. Hear from Alex Mason, and fresh from Edinburgh Fringe, Daman Bamrah and Ted Hill.
ALEX MASON
Alex Mason is a Chortle Finalist with a 'thoroughly engaging persona'. She is an exciting up and coming comedian with an original perspective.
DAMAN BAMRAH
A British-Sikh performer with raw wit, likeability and heart, Daman Bamrah is known for his topical writing, acute observations and imaginative storytelling. His carefully crafted jokes and signature charm has led to his supporting some of the biggest names in the industry including Ria Lina, Kae Kurd and Mo Gilligan.
TED HILL
Ted Hill delivers unashamedly silly, high-energy, multimedia stand-up with a warm and disarming demeanour. In 2022 Ted took his show All the Presidents Man to Edinburgh Fringe, delighting audiences with its mix of silliness, nerdiness, pathos and videos of Ronald Reagan voicing the rat from Ratatouille. He takes silliness very seriously.
SHIRLEY HALSE
Shirley Halse is a comedian, writer and full time MILF. Sometimes spotted in a double act – literally carrying her comedy partner – she runs The Alternative Book Club and Cygnet Comedy in Cheltenham.
SATURDAY 7 OCTOBER
HAZEL MEAD: WHY AREN’T WE TALKING ABOUT THIS?!
2 - 2.45pm
Illustrator, feminist and taboo-tackler Hazel Mead uses demystifying and empowering illustrations to answer life’s big questions. In this drop-in workshop she lifts the lid on what we secretly Google about our relationships, bodies and identities. Have a go at creating your own illustrations and hear about how Hazel uses art to start conversations and help everyone feel like they can be themselves.
Instagram: @hazel.mead
WORDS MATTER: ENDING MALE VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND GIRLS
3.15 - 4pm
Do headlines harm those we should be looking to protect? Monika Radojevic talks to the local police force, Gloucestershire Constabulary and campaign group This Ends Now about why we must change how the police and media report on incidents of male violence against women and girls. Female police staff collaborated with feminist activists to introduce Words Matter, a policy created to trigger a change in language and spark a cultural shift away from victim blaming. Learn more about their work, share your ideas and hear how the right language can create a safer society for women and marginalised genders.
BODY POLITICS: WHERE NEXT?
4.30 - 5.15pm
Body positivity has hit the mainstream, but does the movement still serve those it was created for?
Body positivity has hit the mainstream, but does the movement still serve those it was created for? Writer Monika Radojevic, author and mental health campaigner Poorna Bell and illustrator and feminist taboo-tackler Hazel Mead consider the future of body inclusivity, exploring how we move towards a self-confidence that represents all bodies and doesn’t rely on the products, brands and lifestyles that bombard us on social media.
FEMINIST INVOICING
5.30 - 6.15pm
Feel inspired by our BODY POLITICS discussion? Join founder of Feminist Invoicing and award-winning poet Monika Radojevic who will lead an empowering poetry writing workshop using an invoice-style template. Monika performs some of her work and shares tips and writing exercises to help you create your own 'invoices' that explore the unequal power dynamics that impact our everyday lives.
Find out more about the project @feministinvoicing
SOPH GALUSTIAN: NO WORRIES IF NOT
6.45 - 7.30pm
Actor and writer Soph Galustian (Everyone Else Burns, Peck ‘Eds) shares her funny(ish) tale of growing up as a young, queer, working-class woman. This is a story for anyone who wrestled with coming out, who accidentally killed their childhood pet or who has lost the person closest to them.
Don’t miss this event with a comedy writing star of the future.
Follow Soph Galustian on Instagram: @sophgalustian
ISSY WINSTANLEY
8 - 8.45pm
Grab a drink and hear live music from singer-songwriter Issy Winstanley.
Issy fuses influences from pop, country, alternative and folk and uses her songs as a journal for life’s ups, downs and in-betweens. With two BBC Introducing ‘Track of the Week’ features and support from Youth Music and TikTok, it’s no surprise FLEX Music Blog and Music Crowns named Issy ‘one to watch’.
SEKI LYNCH
9 - 9.15pm
In the first of two spoken word sets, hear from poet and writer Seki Lynch. Seki introduces his poetry collection Under the Sun Our Hearts are Beating, which spans over 10 years of loving and suffering and will be published later this year.
