All events free to the public but ticketed where indicated.
Tickets for those events requiring them are free and can be obtained from Oakengates Theatre @ the Place - Theatre Square, Limes Walk, Oakengates, Telford, Shropshire, TF2 6EP. Telephone - 01952 382382 Email oakengatestheatreboxoffice@telford.gov.uk
All events start at 7.00pm unless otherwise indicated.
Full details are in the Festival programme which will be available shortly.
Saturday October 3 Dr Michael Nazir-Ali
Michael Nazir-Ali recently resigned as Bishop of Rochester to lead a global ministry against the persecution of Christians by radical Muslims, causing much controversy.
Michael, who served for years as a bishop in his native Pakistan, calls for freedom to choose one's religion. "In today's world, it is increasingly important that there should be a dialogue between people of different faiths on matters to do with fundamental freedoms. These will certainly include the relationship between freedom of expression and public order, freedom of worship and of religious belief generally (including the possibility of changing one's belief), and freedom of movement without undue restrictions for people on the basis of their religion, race or national origin."
In his latest book, based on a series of lectures on Islamic teaching and thought, he looks at how conflict with Christianity can be avoided. He calls for a reciprocity based on the principles of co-citizenship, equality, the rule of law and human rights. Michael is one of the best authorities on Islam within the Anglican Church.
Ticketed event 7.00pm Wrekin College, Sutherland Road, Wellington
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Monday 5 October Professor Stephen Jones
7.00pm New College Hall, King Street
Steve Jones is Professor of Genetics at University College London, a highly successful writer of popular science, and a prolific broadcaster. Making science, especially genetics and evolution, accessible to the uninitiated is his forte. In 1996 he was awarded the Royal Society’s Faraday Medal for advancing the public understanding of science. It followed the huge success of his first book The Language of Genes in which he explained with clarity a rapidly advancing area of science with huge potential implications. It’s a perfect starting point for anyone seeking to understand the full significance of issues like genetic engineering, cloning and DNA. His later works include: Darwin’s Ghost, Almost Like a Whale, The Origin of Species and Y: The Descent of Men, a chronicle of the declining state of the Y chromosome, The Single Helix and Coral.
Born in Aberystwyth, Steve Jones studied at Edinburgh and Chicago before becoming Professor of Genetics at University College London, and head of the prestigious Galton Laboratory.
He is a very ‘down to Earth’ character, a witty, enlightening and entertaining speaker and has written several excellent books including The Language of the Genes and his latest, Darwin’s Island. Steve presents the very latest in scientific research to non-specialists and explains his facts simply but without patronising us. His original research was done on fruit flies and snails, both of which obligingly reproduce fast enough for genetic variation to occur within a short time but he has been able to transfer his findings to mammal and human genetics. He is a world famous scientist who communicates difficult ideas with great clarity, precision and ease. We are delighted that he’s coming to Wellington. Book early – he’s popular.
Ticketed event 7.00pm New College Hall
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Tuesday 6 Oct Susan Summers at Wrekin View
Susan trained as a teacher at Homerton College, Cambridge. Her most recent book "The King's New Palace", a tale on the work of St Thomas in India was published in 2003. As a spin-off from her books, Susan has visited over 400 schools, where she takes assemblies, tells stories and runs workshops in creative writing, illustrating and storytelling.
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Tuesday 6 October
The Best of John BetjemanHe was a conservationist, television personality and best selling poet. 25 years after he passed away Betjeman remains a national treasure. Through his poetry it is easy to see why: passionate about the countryside, the opposite sex, whimsical and nostalgic, hilariously funny, always self-deprecating and deeply honest.
Lance Pierson is a performer on church, cricket and poetry which makes him ideal to tells the story of Betjeman’s life through his poems. Through Betjeman’s heartbreaks and triumphs he paints a picture of a changing 20th century England. The performance includes most popular and significant poems (including Slough, Joan Hunter Dunn. Diary of a Chruch Mouse, Christmas.
"The very performance Lance produces adds to the resonance and beauty of the verse tenfold; performance poetry is an art in which he truly thrives. His vocal range is hypnotic and limitless."
