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2024-03-28 08:00 - 17:00 UTC | Newark Library, Newark Library, Beaumond Gardens, Baldertongate, Newark, Nottinghamshire, NG24 1UW, United Kingdom
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FRINGE EVENT

I really want to be a cat

📍 Palace Theatre, Newark

Thursday 11th July 2024

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EVENT DATE & TIME

Thursday 11th July
10am - 11pm

Ticket Prices

Festival Friends
£10.00
General Public
£7.00

Book Tickets

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Palace Theatre
AppletongateNewarkNottinghamshireNG24 1JY

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All tickets are sold through Newark Palace Theatre, unless otherwise stated.
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Morning News
2024-05-05 10:00 - 11:00, 2024-06-02 10:00 - 11:00 | Gannets Bistro, Gannets Bistro, 35 Castle Gate, Newark, NG24 1AZ, United Kingdom
Spend an hour debating the morning’s news over coffee and cake at Gannets Café. Richard and Mary, Festival Board Members and book and news lovers meet monthly to discuss topics from politics to current affairs.
Usually held on the first Sunday of each month, this is a favourite regular fringe event for Newark Book Festival locals!
To book your space at the upcoming Morning News events, please email hello@newarkbookfestival.org.uk.

Book & Jigsaw Swap
2024-05-11 10:00 - 15:00 | Palace Theatre, Palace Theatre, Appleton Gate, Newark, Nottinghamshire, NG24 1JY
The Newark Book Festival team and volunteers are back at the Palace Theatre Foyer with stacks of books and jigsaws ready for a brand new home.
The book swaps are simple! Just bring a few of your already-read books and old jigsaws that are ready for a new player, and swap them directly for something new! If you don’t have a book or jigsaw to swap, you can still go home with handfuls of your new favourite reads by making a donation to the festival.
Plus, today is the launch day of the Newark Book Festival programme and festival event tickets are live! Pick up a copy of the festival programme and book the events you want to attend this summer.

Crack the Code: Detective Trail
2024-06-01 - 2024-07-14 | Newark Town Centre, NG24 1DU
Barry the Bookworm has been kidnapped, and the Newark Book Festival team have been desperately trying to find him in time for the Castle Family Day on Sunday 14th July.
We need your help to become a detective for the day, follow the trail of clues left with various businesses and venues across Newark and let us know where you think he is. It’s a top-secret detective trail, so gather your most trusted friends and ensure no businesses let slip to each other. We don’t want this news to reach the Bramley Newspaper!
Don’t forget to bring your magnifying glass and notebook.
How to take part in the Crack the Code: Detective Trail

Read the letter we’ve left for you to get started
Get prepared by downloading and printing the clue sheet, or use the digital form to add in your answers as you go along
Choose your starting location
Follow the trail around Newark, doing from clue to clue, until you have gathered them all
Submit your answer by email

Correctly discover where Barry the Bookworm has been kept prisoner and we’ll add you to the prize draw. All participants will be emailed a certificate of completion.

START THE DETECTIVE TRAIL

Book & Jigsaw Swap
2024-06-16 11:00 - 15:00 | Newark Market Place, Newark Royal Market, Market Place, Newark, Nottinghamshire, NG24 1DU
The Newark Book Festival team and volunteers are back at Newark’s Market Place with stacks of books and jigsaws ready for a brand new home.
The book swaps are simple! Just bring a few of your already-read books and old jigsaws that are ready for a new player, and swap them directly for something new! If you don’t have a book or jigsaw to swap, you can still go home with handfuls of your new favourite reads by making a donation to the festival.
It’s your perfect chance too to pick up a festival programme and book tickets to our upcoming events!

Literature Village Newark Market Place
2024-07-11 - 2024-07-14 | Newark Market Place, Newark Royal Market, Market Place, Newark, Nottinghamshire, NG24 1DU
Meander along Newark’s Royal Market in the Literature Village and soak up the festival vibes where you can meet authors, publishers, charities, crafty artisans and much more!
Here you’ll find street performances, music and workshops, and the Festival Stall where you can pick up your very own Newark Book Festival merchandise and sign up to become a Festival Friend.
Thursday 11th July 10am – 3.30pm
Friday 12th July 10am – 3.30pm
Saturday 13th July 9.30am – 4pm
Sunday 14th July 10am – 3.30pm

Little Roars Musical Play
2024-07-11 10:00 - 10:40 | St Mary Magdalene Church, Church Walk, Newark, NG24 1JS
Little Roars Musical Play is a fun and engaging event filled with songs, puppets, bubbles, instruments and more for your kids.
Head down to St Mary Magdelene Church on the opening morning of Newark Book Festival for a free musical play session, led by Charlotte Lion.
Suitable for ages 0-5 years.