LIT CRAWL TAKEOVER: RAISE THE BAR
9.30 - 10.45pm
Lit Crawl lands at VOICEBOX for its final stop, with a dazzling and energetic set from Raise the Bar, Bristol’s biggest monthly spoken word poetry event. Don’t miss your chance to see some of the leading names on the spoken word scene.
Round off your night at the Lit Crawl afterparty at The Urban Fox, 11pm until late.
SUNDAY 8 OCTOBER
BEYOND WORDS: WRITE MINDS
11am - 12pm
We celebrate the benefits of writing for our mental health with former Bristol City Poet Caleb Parkin and students from local Gloucestershire secondary schools. Whether you're new to writing or looking for inspiration, drop in to VOICEBOX to pick up a copy of creative writing guide The Scribbled Self and try your hand at different writing activities designed to boost mental wellbeing.
The Scribbled Self was produced as part of Cheltenham Festivals’ Beyond Words project.
THE ABC OF PRIDE: ALEXIS CAUGHT x KAYZA ROSE
1 - 1.45pm
Find your place with podcaster, author and psychotherapist Alexis Caught, and producer, director and activist Kayza Rose. Covering topics including friendship and intersectionality in the LGBTQ+ community, including taking allyship and activism beyond social media and back to the streets, join Alexis and Kayza for a session sure to be lively, engaging, and proudly queer.
FATS TIMBO: MAIN CHARACTER ENERGY
2.15 - 3pm
TikTok megastar and comedian Fats Timbo is here to show you that you are the hero your story needs.
Born with achondroplasia, through the good and the bad times, Fats has learned a few lessons which have made her fearless. Join Fats as she shows you how to bring the main character energy to your own life.
TikTok: @fatstimbo
SOPHIE K. ROSA: RADICAL INTIMACY
3.30 - 4.15pm
Society wants us to believe there is an optimal way to live. ‘Making connections’ means networking for work. Our emotional needs are to be fulfilled by a single romantic partner. We must have babies and buy a house. These expectations can leave us exhausted and disempowered. Discussing everything from the ‘wellness’ industry to the mental health crisis, love and sex, ageing and more, Sophie K. Rosa demands we use our radical imagination to discover the antidote to our current way of living. Hosted by Monika Radojevic.
CHARLY COX: NOBODY ASKED FOR THIS
4.30 - 4.45pm
Nobody asked for this
Whatever this is
Nobody asked for this
Award-winning poet Charly Cox performs work from Nobody Asked for This. From first loves, to lost loves, to the dark humour of mental illness, Charly shares an intimate and unflinchingly honest picture of the formative experiences of womanhood and living with bipolar II disorder.
Due to unforeseen circumstances, this event has been cancelled.
BENJY KUSI x DR SOPH: WELLBEING 101
5.15 - 6pm
Clinical psychologist Sophie Mort (Dr Soph) and inclusion and wellbeing consultant Benjy Kusi offer tips and advice on the everyday issues that affect us all. They chat to Hana Walker-Brown.
Break bad habits and cultivate better ones, stop self-sabotaging, learn why it’s not selfish to choose yourself, why impact means more than intent, and become who you want to be.
ELLIE MIDDLETON: NEURODIVERSITY (UN)MASKED
6.30 - 7.15pm
Whether you're neurodivergent, suspect you might be, or want to be a better ally, join autistic and ADHD creator Ellie Middleton as she helps make sense of it all. Since being diagnosed at 24, Ellie's built an audience of 350,000+ people online and created the (un)masked community. She shares tips about how we can better understand and celebrate neurodivergence with Hana Walker-Brown.
THURSDAY 12 OCTOBER
UoG TAKEOVER: JOURNEYS THROUGH BOOKS
6.30 - 7.30pm
From Homer's Odyssey to stories from the Windrush generation, books have the unique ability to capture a sense of time and place. Be swept away by readings and reflections from a range of voices as we celebrate the words that have captured journeys – both real and imagined – across the centuries and into the present day.
UoG TAKEOVER: A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE
8 - 9.30pm
Experience the wonders of our ever-changing world with young people from across Gloucestershire. Hear from University of Gloucestershire students and guest writers from local schools as they share work from student anthology A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE. Together, their words remind us to celebrate and learn from our differences and appreciate the rich diversity of people and societies in today’s world.
FRIDAY 13 OCTOBER
THE STUDENT VOICE: SPILL THE TEA WITH HAMZA YASSIN
2 - 2.45pm
Your favourite student-led podcast Spill the Tea is back for a live episode. Students from across Cheltenham are joined by special guest, wildlife cameraman and BBC Strictly winner Hamza Yassin. He chats about his career, his love of birdwatching and inspiring others to get out into nature.
