The City’s awarding-winning festival of words and thought is back for the fifth year, taking place in different venues and bringing Leeds’ literary scene, writers, performers and poets together from around the UK and abroad.
The Festival is supported by Leeds 2023, a celebration of culture taking place across the City.
Lemn Sissay OBE brings his ‘My Name is Why’ to Carriageworks Theatre on 3 March. The poet, playwright, memoirist, performer and broadcaster reflects on his childhood and Britishness, exploring institutional care, family, race and the meaning of home.
On 25 February, Contemporary Gothic is brought to Howard Assembly Room and Carriageworks Theatre. Award-winning authors Catriona Ward, Lucie McKnight Hardy, Dana Coxon, Mark Morris and Alison Littlewood explore all things weird, horrible and uncanny.
27 February is the date for you at Hyde Park Book Club, with Leeds Poetry Festival and Verse After Dark. On 28 February, Nymphs & Thugs presents Livewire, also at Hyde Park Book Club, and at the same venue 3 March sees Chemistry at The Chemic hosted by Joe Williams.
On 3 March, political broadcaster Iain Dale is at Leeds Library, taking a journey through Britain’s political history with 365 fascinating facts. Then he’s at Carriageworks Theatre on 4 March with For The Many, alongside Jacqui Smith, formal Home Secretary, and with guest the Rt Hon David Davis.
Throughout the week, there are free events for families and for children, with hands on workshops, storytelling and a full day at Central Library on 4 March.
Jack Simpson, Leeds Lit Fest Vice-Chair and owner of the Hyde Park Book Club: “The fifth Leeds Lit Fest looks set to be the best yet. With the City celebrating a year of culture, the festival partners have brought together a really wide-ranging programme, with highlights from the region and special guests from beyond. We’re blown away by the support we’ve received, with almost half the tickets gone in the first four weeks of being on sale. We’re really excited to be bringing you once again this citywide celebration of words and thought.”
Alison Millar, Leeds Lit Fest partner and Principal Librarian: Reading and Arts at Leeds Libraries: “Leeds Libraries is excited to be providing the family fun for the 2023 festival. This year is bigger and better with twilight events happening in community libraries across the City leading up to a day of author events, workshops and talks on Saturday 4th March, which take place in our beautiful Central Library. If you love listening to stories or enjoy writing your own, there should be something for you to enjoy.“
Leeds Lit Fest’s current partner organisations include The Leeds Library, Hyde Park Book Club, Leeds Libraries, The Leeds Big Bookend, Carriageworks Theatre, MILIM, Leeds Church Institute and Strix, supported by Leeds 2023. Bookseller, independent bookshop Truman Books in Farsley, returns for a second year.
In 2022, Leeds Lit Fest won Best Literary Festival at the national Saboteur Awards for a second time. The Festival celebrates the vibrant and thriving literature scene in Leeds with local writers and performers showcasing their talents along with national and international artists with an exciting programme of author talks, workshops, panels, performance, digital, poetry and spoken word events.
http://www.leedslitfest.co.uk| Facebook: @LeedsLitFest | Twitter: @LeedsLit | #LLF23
Cover photograph: Lemn Sissay OBE. Photograph by Paul Crowther.