Creativity in Autism - Olivia Macnab & Dr. Clare Lawrence
2024-07-11 11:00 - 12:00 | Gannets Bistro, Gannets Bistro, 35 Castle Gate, Newark, NG24 1AZ, United Kingdom
Join Olivia Macnab and co-author Dr. Clare Lawrence at Gannets during the book festival for an insightful discussion on how to overcome barriers to creativity in autism.
For many years, we have been told that autistic people cannot understand metaphors or non-literal language and that we cannot be creative or empathise. But in truth, autistic people are incredibly creative!
Embark on a journey of play, exploration and metaphor to discover the importance of play and creativity in creating empathy across Neurotypes in their new book, Creativity in Autism.

Smoke & Mirrors Swing Dance
2024-07-11 12:00 - 13:00 | Newark Market Place, Newark Royal Market, Market Place, Newark, Nottinghamshire, NG24 1DU
Swing Dancers will be taking to the streets at Newark Market Place, spreading the joy of their toe-tapping hip-swinging moves to music.
Enjoy the free entertainment as part of the Festival’s Literature Village with your lunch from one of the many surrounding cafés or pubs and soak up the atmosphere.

The Missing - Michael Rosen
2024-07-11 13:30 - 14:30 | Palace Theatre, Palace Theatre, Appleton Gate, Newark, Nottinghamshire, NG24 1JY
Michael Rosen joins us as one of Britain’s best-loved writers and performance poets for children and adults with over 200 books. His books include The Sad Book with Quentin Blake and We’re Going on a Bear Hunt with Helen Oxenbury, A Great Big Cuddle with Chris Riddell plus his poetry for adults Don’t Mention the Children.
In this moving talk about his 2022 non-fiction publication, The Missing, Michael Rosen traces the history of his relatives lost in the Holocaust in a personal, powerful narrative with resonance for readers today. In conversation with Dr Tim Rideout
Book your tickets to see Mr Rosen on stage at Palace Theatre during Newark Book Festival this summer.
This event is also suitable for school groups – Upper KS2 / Lower KS3 – Ages 10+.

Wine & Words
2024-07-11 16:00 - 18:00 | Nottinghamshire
Join local poets Fiona Theokritoff and Jane Wyles for an afternoon of poetry, wine and afternoon tea at Newark’s newest tea room.
Fiona and Jane will perform an entertaining mix of their poems and renditions of some well-loved works of art. You’ll also have the chance to contribute to the Newark Book Festival poem for 2024!
Tickets include a welcome drink and afternoon tea. Doors open at 3.30pm for a 4pm start.

An Interview with Mark Billingham & Abir Mukherjee
2024-07-11 19:00 - 20:00 | Newark Town Hall, Newark Town Hall, Market Place, Newark, Nottinghamshire, NG24 1DU
In an interview with fellow crime writer, and co-founder of the Hull Noir Crime Writing Festival, Nick Quantrill, enjoy hearing from two crime writers at the top of their game.
On stage at Newark Town Hall, we are joined by the author of 22 Sunday Times bestsellers, Mark Billingham. Mark will introduce his twisty and witty follow-up detective novel The Wrong Hands, about an unconventional Detective Declan Miller who has a problem. Still desperate to solve the murder of his wife, a young man has just appeared on his doorstep with a briefcase . . . containing a pair of severed hands.
‘Mark Billingham gets better and better’ Michael Connelly
‘A literary superstar’ Mail on Sunday
The award-winning author of the bestselling Sam Wyndham crime novels set in 1920s India, Abir Mukherjee, is also taking to the stage, introducing his exciting new book Hunted. On the run from the authorities, the two parents featured in Abir’s newest publication are thrown together in a race against time to save their kids and stop a catastrophe that will derail the country’s future forever… You can’t save your kids. But can you stop them?
‘HUNTED is a phenomenal achievement’ The Times
‘A pretty much flawless thriller’ LEE CHILD