THE STUDENT VOICE: MY STORY, MY POWER
3.30 - 4.15pm
What if our uniqueness is our biggest strength? We explore how individual experiences – from intersections like race, class and gender, to being neurodiverse or living with mental illness – can help create a better society. Students from across Cheltenham are joined by writer, director and inclusion advocate Lennina Ofori, whose work focuses on bringing voice to those in the margins, and inclusivity campaigner Charli Clement, who has lived experience of disability, neurodivergence and mental illness, to explore the power of our own story.
THE MUSIC WORKS PRESENTS: t.e.d.
6.15 - 7pm
Hear live music from Cheltenham-based artist t.e.d.
South African-born t.e.d. produces acoustic led music with unique vocals, defining more than any one genre.
t.e.d. takes influence from artists such as Raye, Daniel Caesar and YEBBA, incorporating simple contrasting rhythmic lines and synths to accompany her vulnerable lyrics and sound.
VOICEBOX x BLACK BRITISH BOOK FESTIVAL PRESENTS: ROOTS AND ROUTES: NAVIGATING IDENTITY AND BELONGING
7.30 - 9.30pm
One of the UK’s most exciting festivals, Black British Book Festival, takes over VOICEBOX for a night of spoken word, conversation and creativity.
In ROOTS AND ROUTES, we explore the diverse experiences of young Black millennials as they navigate their identities, cultural heritage and sense of belonging in our ever-changing world. Delving into everything from self-discovery to the influence of ancestral roots, don’t miss this very special event including appearances from:
JOHN BERNARD
Coventry Poet Laureate John Bernard, known as the city's voice for the youth, is recognised for his authentic, raw, and impactful work. He has graced the stages at renowned UK events and venues, such as Shambala Festival, Formula 1 Silverstone, BBC Radio 1 Big Weekend, Symphony Hall alongside the BBC Symphony Orchestra, and many others. Committed to promoting a passion for words, John collaborates with schools, youth organizations, universities, and community groups to inspire and empower young minds through his art.
JESSICA GEORGE
Born and raised in London to Ghanaian parents, Jessica George is the author of one of 2023’s hottest books and instant New York Times bestseller, Maame, a deeply moving coming-of-age story.
SAFIYA KAMARIA KINSHASA
Safiya Kamaria Kinshasa is a British-born Barbardian raised poet, dancer, choreographer and researcher whose exhilarating style is a force to be reckoned with. Safiya’s debut collection Cane, Corn & Gully was published in November 2022 and is the first book to feature dance notation of the enslaved.
THE FLOOR MAGAZINE
Get creative with The Floor Magazine, an online and print publication celebrating emerging talents of colour in the literary and creative worlds.
SATURDAY 14 OCTOBER
PITTVILLE PRESS ZINES
10.30 – 11.30am
Zines share trailblazing ideas and connect communities through bold visuals. Celebrate all things zine culture with Pittville Press. Meet zine-makers, artists, illustrators and creators, delve into different zines, watch live illustration and be inspired to create your own zine in a drop-in workshop.
BOOKTOK TAKEOVER
12 - 1.30pm
Book lovers unite! Celebrate your love of books in our BookTok takeover. Chat to content creators Emily Russell (@emilymiahreads) and Coco Hagi (@cultofbooks), and hear from some of TikTok’s hottest authors including Bea Fitzgerald, author of Girl, Goddess, Queen. Come away with top tips on content creation and answers to your juiciest questions, and get the inside scoop on the must-read books for your TBR pile.
ISABELLA DORTA: THE LETTERS I WILL NEVER SEND
2.30 - 3.15pm
Don’t miss the opportunity to see a live performance from TikTok poet and author Isabella Dorta.
Isabella introduces her new collection The Letters I Will Never Send, poems that explore love, heartbreak, mental health and self-discovery in the form of letters. Through live performance and conversation, Isabella shares the power of leaving nothing unsaid.
TikTok: @isabelladortapoetry444
BRAZEN LAUNCH PARTY FEAT. FERN BRADY, LORNA TUCKER, JUANO DIAZ, FLORENCE GIVEN
3.45 - 4.45pm
Get your hands on some of the hottest books before they’re published at our Brazen launch party.
