The Huddle free programme
Whether you’re after stimulating talks during the day or you fancy great entertainment and music in the evening, visit The Huddle in our Feast Café for a host of free events celebrating writing from close to home and around the globe.
FRIDAY 6 OCTOBER
Kids Read the World
4 - 4.45pm
Many of us have read a book or two from the USA, but what about Uruguay, Mexico, Haiti, or Brazil? Join translator and kid lit globetrotter Ruth Ahmedzai Kemp for a bookish whistlestop tour of the continent.
M.G. Leonard: Writing for Children
5.45 - 6.15pm
Over 10,000 children’s books are published each year in the UK, so how do you capture the attention of young readers? M.G. Leonard shares her top tips for writing for children.
The Music Works Presents...
7.30 - 8.30pm
Grab a drink and enjoy live music from talented local musicians ahead of your evening events.
SATURDAY 7 OCTOBER
My Voice, My Cheltenham
10.30 - 11.30am
A unique perspective on what home means from the young entries from the Cheltenham Alliance for Race Equity’s My Voice competition, hosted by Hiva Hesso, and accompanied by performances from local poets.
Disability and Diff-ability in International Children’s Books
12 -12.45pm
From Hand Solo, the boy who built his own prosthetic arm out of LEGO®, to a deaf retelling of Rapunzel, translator and kid lit globetrotter Ruth Ahmedzai Kemp introduces the best inclusive children’s literature.
Sit Down with English PEN
1.15 - 1.45pm
Join English PEN for a conversation about creating, supporting and reading translated literature, ahead of the PEN Translates Proof Party.
Untold Stories: Disability and Inclusion
2.30 - 3.15pm
Author Penny Parkes, poet and founder of CRIPtic Arts Jamie Hale and Penny Batchelor, author and founder of Keep Festivals Hybrid join chair Claire Wade to discuss why the literary world needs to be more accessible and inclusive.
Ann Morgan: Incomprehension Workshop
4 - 5pm
Join Literary Explorer in Residence Ann Morgan for a sample of the new edition of her workshop for curious readers, focusing on how we talk about books in translation.
The Music Works Presents...
7.30 - 8.30pm
Grab a drink and enjoy live music from talented local musicians ahead of your evening events.
SUNDAY 8 OCTOBER
Books From...
12 - 12.30pm
Join one of our international delegates to discuss books from their homeland with Ann Morgan.
Japanese Literature
1 - 1.30pm
The Japan Foundation’s Junko Takekawa discusses the best of Japanese literature with Sarah Shaffi.
We Recommend...
2 - 2.30pm
Ever wondered what Cheltenham Festivals staff are reading in their spare time? Join members of the team as they share their favourite books and reading recommendations.
Stories and Songs from Việt Nam
4.15 - 4.45pm
Join global bestselling Vietnamese author of The Mountains Sing and Dust Child, Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai as she takes us on a journey through the literature and folk songs of a country rich in stories and culture.
Game of Tomes
6.30 - 7.30pm
Join comedian Shirley Halse and pun legends Jelly Armchair for the world’s first literary gameshow. Form a team, get creative and pay homage to the best of tomes and the worst of tomes.
MONDAY 9 OCTOBER
The Times Crossword
10 - 11am
The Times Crossword Editor Richard Rogan takes you through the mysteries of the day’s crossword puzzles with a helping hand or tantalising hint where needed.
Books From...
1.15 - 1.45pm
Join one of our international delegates to discuss books from their homeland with Daniel Hahn.
Willful Giving
2.30 - 3.30pm
Explore charitable legacies with specialists from Willans LLP and Cheltenham Festivals, benefiting both charity and loved ones. One-to one chats will be available with experts afterwards.
Books From...
4 - 4.30pm
Join one of our international delegates to discuss books from their homeland with Daniel Hahn.
Rereading Childhood Books
5 - 5.30pm
Have you ever considered how the books you read as child shaped your reading journey? Dr Alison Waller shares insights into her research on the impact of re-reading our childhood favourites with Ann Morgan.
TUESDAY 10 OCTOBER
The Times Crossword
10 - 11am
The Times Crossword Editor Richard Rogan takes you through the mysteries of the day’s crossword puzzles with a helping hand or tantalising hint where needed.
Caleb Parkin
12.30 - 1pm
Former Bristol City Poet and queer ecopoet, Caleb Parkin, shares work from This Fruiting Body, The Coin (Broken Sleep), and some new work being developed as part of his PhD exploring biodiversity and speculative ecopoetry.
The Cherry Stone Duo
1.30 - 2pm
Former students of Royal Birmingham Conservatoire and Cheltenham Festivals’ Musicats’ Will Crawford (guitar) and Emily Hopper (harp).