Poetry Workshop with Joseph Coelho
2024-07-12 10:00 - 11:00 | Newark Town Hall, Newark Town Hall, Market Place, Newark, Nottinghamshire, NG24 1DU
Children’s author, poet and Waterstone’s Children Laureate 2022-24, Joseph Coelho shares his tips, tricks and engaging ways to start writing poetry in this fun and interactive school event.
Suitable for children aged 7-11 years.
To book your place please email: hello@newarkbookfestival.org.uk

Play With Your Food - Ally Pally Arts Story Emporium
2024-07-12 10:00 - 15:30 | Newark Market Place, Newark Royal Market, Market Place, Newark, Nottinghamshire, NG24 1DU
Join Ally Pally Arts at the Literature Village within Newark Market Place at their fictional food market stall and get creative playing with your food!
They’re stocking up on stolen tarts, escapee gingerbread men, giant turnips, porridge (hot, cold and just right) and golden eggs, and they would love you to help them magic up a stall jam-packed with more made-up menus, delicious delicacies and gruesome goodies from your favourite stories.
Just bring yourselves and your wonderful imaginations and we craft up a feast fit for a fairytale. Suitable for all ages, this “sticky hands” free creative workshop is perfect for the home-educated community.
No need to book tickets! Just turn up and let your imaginations run wild at the Story Emporium this summer.

Storytime with Frances Stickley
2024-07-12 10:30 - 11:15 | Nottinghamshire
Bring your favourite bear and join Frances Stickley for a whistle-stop tour of stories across winter wonderland, rolling waves and dusty deserts in What Will You Dream of Tonight? Meet Cat and Mouse in their cartoon caper Not a Cat in Sight. Dance and wiggle as we move like superheroes, pirates and aliens in What Will You Be? Until finally, all the way back home, again, we tuck our teddy bears up tight for one last sleepy story with A Bear called Blue. Book your Newark Book Festival tickets to the fantastic Friday morning storytime with Frances Stickley at BeanBlock Café.

Beyond the Blue
2024-07-12 10:30 - 11:30 | Tudor Hall, National Civil War Centre, National Civil War Centre, 14 Appleton Gate, Newark, Nottinghamshire, NG24 1JY
Following on from their visit to Newark Book Festival last year and a successful run at the Edinburgh Fringe with their production of ‘Broken Instruments’, singer/songwriters Nina Blaszczyk & Phil Baggaley return this year with a new project BEYOND THE BLUE.
This lovely concert is interspersed with beautiful poetry, with Echoes of the best acoustic traditions, bringing you a collection of poignant and beautiful original songs, inspired by the words of the much loved, best-selling poet DONNA ASHWORTH.

Bookmaking & Journaling Workshop
2024-07-12 11:00 - 12:30 | Learning Space, National Civil War Centre, National Civil War Centre, 14 Appleton Gate, Newark, Nottinghamshire, NG24 1JY
To celebrate the launch of the Newark Creates BookBench Trail, Open Doors are hosting a free creative session of bookmaking and journaling workshop.
Join Creative Arts Officer Milly in the Learning Centre at Newark’s National Civil War Centre to make your own scrap-paper book and explore the art of journaling. Get some creative inspiration to help you pen your next masterpiece!
Suitable for adults and children aged 9+. Young people under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.

Crime Fiction Panel: Kate Rhodes & Victoria Dowd
2024-07-12 13:00 - 14:00 | Tudor Hall, National Civil War Centre, National Civil War Centre, 14 Appleton Gate, Newark, Nottinghamshire, NG24 1JY
Two acclaimed crime writers discuss their work and inspiration and celebrate their latest publications in an interview with crime awards judge and panellist Alex Hawley.
Kate Rhodes introduces the seventh novel in her windswept Scilly Isles series, Hangman Island, which follows on from Hell Bay, Ruin Beach, Burnt Island, Pulpit Rock, The Devil’s Table and Brutal Tide. Perfect for fans of Lucy Foley, Ann Cleeves and Elly Griffiths, this new crime novel is a gripping new locked-island mystery that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the bitter end.
‘A vividly realised protagonist whose complex and harrowing history rivals the central crime storyline’ Sophie Hannah, Daily Express
‘An enjoyable whodunit in classic, quasi-realistic style’ Literary Review, on Hell Bay
Victoria Dowd presents the latest in her bestselling Smart Woman’s Mystery Series: Murder Most Cold.
This event is brought together by Alex (AJ) Hawley – former blogger, come interview writer and his debut book charts his rise from his bedroom to becoming the judge of multiple crime awards and he is now a regular panellist throughout the festival season, specialising in the crime genre.

