London Book & Screen Week 2016 Programme Announced
Chris Riddell, Marian Keyes, Cassandra Clare, Rhianna Pratchett, Sathnam Sanghera, Ben Judah, Nikesh Shukla, William Shakespeare and more headline the annual celebration
BAFTA, Second Home, Good Housekeeping, Waterstones, 19 Princelet St, Polari, Café 1001,
Maximum Pop! Books, Orbital Comics and Leicester Square Theatre unveiled as
key partners for the 2016 programme
London Book & Screen Week (11 – 17 April, 2016) has unveiled the highlights of its second year of programming, revealing an eclectic array of events all over the capital in a seven day celebration of books and the films, TV programmes and virtual worlds they inspire.
International bestselling author, Marian Keyes, joins Good Housekeeping in conversation on her latest collection of essays: Making it up as I go along, while children’s laureate, Chris Riddell, headlines a London Book & Screen Week Sketchbook Social event alongside Sarah McIntyre, Mike Medaglia, Vanna Vinci, Martial Toledano and other special guests at Café 1001, Brick Lane.
The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) continue their involvement, hosting a special event to discuss the importance of storytelling in gaming, led by a panel of renowned author-gamers, including academic and children’s author Gabrielle Kent, games script writer and narrative designer Rhianna Pratchett, and journalist Leigh Alexander.
East London’s creative business hub, Second Home, is a new partner for 2016, hosting a series of events to coincide with the week, whilst acclaimed YA superstar Cassandra Clare kicks off her Lady Midnight UK tour with an extra special event with Waterstones at Leicester Square Theatre, screened live through Periscope by Maximum Pop! Books.
London’s award-winning LGBT literary salon, Polari, will return to its Soho roots, as new bar The Light Lounge hosts a special London Book & Screen Week edition of the event, featuring author Diana Souhami, playwright and actor Alexis Gregory, poet and spoken word performer Keith Jarrett and author and comedian VG Lee. Additionally, a new YA Salon will launch during the week with a special event in which beloved author of The Babysitters Club series, Ann M Martin, presents her most recent novel, How to Look for a Lost Dog, alongside author fans Holly Bourne and Laura Dockrill.
Meanwhile, London’s museum of immigration, 19 Princelet St, will host an intimate evening to spotlight the city’s breadth and depth of voice: London’s voices – life in the global city, featuring a range of speakers including Sathnam Sanghera, Ben Judah, Nikesh Shukla, Ayisha Malik, and Amanda Paul.
The programme, which includes an open source strand of events that anyone can participate in and submit to, will continue to grow over the coming months.
Director of The London Book Fair and London Book & Screen Week, Jacks Thomas, said:
“We are thrilled to be bringing London Book & Screen Week back for 2016 with a raft of exciting additions; London is at the centre of the creative industries, inspiring and generating some of the greatest stories ever told. The week offers an opportunity for everyone to celebrate their favourite books, films, TV shows, games and entertainment platforms. In the 400th anniversary year of Shakespeare’s work, we look forward to working with partners across the city to create a London-wide celebration that showcases the fabulous array of writers and their work, old and new, in all its formats. Come and join in!”
With publishing now worth an estimated £4.3bn to the UK economy, the festival draws the spotlight on the critical role books play in our creative industries and the breadth of inspiration they spark. The event series is produced by, and coincides with, The London Book Fair (12-14 April), offering people all over London the chance to experience its vibrancy through discussions, debates, parties and special film showings.
London Book & Screen Week 2016 – programme highlights
For the full 2016 programme, visit www.londonbookandscreenweek.co.uk
Monday 11 April
Polari Soho Special
The Light Lounge, Soho (6pm)
London's award-winning LGBT literary salon goes back to its Soho roots with this special event for London Book & Screen Week. Cocktails and chat from 6pm. Readings from 7pm. Hosted by Paul Burston with readings from author Diana Souhami, playwright and actor Alexis Gregory, poet and spoken word performer Keith Jarrett and author and comedian VG Lee.
Tickets £5: http://www.londonbookandscreenweek.co.uk/event/polari-soho-special
All in your head - The power of your mind to create your story
Second Home, 68-80 Hanbury Street (7pm)
A conversation between neurologist and author Suzanne O’Sullivan and psychologist and writer Charles Fernyhough, chaired by BBC Click’s Bill Thompson
Tickets £10: http://www.londonbookandscreenweek.co.uk/event/all-in-your-head
Tuesday 12 April
Good Housekeeping presents… An evening with Marian Keyes
1 Wimpole Street, Marylebone (6:30pm)
International bestselling author, Marian Keyes, joins Good Housekeeping in conversation on her latest collection of essays: Making it up as I go along.
Tickets £25: http://www.londonbookandscreenweek.co.uk/event/an-evening-with-marian-keyes-and-good-housekeeping/
Level Up: the power of digital storytelling
BAFTA, 195 Piccadilly (7pm)
A discussion and celebration of digital storytelling led by a panel of renowned author-gamers, including academic and children’s author Gabrielle Kent, script writer Rhianna Pratchett, and journalist Leigh Alexander.
Tickets £10: http://www.londonbookandscreenweek.co.uk/event/level-up-gaming-writing-storytelling
YA Salon: Ann M Martin
The Blacksmith and The Toffeemaker, St John Street (7pm)
Ann M Martin, bestselling author of the much-loved Baby-Sitters Club series, joins ‘superfan’ author guests, Laura Dockrill and Holly Bourne, at the launch event of a new regular YA Salon aimed at adult readers of YA books hosted by journalist Anna James. Bring your friends, come dressed in your 80s and 90s finest and hark back to the heyday of the Baby-Sitters Club with themed cocktails, trivia quizzes, book signings and more.
Tickets £10 (including a 90’s themed cocktail): http://www.londonbookandscreenweek.co.uk/event/YA-salon
Thursday 14 April
London’s Voices – Life in the global city
19 Princelet St, Spitalfields (7pm)
An intimate evening at London’s Museum of Immigration at 19 Princelet St, featuring readings, performances, and talks from writers including Sathnam Sanghera, Nikesh Shukla, Ben Judah, Ayisha Malik, and Amanda Paul.
Tickets £15: http://www.londonbookandscreenweek.co.uk/event/londons-voices
Sketchbook Social
Café 1001, Brick Lane (7pm)
Get your pencils at the ready and join us to sketch up a storm at Sketchbook Social! This special event for London Book and Screen Week is a night out with a twist: a fun, fast-paced interactive evening of drawing and doodling. Our host for the evening is Waterstones Children’s Laureate and Observer political cartoonist Chris Riddell, aka The Masked Doodler. Joining him are illustrators Vanna Vinci from Italy, Mike Medaglia who draws for The Huffington Post and The Elephant Journal, award-winning children’s illustrator and founder of the ‘Pictures Mean Business’ campaign Sarah McIntyre and Martial Toledano from Spain - as well as a few surprise guests.
Tickets: http://www.londonbookandscreenweek.co.uk/event/sketchbook-social
Saturday 16 April
Cassandra Clare’s Lady Midnight tour launch
Leicester Square Theatre (11am)
Cassandra Clare presents Lady Midnight, the first book in a new series set in the Shadowhunters world, The Dark Artifices. Cassandra will talk all things Shadowhunters, including the new Netflix series, with journalist Anna James, followed by the chance for fans to meet Cassandra in person, while enjoying body-art rune painting, mini makeovers and a Shadowhunter selfie scene.
SOLD OUT but look out for a chance to win tickets at www.londonbookandscreenweek.co.uk, plus the event will be streamed via Periscope in partnership with Maximum Pop! Books.