Three Weeks magazine at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe
7.00pm Hayward Arts Centre, New Colege, King Street, Wellington
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Oct 7 Jim Hatfield at St Patricks School.
Jim Hatfield has been telling tales and performing poems in schools and elswhere for a quarter of a century. Most are set in Shropshire, on or close to The Wrekin.
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Wednesday 7 October Clare Mulley
Clare Mulley is the award-winning author of The Woman Who Saved the Children: A Biography of Eglantyne Jebb, and lives in Saffron Walden and London. An experienced public speaker presenting papers at academic social history conferences as well as speaking at various literary festivals and history groups, she would be happy to talk on the life of Eglantyne Jebb, the foundation and international development of Save the Children, children’s human rights, and the practical and creative process of writing biography. Eglantyne’s life is of particular relevance in 2009 when Save the Children mark’s its 90th anniversary.
Clare Mulley, author of The Woman Who Saved the Children: A Biography of Eglantyne Jebb, and winner of the Daily Mail Biographers Club prize.
Clare Mulley, author of The Woman Who Saved the Children: A Biography of Eglantyne Jebb, and winner of the Daily Mail Biographers Club prize.
Reviews of Clare Mulley's The Woman Who Saved the Children: A Biography of Eglantyne Jebb:
'Unusual and perceptive', Daily Mail
'Brings to life the world of clever and conscientious upper-middle-class women... a valuable account of a forgotten life', Times
'Admirably researched... informative and sensitively written. Clare Mulley has done Eglantyne proud', Church Times
'Sensitive, entertaining and beautifully written... a sparkling biography of a fascinating woman', Kate Williams, biographer, England's Mistress, Young Victoria
'Pick up this book and be inspired', Paul O'Grady
7.00pm Hayward Arts Centre, New College, King Street, Wellington
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Thursday 8 October Mary Beard
Born in Much Wenlock, Mary Beard is one of Britain’s best-known Classicists - a distinguished Professor of Classics at the University of Cambridge where she has taught for the last 25 years. She has written numerous books on the Ancient World, most recently Pompeii: The Life of a Roman Town which portrays a vivid account of life in Pompeii in all its aspects from food to sex to politics. Previous books include The Roman Triumph, Classical Art from Greece to Rome and books on the Parthenon and the Colosseum as part of a series on wonders of the world. Her interests range from the social and cultural life of Ancient Greece and Rome to the Victorian understanding of antiquity.
In addition she is Classics editor of the Times Literary Supplement and writes an engaging, often provocative, blog, A Don’s Life. In 2008 Mary was visiting Sather Professor at the University of California, Berkeley, where she gave a series of lectures on Roman laughter, one of her current research interests.
7.00 pm Wrekin College Theatre, Wellington
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Friday Oct 9 Richard Bifield "A Brief History of Coalbrookdale
Find out why Coalbrookdale was where the modern world began (or helped put the Great in Great Britain). An illustrated talk to celebrate the 300th anniversary of the birth of the Industrial Revolution in Coalbrookdale.
7.00pm Hayward Arts Centre, New Colege, King Street, Wellington
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Monday 12 October Leon Murray on Being Black in Britain
Leon Murray MBE JP DL came to Wellington from Jamaica in 1961.He worked at GKN and then Birmingham Chamber of Commerce as a business advisor. Appointed a magistrate in 1983, he went on to become Vice President of the British Methodist Conference in 1985. He was appointed a Deputy Lieutenant of Shropshire in 2004 and awarded an MBE in 2007. He is married with two daughters. His book, written at the invitation of the Methodist Education Department, draws on the experience of the black community and their hopes and aspirations.
7.0pm Methodist Church, New Street, Wellington
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Tuesday 13 October Reading group at the Old Orleton, led by Ted Liddy
You are invited to join a reading group discussion of David Lodge's book - Deaf Sentence.