The Lost Paths - Jack Cornish
2024-07-12 13:00 - 14:00 | Newark Town Hall, Newark Town Hall, Market Place, Newark, Nottinghamshire, NG24 1DU
As Head of Paths at the Ramblers, Jack Cornish is on a mission to rediscover the parts of our ancient network of footpaths that have been lost or forgotten.
The Lost Paths – A History of How We Walk from Here to There is the story of how our modern network reveals the way our ancestors interacted with their surroundings and retrace their footsteps through history.
Having spent five years walking across Britain exploring our millennia-old system of pathways, Jack will share his experiences in an interview with Dr Tim Rideout at Newark Town Hall‘s Ballroom.

My My! Abba Through the Ages - Giles Smith
2024-07-12 15:00 - 16:00 | Newark Town Hall, Newark Town Hall, Market Place, Newark, Nottinghamshire, NG24 1DU
Can you quite believe it has been 50 years since ABBA’s phenomenal Eurovision win with Waterloo?
Join journalist, spoof memoir and ghost writer of eight Sunday Times bestsellers, Giles Smith as he shares the story of ABBA told through a selection of their greatest hits in an interview with Dr Tim Rideout at Newark Town Hall.
April 6th 2024 marks the fiftieth anniversary of Waterloo (the song, not the battle) – a seminal moment in pop history which saw Swedish sensation ABBA burst on to the international music scene by winning the Eurovision song contest. How is it that half a century later this seventies Eurovision act is bigger than ever – reaching listeners of all ages and spinning off into musicals, museums and holograms? Giles Smith, writer and music fan, sets out to find out why.
It’s a book about growing old, and the things that never do. And it’s a book about fashion, snobbery, authenticity, critical judgement, the passage of time – and the triumphant ability of truly great pop music to transcend all of those things forever. But it’s also a book about the development of one of pop’s greatest and best-loved albums, and an unabashed tribute to the power of a major-to-minor modulation and a well-placed glissando.
My My! is a celebration of ABBA through the ages. It’s one fan’s way of saying: thank you for the music.

Folk Games - Ivan Brett
2024-07-12 16:00 - 17:00 | Tudor Hall, National Civil War Centre, National Civil War Centre, 14 Appleton Gate, Newark, Nottinghamshire, NG24 1JY
The Floor is Lava, What’s the Time Mr Wolf?, Duck Duck Goose, Hide and Seek… how many others can you name from your childhood?
Folk Games, just like folk music and folklore, gain life from being passed from person to person. Hear from author, Ivan Brett, bestselling author of The Floor is Lava (and 99 more games for everyone, everywhere) and star of BBC’s The Traitors, to continue that chain.
Ivan will be getting you to think about the many games you would have played as a child, and some that you may have learnt to play by your parents and grandparents, and may even get you on your feet for a game of The Floor is Lava, too!
Having been brought up thinking he had been born in a bike shop, we are sure this is going to be a thrilling and entertaining afternoon with the master of misunderstandings and mistakes which have crafted his life so far!

An Evening with Tom Cox
2024-07-12 19:00 - 20:00 | Newark Town Hall, Newark Town Hall, Market Place, Newark, Nottinghamshire, NG24 1DU
Cat-lover and Sunday Times bestselling author of The Good, The Bad and The Furry, Tom Cox, discusses his folklore-influenced first novel Villager, and brand new book 1983.
Inspired by his childhood growing up in Nottinghamshire, in this second novel we meet eight year old Benji and his eccentric family, living in a mining village among the spoil heaps and chip shops of industrialisation.
An enthusiast of rambling, wildlife, psychedelic rock, local history, and golf; in his own words Tom can “talk for Britain” so with Dr Tim Rideout asking the questions, this is sure to be a fascinating interview!

Battle of the Genres
2024-07-13 09:30 - 10:30 | Newark Town Hall, Newark Town Hall, Market Place, Newark, Nottinghamshire, NG24 1DU
An epic battle between Crime, Vikings and Legends, Teen Humour and Romance, umpired by Dr Tim Rideout.