Join Brazen authors Hanna Thomas Uose, Lorna Tucker and Juano Diaz, hear a very special video announcement from Florence Given and be the first to secure a chapter sampler from her new book, and receive a goody bag full of merchandise, a copy of Fern Brady’s Strong Female Character, and exclusive proof copies from Brazen authors that are guaranteed to be on everyone’s must-read piles in 2024.
LGBTQ+ BOOKSHELF
5.30 - 7.15pm drop-in
Be inspired by the conversations happening in VOICEBOX and pick up a recommended read from a selection of the hottest LGBTQ+ book picks, specially curated by Waterstones.
CHELTENHAM PRIDE: VOGUEBOX
5.30 - 5.45pm
Cheltenham Pride presents VOGUEBOX. Celebrate the art of voguing and join us for a high energy masterclass to learn the signature moves as we celebrate this vibrant cultural movement created by black and Latino LGBTQ+ communities in the 1980s.
NICOLA DINAN x LIV LITTLE
6.00 - 6.45pm
Nicola Dinan’s Bellies starts as a typical boy-meets-boy, following Tom and Ming’s shifting relationship in the wake of Ming’s transition. Liv Little’s Rosewater is a queer black love story that celebrates chosen family and staying true to yourself.
They discuss their debut books and the importance of bringing LGBTQ+ stories to the forefront.
THE QUEER TAKEOVER
7.15 - 8.15pm
Journalist, broadcaster and podcast host Jack Shute brings together LGBTQ+ voices from across Gloucestershire to reflect upon the experiences and priorities of our LGBTQ+ community.
This year, Jack is joined by trans activist and guitarist Alexandra JW and Greta Grip, drag queen and LGBTQ+ activist, to explore how we can better protect and support our trans community in the face of rising anti-trans rhetoric. Add your voice to the conversation and be inspired by our panel who are creating change for the better.
DRAG QUEEN BINGO
9 - 10.30pm
Think bingo is for old ladies with perms? Think again... Back by popular demand, join us for an evening of fun with VOICEBOX's favourite queens RED and The Gentleman Caller. With live music, comedy, prizes and irreverence galore, these queens will tickle your funny bone and bend your concept of bingo forever.
SUNDAY 15 OCTOBER
AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL: WORDS THAT BURN
10 - 11am
Creativity has the power to amplify young voices of today, and Amnesty International UK's human rights poetry project Words That Burn has done just that. Breaking down barriers of difference, the project empowers young people to give voice to those who are suppressed and marginalised through creativity and language. Hear inspiring performances from Deanna Rodger and experience the power of poetry in the fight against injustice and inequality.
Words That Burn was developed in partnership with Cheltenham Festivals.
YOUNG MINDS MATTER
12 - 12.45pm
What does mental health mean to you? Get involved or listen in to this intimate discussion with Youth Mental Health Ambassador and doctor Alex George, award-winning mental health activist Sophia Kaur Badhan and others.
They share their hopes for the future of mental health services and policy and listen to your ideas on how to better take care of our minds.
PLANET CHELTENHAM: WHAT CAN I DO?
1.30 - 2.15pm
Join Planet Cheltenham’s Youth Climate Group to find out how you can take climate action today. Sharing practical tips, members Tolmeia Gregory, Ashleigh Davies and Claudia MacGregor will talk about the paths they’re on, share how everyone has a unique part to play in tackling the climate crisis, and chat about how tapping into your own interests and passions can help get you started.
DREAM GREEN! SOIL SNACK X TOLMEIA GREGORY
2.45 - 3.30pm
Not sure how to pick the right plants, gather a gang, or protect your patch? Tolmeia Gregory chats to founder of Soil Snack Claudia MacGregor who shares her top tips for becoming a green-fingered vigilante. Explore the benefits of greening our streets and neighbourhoods for wildlife and humanity.
CLIMATE, MENTAL HEALTH AND THE FIGHT FOR OUR FUTURE
4 - 4.45pm
To tackle climate chaos, we need to address the systems that can ensure we build better futures for our people and our planet.
Researcher, writer and proudly bipolar activist Charlie Hertzog Young talks to climate activist and illustrator Tolmeia Gregory about working on the frontlines of eco-activism.
MIMMO STUDIOS: FASHION FOR THE PLANET
5.30 - 6.30pm
Want to run a sustainable business, but not sure where to start? Katie Brown and Lil Gardiner established MIMMO Studios in 2021, driven by their commitment to reduce the fashion industry’s impact on the climate crisis. Whether you want to shake up your current business approach or create a more sustainable one, hear expert insights and imagine the future outside current systems.