Revolting Women
2.30 - 3pm
Gloucestershire-based author Dr Lucy Ryan introduces her new book, Revolting Women, which offers science and stories about the invisible exit of middle-aged women from the workplace.
The Wrong Story
4.45 - 5.15pm
On World Mental Health Day, join local former psychotherapist Lisa Jenner with chair Nicola Banning as she demystifies psychotherapy using fiction in her novel The Wrong Story.
WEDNESDAY 11 OCTOBER
The Times Crossword
10 - 11am
The Times Crossword Editor Richard Rogan takes you through the mysteries of the day’s crossword puzzles with a helping hand or tantalising hint where needed.
Katherine Cox
12.30 - 1pm
A selection of songs, opera arias and duets spanning four centuries of repertoire. With some guest appearances.
Let’s Go Home, Son
2.30 - 3pm
Croatian writer Ivica Prtenjača’s work has won him many fans on page and screen. His novella Let’s Go Home, Son is being published in English by Istros Books. Chaired by Daniel Hahn
Exploring Refugee Literature
4 - 5pm
Join the Cheltenham Welcomes Refugees book club to learn more about their group and get some great book recommendations.
THURSDAY 12 OCTOBER
The Times Crossword
10 - 11am
The Times Crossword Editor Richard Rogan takes you through the mysteries of the day’s crossword puzzles with a helping hand or tantalising hint where needed.
International Crime Fiction
12.30 - 1pm
Karen Sullivan, author and founder of Orenda Books, talks about the popularity of international crime fiction in the UK market.
Collaborating Across Cultures
2 - 2.30pm
Japanese manga comic creator Chie Kutsuwada and British author Julian Sedgwick (100 Tales from the Tokyo Ghost Café) delve into their working relationship and reflect on the joys and challenges of collaborating across cultures.
Cheltenham’s Ukrainian Community
4.30 – 5.15pm
Hear people share their favourite Ukrainian poems and stories, while also introducing you to a few book-themed Ukrainian phrases.
FRIDAY 13 OCTOBER
The Times Crossword
10 – 11am
The Times Crossword Editor Richard Rogan takes you through the mysteries of the day’s crossword puzzles with a helping hand or tantalising hint where needed.
Rough Silk
12.30 – 1pm
Kenyan Security professional and writer Deborah Auko Tendo joins teacher and academic Tryphosa Bennett for a conversation about her book Rough Silk, the incredible story of her father.
STEM Storytelling with Northrop Grumman
2.30 – 3pm
How important are stories to the world of science? Northrup Grumman’s Rob Atchison discusses the relationship between stories and STEM.
Black Artists Shaping the World
4 – 4.30pm
Celebrate the genius of Nigerian sound artists, Sudanese painters and Afrofuturist-inspired performance artists with Sharna Jackson as she discusses the creatives featured in her new book, Black Artists Shaping the World.
Emmy Ludo
7.30 – 8.15pm
Emmy is a singer-songwriter based in Cheltenham. Inspired by artists such as Adele and Demi Lovato, Emmy performs everything from big vocal ballads to modern acoustic pop.
SATURDAY 14 OCTOBER
Bilingual Women’s Poetry
12 – 12.30pm
Hear some poetry written by a local diverse women’s poetry group.
New Zealand Literature
2 – 2.45pm
Catherine Chidgey explores the best of New Zealand literature with Ann Morgan.
Waterstones Book Quiz
3.30 – 4pm
Do you know your Smith from your Mantel... your Faulks from your McEwan? Put your book knowledge to the test in this Waterstones Book Quiz.
The Passenger
4.30 – 5.30pm
Due to unforseen circumstances, this event is now cancelled
Comedy Showcase with James Crawley
6.30 - 7.15pm
Top off your Festival visit with our Saturday night comedy showcase featuring James Crawley.
SUNDAY 15 OCTOBER
‘Tails’ of Mr Olaf the Therapist
12 – 12.30pm
Join Mr Olaf, the therapy dog and his owner Rachel Flower as they share Olaf’s work and his new interactive wellbeing colouring scrapbook, recently launched at Crufts. There will be an opportunity to meet Olaf afterwards.
How We’ve Read the World
2 - 2.30pm
Literary Explorer in Residence Ann Morgan reflects on this year’s Festival and shares her personal highlights from the programme.
We Recommend…
3.30 - 4pm
Ever wondered what Waterstones staff are reading in their spare time? Join members of the team as they share their favourite books and reading recommendations.
Somewhere Else Writers
4.30 - 5pm
Members of Cirencester-based writers’ group, Somewhere Else Writers, share some of their writing.