Jo Callaghan brings her hotly anticipated and intricately plotted follow-up, Leave No Trace to the battle while multi-million bestselling author, co-creator and screenwriter Holly Smale adds Harriet Manners from her teen rom com book and No.1 Worldwide Netflix series, Geek Girl into the ring, as well as her time travelling counterpart from Cassandra in Reverse.
Giles Kristian throws in the Viking worlds from The Rise of Sigurd trilogies and reimagined island history from Lancelot, Camelot and Arthur. And to finish off our battle we are delighted to welcome Sunday Times bestselling and award winning Rowan Coleman the screenwriter and author of sixteen novels including The Memory Book, Runaway Wife, and her latest title From Now Until Forever.

Kids VS Adults Poetry Workshop with Joseph Coelho
2024-07-13 09:30 - 10:30 | Inspire, Newark Buttermarket (upstairs)
In this fun and interactive workshop, where kids and adults go head to head, children’s author and poet Joseph Coelho gives you the tools and inspiration to write poetry about any topic!
Suitable for children aged 7 – 11 years & their grown ups.

Brian Clough The Lost Tapes - Marcus Alton
2024-07-13 10:00 - 11:00 | Tudor Hall, National Civil War Centre, National Civil War Centre, 14 Appleton Gate, Newark, Nottinghamshire, NG24 1JY
Hear from Nottinghamshire author Marcus Alton as he shares his own stories and exclusive archive recordings in this new tribute to the footballing legend Brian Clough. Marcus will recall classic Cloughie tales and describe how one of the ‘Lost Tapes’ included his first ever interview with Brian – a recording he thought had been lost forever.
Lifting the lid on a treasure trove of Clough stories and quotes following the publication of his latest book, Brian Clough The Lost Tapes.

This Rock is Mine - Alice McKinley
2024-07-13 10:00 - 11:00 | Nottinghamshire
Joining us for our Summer Reading Challenge event this year is picture-book illustrator Alice McKinley with This Rock is Mine.
Alice will read the heartwarming tale about a quarrel between two hilariously stubborn frogs and a rock they are both claiming to be theirs, before live drawing and teaching kids (and adults alike) to draw their own amphibian friend.
Suitable for children aged 3 – 7 years.

Shed of Stories
2024-07-13 10:15 - 16:00 | Newark Market Place, Newark Royal Market, Market Place, Newark, Nottinghamshire, NG24 1DU
Capture the words and stories as they tumble out of a mysterious shed and onto the cobblestones of Newark Market Place. You’ll be leaving with wonderful tunes stuck in your head, magical words in your minds, and surrounded by laughter in this family-friendly story space packed with books and toys for all to enjoy.
Storytelling sessions take place:
10:15, 11:15, 12:15, 1:15, 2:15 and 3:15.

An Interview with Joseph Knox
2024-07-13 11:15 - 12:15 | Newark Town Hall, Newark Town Hall, Market Place, Newark, Nottinghamshire, NG24 1DU
Launching his brand new title Imposter Syndrome, Bestseller Joseph Knox brings his scandalously entertaining true crime story to the Newark Town Hall Ballroom stage in an interview with Dr Tim Rideout.
Lynch, a burned out con-artist, arrives, broke, in London, trying not to dwell on the mistakes that got him there. When he bumps into Bobbie, a rehab-bound heiress – and when she briefly mistakes him for her missing brother – Lynch senses the opportunity, as well as the danger…
Hailed a ‘‘truly immersive: complex, disturbing, unexpectedly funny and very smart’ read by Laura Wilson, from The Guardian.
‘One of the most unafraid contemporary crime writers.’ – Helen Fields
‘You always get beautiful prose and a crackling plot from Mr Knox.’ – Imran Mahmood

Saving Hanno Reading & Workshop - Miriam Halahmy
2024-07-13 11:30 - 14:00 | Byron Room, Upstairs, Newark Palace Theatre, Appleton Gate, Newark, NG24 1JY., United Kingdom
Join Miriam Halahmy’s beautiful interactive storytelling of a German Jewish boy who comes to London in 1939 on the Kindertransport and has to save his dog’s life.
This event is split into two: a reading of Miriam’s beautiful story, Saving Hanno, and after a short break, a writing, drama and discussion workshop – where everyone will be given a pet! Suitable for ages 7+.
Saving Hanno Reading
11.30am – 12.30pm
Bring a cash donation and pay what you can for the reading of Saving Hanno.
Writing, Drama & Discussion Workshop
1pm – 2pm