10.30 am at the Old Orleton , Holyhead Road - refreshments available
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Wednesday 14 October Leslie Smith as Elizabeth 1
There is no doubt that Gloriana had one of the most profound effects on English and European politics. The Protestant queen in the cold bed was given a matter of months on the throne by observers of the day believing she could not hope to survive. Queen Elizabeth, in fact, went on to rule England for yearly 45 years. Her passionate belief in the English people and her lack of martial ambition combined with a brilliant mind and outstanding political skills is why she was so hugely successful. Confounding all.
Here is a chance to meet Her Majesty at her political zenith and already an icon in an English psyche. This glittering presentation will transport the audience back to the time of Drake, Raleigh and Shakespeare on England ’s voyage into the Renaissance.
7.00pm Wrekin College, Sutherland Road, Wellington
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Thursday 15 October Saltmine
Finding God in unexpected Places.
A mixture of theatre, conversation and preaching - this presentation will centre around extracts from the book by best-selling author, Philip Yancey. This collection of writings by Yancey has encouraged thousands to sharpen their spiritual vision and look for God beyond their church building and into some very unexpected places.
7.30pm start All Saints Church
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Friday 16 October Carol Ann Duffy Poet Laureate
Carol Ann Duffy is Britain's new Poet Laureate
as well as being a playwright and freelance writer. She currently holds the position of Professor of Contemporary Poetry at the Manchester Metropolitan Univesity and Creative Director of the Creative Writing section of the University Department of English. She was awarded an OBE in 1995, became a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature in 1999 and was awarded a CBE in 2002. Her poetry is on the GCSE and AL examination syllabuses.
She also writes picture books for children, and these include Underwater Farmyard (2002); Doris the Giant (2004); Moon Zoo (2005); and The Tear Thief (2007).
Anthologies edited by Carol Ann Duffy include Out of Fashion (2004), in which she creates a vital dialogue between classic and contemporary poets over the two arts of poetry and fashion; and more recently, Answering Back (2007).
Carol Ann Duffy is also an acclaimed playwright, and has had plays performed at the Liverpool Playhouse and the Almeida Theatre in London. Her plays include Take My Husband (1982), Cavern of Dreams (1984), Little Women, Big Boys (1986) and Loss (1986), a radio play.
She received an Eric Gregory Award in 1984 and a Cholmondeley Award in 1992 from the Society of Authors, the Dylan Thomas Award from the Poetry Society in 1989 and a Lannan Literary Award from the Lannan Foundation (USA) in 1995.
Carol Ann Duffy be reading from her NEW SELECTED POEMS and from RAPTURE.
Ticketed event 7.00pm Wrekin College Memorial Hall
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Saturday 17 October Wrekin Writers Workshop
Morning Workshop 10.00 – 12.30am (£5 or £4.50 if you reserve your place)
Articles with Nick Fletcher
Afternoon Workshop 1.30 – 4.00pm (£5 or £4.50 if you reserve your place)
Short Stories with Nick Fletcher
To reserve your place on either or both of these workshops log on to www.wrekinwriters.co.uk or phone Sue Horder-Mason, on 01588 660433
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Monday 19 October Poems and Pints night at the Wrekin Tap Read your own poems, favourites by others or simply listen. An informal gathering of writers, readers and listeners alike. Hosted by Jim Hatfield and Tony Stringfellow
7.30pm for 8.00pm The Cock, Holyhead Road, Wellington
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Tuesday 20 October Gaynor Arnold and 'Girl in a Blue Dress'
Gaynor Arnold was born and brought up in Cardiff, and was an au pair in Paris before reading English at St Hilda's College, Oxford. She is married, with two grown-up children and currently works for Birmingham's Adoption & Fostering Service. She is a member of a writer's group and has had several short stories published in magazines and anthologies. Girl in a Blue Dress is her first novel. It was longlisted for The Man Booker Prize 2008.
7.00pm Committee Room, Civic Offices, Wellington
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Wednesday 21 October John Townsend at Charlton School
Our first 'Schools' event. John Townsend's first job was teaching at a secondary school in Oxford. John started writing fiction and non-fiction for children in the 1980s and also writes poetry and plays for children and adults. He has published over 120 books worldwide, and visits schools, libraries and prisons to encourage interest in books and to get the world reading - as well as writing.
