Festival fever

Oct 3 2008 by Michael Green, Chester Chronicle

The first big names of the 2008 Chester Literature Festival descend on the city next week.

Cheshire novelist Kate Long, whose Bad Mother’s Handbook was turned into a TV film starring Catherine Tate, will host a celebration of the book Cold Comfort Farm at Upton Village Hall on Sunday.

Then on Wednesday, former Conservative government minister and the last governor of Hong Kong Chris Patten – now Lord Patten – presents a lecture based on his new book What Next? Surviving the Twenty-first Century at the University of Chester.

And there is a fabulous line-up on Thursday for the traditional Literary Lunch at the Chester Grosvenor Hotel & Spa which includes Esther Rantzen, Carol Drinkwater and Marina Fiorato.

The full list of events for the coming week is as follows:

Sunday, October 5 - 7pm, Upton Village Hall: Big Read Film Evening featuring Kate Long leading a discussion of Cold Comfort Farm by Stella Gibbons and a screening of the 95-minute film of the book. Tickets £5.

Monday, October 6 - 7.45pm, Beswick Lecture Theatre, University of Chester: Successful writers on successful writing. Three award-winning writers, at very different stages of their careers, reflect on the craft of literary creation. Featuring Alan Wall, Gee Williams and David Whitley. Tickets £5.

Tuesday, October 7: Russell Bowes and the Chester St Cecilia Singers in the Long Room at Eaton Hall. This is a special event for Friends of the Chester Literature Festival. To join the Friends, e-mail friends@chesterlitfest.org

Wednesday, October 8 - 1.15 pm, St Peter’s by the Cross: Bitesize Lunchtime Poems.

Wednesday, October 8 - 7.45 pm, Molloy Lecture Theatre, University of Chester: Chris Patten: What Next? Surviving the Twenty-first Century Lord Patten’s major new book is a penetrating analysis of our global future. Supported by the Department of History & Archaeology, University of Chester and the Society of 13. Tickets £7.50.

Thursday, October 9 - noon for 12.30pm, Chester Grosvenor Hotel & Spa: Chester Grosvenor Literary Lunch featuring Esther Rantzen, Carol Drinkwater and Marina Fiorato. Tickets £46.50.

Thursday, October 9 - 7.30 pm, Molloy Lecture Theatre, University of Chester: Michael Morpurgo. Tickets £7.50, children free (maximum two per adult)

Friday, October 10 - 7.45pm, Beswick Lecture Theatre, University of Chester: The Star Gazer’s Guide: How To Read Our Night Sky featuring Emily Winterburn. Tickets £6.50.

How to book: In person - Chester Festivals Box Office, The Racecourse, Watergate Square, Chester Monday-Friday 8.30am–5.30pm; Chester Tourist Information Centre, Town Hall Square, Monday–Saturday 9am–4pm. By telephone - 01244 304 618. Online - visit www.chesterfestivals.co.uk or www.chester-races.co.uk. By post - make cheques payable to Chester Race Company Limited and send to the box office at The Racecourse, Watergate Square, Chester CH1 2LY. Please include your address and daytime telephone number.