Sponsored Editorial

The Tunbridge Wells Literary Festival will return to the town after a successful debut in 2022.

Coming to Tunbridge Wells on Thursday 11 May to Sunday 14 May, the festival will have a diverse range of events at the Assembly Hall Theatre, the Amelia Scott, Royal Victoria Place, The Forum and One Warwick Park.

Last year’s inaugural festival was a resounding success, with attendance figures of over 1,600 visitors across its four-day run, and this year, with the backing of Arts Council England providing over a thousand free tickets for children, as well as the generous support of Berry & Lamberts Solicitors, RBC Brewin Dolphin and Royal Tunbridge Wells Together, the festival aims to be even bigger and better than before.

Brand new events for this year will include the first ever TW Comicon and the TW Literary Festival Local Writer’s Fair!

"Following last year’s successful debut event, we’re thrilled to be hosting another Literary Festival here in Tunbridge Wells,” said Nicky Carter, Head of Culture at The Amelia Scott.

“In addition to showcasing another fantastic line-up of talented writers and storytellers, this year will also have a Local Writers’ Fair and, new to Tunbridge Wells, a Comicon event featuring stalls and workshops covering everything from Manga to superheroes!"

Spectators can expect an exemplary cast of authors and illustrators, ranging from internationally acclaimed industry veterans to the local, the young and the new, whose wonderfully diverse work within the literary sphere explores a true variety of subject matters, from biography, non-fiction and wellbeing contributions to a smorgasbord of sci-fi, crime, drama, and even comics, graphic novels and manga.

You can expect to see a leading cast of authors and illustrators, ranging from internationally acclaimed industry veterans such as Sir Michael Parkinson (My Sporting Life), Sheila Hancock (Old Rage) and Harry Potter star Evanna Lynch (The Opposite of Butterfly Hunting).

Popular writers will also be in attendance such as Dorothy Koomson (The Ice Cream Girls, My Other Husband), Michael Rosen (Better Things), comedian and author Bec Hill (Horror Heights: Dead Ringer), and Jeremy Dyson and Andy Nyman (The Warlock Effect), who will also be presenting a creative writing masterclass on their award-winning show, Ghost Stories.

There’s non-fiction crime including Her Honour Wendy Joseph (Unlawful Killings: Life, Love, Murder: Trials at the Old Bailey) and Mark Billingham (The Murder Book, The Last Dance), contemporary non-fiction from Carrie and David Grant (A Very Modern Family: Stories and guidance to nurture your relationships) and Gyles Brandreth (Elizabeth: An Intimate Portrait).

Former Arsenal co-owner David Dein (Calling the Shots: How to Win in Football and Life) will also be there as will free childrens’ fiction events including Manjeet Mann (The Crossing) and Vashti Hardy (Brightstorm series), and many, many more!

Celebrating the enormous, yet often understated contribution that both western comics and Japanese manga have made to storytelling and literacy, the festival’s first ever TW Comicon will feature comic books, novels and films, manga, workshops with comic creators and artists, collectables and comics to purchase, and retro-gaming opportunities.

The event will include everything from Cosplay Competitions and Character Appearances to Creative Workshops with SuperBlackLines, Matt Knight, and David Hine.

Stay tuned for more details at theamelia.co.uk/whats-on

For further information, all assets and interview opportunities, please contact the Marketing Team on 01892 554138 or ben.isted@tunbridgewells.gov.uk.