Famous names from the world of arts and culture will be heading to the borough in October 2019 when Rochdale Literature and Ideas Festival returns for its 7th year.
A wide-ranging programme of events and shows will run from Monday, 14 October 2019 – Monday, 21 October 2019 and we’re promising another 8 days of exciting arts for all ages.
Events will cover drama, comedy, poetry, spoken word, visual arts, children’s shows and more. For young people aged 14 to 25, a ‘Generation Z’ programme is being put together, with plans to commission another brand new piece of work specially for the festival.
Over 2,500 people attended last year, with the festival including over 35 events featuring BBC presenter Louise Minchin, television presenter and campaigner Baroness Floella Benjamin OBE, broadcaster and author Stuart Maconie, Dr Helen Pankhurst and Gervase Phinn.
2019’s event will again include high-profile guest speakers and writers and is aimed at celebrating and promoting the Maskew Collection of classic literature and philosophy at Rochdale Central Library, encouraging people to engage with books and ideas. Annie and Frank Maskew, a Rochdale couple who shared a passion for reading and thinking, met in Rochdale Library in the 1950s and left a sum of money to be used on resources and events related to literature and philosophy to ensure classic works are available for future generations.
he autumn festival, which began in 2013, will include events at venues across the borough.
Authors, performers and workshops will start to be confirmed from April 2019 onwards, with tickets on sale from 10am, Monday, 29 July 2019.