7.30 Charlton School, Severn Drive, Wellington
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Wednesday 21 October Edward Marston
Edward Marston is the best-selling author of over fifty crime novels, including the Inspector Colbeck series set in Victorian England. He will talk on Crime on the Railways and will deal with the subject in fact and fiction. His latest novel is The Silver Locomotive Mystery.
(photo by Judith Cutler)
7.00pm Committee Room, Civic Centre, Wellington
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Thursday 22 October Bruce Kent on 'Time to abolish War'
Wars are not inevitable.They happen because we have not yet managed to build the international structures of law, economics and morality which would ensure the non violent settlement of disputes.As global citizens we have yet to develop a culture of peace.How to move in this direction is the theme of my lecture. Possible reading material might be:-'War No More' Eliminating Conflict in the Nuclear Age Professors Robert Hinde and Joseph Rotblat .Pluto Press 2003, 'Building the Global Village' Bruce Kent Harper Collins 1991, 'Rethinking War and Peace Diana Francis . Pluto Press 2004
Ticketed event 7.00pm New College Hall, Wellington
Please note that this is a ticketed event. Tickets are available from the The Place Booking Office which can be contacted on
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Tuesday 27 October Allan Frost
Shropshire historian and Chairman of Wellington History Group Allan Frost will give an illustrated talk about his latest book, The Great War in Wellington. Afterwards, he'll be selling copies of the book and launching a free Special Victorian issue of the Group's popular magazine 'Wellingtonia'.
7.00pm Hayward Arts Centre, New College, King Street, Wellington
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Wednesday 28 October Wellington Civic Society and History Group
Phil Fairclough, also of the History Group, has been working on wartime and post-war immigration to Shropshire. His subjects include German and Italian ex-Prisoners of War. His researches have produced some fascinating and occasionally heart-rending stories. Again, come early - he's popular.
7.00pm Hayward Arts Centre, New College, King Street, Wellington
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Thursday 29 October Tony Stringfellow and Rob Cairns are 2WILD MINDS
They came together in 2005 combining their creative talents, with some intriguing results. The mix of Tony’s poetry and Rob’s songs is a thought provoking and engaging combination. Both Minds bounce off each other in a dance of poetry and music that excites the neural pathways as well as your ear.
Now living with his family in Shropshire, Tony Stringfellow was born and educated in Wolverhampton, attending St. Chad’s Grammar School. He is a well-known and respected artist/sculptor, having worked in the entertainment business for over 25 years. He has written books, many short stories and articles, and has been writing poetry since he was 13yrs old.
Rob Cairns cut his first album, ‘Breaking Free’, at the age of 16, whilst still at school in Wellington. Going on to be signed by EMI and managed by Simon Napier Bell (manager of Marc Bolan, Wham and Japan), then to tour with Hawkwind, The Beat and Robert Calvert. Rob’s most recent album, ‘Mild Mind Pollution’ continues to sell well.
CDs, T shirts will be available to purchase.
7.00pm Hayward Arts Centre, New College
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ALSO:-
At The Place, Oakengates - Frank Bruno 23rd October - 8.15pm - £50, £35 and £28 and Tony Benn 24th October - 7.30pm - £14 Concessions £12
plus
We're Going on a Bear Hunt - 5th & 6th Oct 09 - 11am & 2pm - Age 3+ - £10 Schools £7.50
The Beauty Queen of Leanne - 13th Oct - 7.30pm - £12 Concessions £10
The Tales of Peter Rabbit - 30th Oct - 8pm - £15
Happy Jack by John Godber - 2nd Nov - 7.30pm - £12 Loyalty £9 Concessions £10
At the Belfrey in November - Wellington Drama Festival will take place between 1st and 9th November.
Tickets are only needed for those events marked as needing them.
Wellington Literary Festival gratefully acknowledges the help in funding the festival given by the following sponsors:-
Murray Cairns Solicitors, Lanyon Bowdler Solicitors, Telford & Wrekin's Asset & Property Management Department, New College, the Wellington Market Company, County Cars, Heritage House, Wellington Leisure Centre and Shropshire County Trainers.
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