Newark Book Festival Programme
NEWARK BOOK FESTIVAL
2024 Programme
View and download your digital version of the Newark Book Festival programme. To get your hands on a print version, visit one of our partner venues in Newark.
Programme at a glance
See the 2024 Festival Programme at a glance. Click to download a digital version.
Events not to miss!
All Events
Morning News
Morning News
Join our monthly Morning News event with Newark Book Festival board members, Mary and Richard Haig.
Book & Jigsaw Swap
Book & Jigsaw Swap
Bring your old, and go home with "new" to you at the Newark Book Festival Book and Jigsaw Swap this June at Newark Market Place.
Literature Village Newark Market Place
Literature Village Newark Market Place
Enjoy four days of wonderful local crafts, bookish organisations, authors and published books of all genres at the Festival Literary Village, under the red and white stripes of Newark’s Royal Market.
Little Roars Musical Play
Little Roars Musical Play
Bring your little ones for a Little Roars Musical Play session at St Mary Magdalene Church on the opening morning of Newark Book Festival.
Creativity in Autism – Olivia Macnab & Dr. Clare Lawrence
Creativity in Autism – Olivia Macnab & Dr. Clare Lawrence
Join Olivia Macnab and Dr Clare Lawrence at Newark Library for an inspiring and insightful discussion about their book, Creativity in Autism.
Smoke & Mirrors Swing Dance
Smoke & Mirrors Swing Dance
Enjoy an hour of free toe-tapping music and performance at the Newark Book Festival Literature Village with the Smoke and Mirrors Swing Dancers.
The Missing – Michael Rosen
The Missing – Michael Rosen
Michael Rosen joins us for what is sure to be a moving talk at Newark Palace Theatre to discuss his non-fiction book: The Missing.
Wine & Words
Wine & Words
Join Wine & Words, local poets Fiona and Jane in a new Newark Book Festival venue; Old School Tea Room for an afternoon tea and poetry.
An Interview with Mark Billingham & Abir Mukherjee
An Interview with Mark Billingham & Abir Mukherjee
Join crime writers Mark Billingham and Abir Mukherjee as they discuss their latest books, The Wrong Hands and Hunted.
Play With Your Food – Ally Pally Arts Story Emporium
Play With Your Food – Ally Pally Arts Story Emporium
Get your wonderful imaginations ready to craft up a feast fit for a fairytale at the Ally Pally Arts Story Emporium at Newark Book Festival's Literature Village.
Poetry Workshop with Joseph Coelho
Poetry Workshop with Joseph Coelho
Join poet Joseph Coelho at Newark Town Hall Ballroom for a fun and interactive schools and home educators workshop event.
Storytime with Frances Stickley
Storytime with Frances Stickley
Join picture book author Frances Stickley for a morning packed full of stories and imagination at BeanBlock Café in Newark.
Beyond the Blue – Broken Instruments
Beyond the Blue – Broken Instruments
Singer songwriters Nina Blaszczyk and Phil Baggaley of Broken Instruments are returning to the festival with a new project and original songs in Beyond the Blue.
Bookmaking & Journaling Workshop
Bookmaking & Journaling Workshop
Get your pens at the ready as we celebrate the launch of the Newark Creates BookBench Trail with bookmaking and journalling at the National Civil War Centre.
Crime Fiction Panel: Kate Rhodes & Victoria Dowd
Crime Fiction Panel: Kate Rhodes & Victoria Dowd
It's all about the crime with our afternoon panel at the National Civil War Centre's Tudor Hall with Kate Rhodes and Victoria Dowd.
The Lost Paths – Jack Cornish
The Lost Paths – Jack Cornish
For the walkers amongst you this is an event not to missed, as Jack Cornish treats us to a story about his lost paths experiences.
My My! Abba Through the Ages – Giles Smith
My My! Abba Through the Ages – Giles Smith
Abba don't really need an introduction - this event with Giles Smith is all about the music as he shares Abba Through the Ages.
Folk Games – Ivan Brett
Folk Games – Ivan Brett
Star of BBC’s The Traitors, Ivan Brett will treat you to an entertaining afternoon with the master of misunderstandings and mistakes which have crafted his life so far!
An Evening with Tom Cox
An Evening with Tom Cox
Our last event on Friday evening is sure to be a fantastic event not to be missed as Tom Cox treats us to a whirlwind of stories as he 'talks for britain'!
Battle of the Genres
Battle of the Genres
Newark Town Hall is the setting for an epic Battle of the Genres! This is going to be one Newark Book Festival event you do not want to miss!
Kids VS Adults Poetry Workshop with Joseph Coelho
Kids VS Adults Poetry Workshop with Joseph Coelho
Join poet Joseph Coelho for a wonderful kids Vs adults poetry workshop at Newark Library and be inspired to write your own poem!
Brian Clough The Lost Tapes – Marcus Alton
Brian Clough The Lost Tapes – Marcus Alton
A must for any football fan as Marcus Alton shares from his archive of fascinating stories from Brian Clough with The Lost Tapes at the Tudor Hall.
This Rock is Mine – Alice McKinley
This Rock is Mine – Alice McKinley
Join Newark Library for the launch of the Summer Reading Challenge with a hilarious tale - This Rock is Mine, with Illustrator Alice McKinley.
Shed of Stories
Shed of Stories
Discover magical worlds with our family free sessions in Newark Market Place as words and stories tumble out of a mysterious shed of stories.
An Interview with Joseph Knox
An Interview with Joseph Knox
Join best-selling author, Joseph Knox and interviewer Dr Tim Rideout at Newark Town Hall to discuss his latest Brit noir, Imposter Syndrome.
Saving Hanno Reading & Workshop – Miriam Halahmy
Saving Hanno Reading & Workshop – Miriam Halahmy
Newark Library is the setting for an inspiring storytelling by Miriam Halahmy. Don't forget to join in the workshop in the afternoon!
Play in an Inspiring way!
Play in an Inspiring way!
Head to Inspire Buttermarket for fun, noisy creative drop-in play sessions in their interactive music room to play in an inspiring way!
Spies & Thrillers with Tammy Cohen & Nicci French
Spies & Thrillers with Tammy Cohen & Nicci French
We reveal a fantastic Newark Book Festival panel as Tammy Cohen, Nicci French and Fiona Cummins treat us to an after lunch chat full of spies and thrillers!
Teatime at Peggy’s: A Glimpse of Anglo-India. Clare Jenkins & Stephen McClarence
Teatime at Peggy’s: A Glimpse of Anglo-India. Clare Jenkins & Stephen McClarence
Enjoy the afternoon tales from Teatime at Peggy's and get a glimpse into Anglo-Indian life with Stephen McClarence and Clare Jenkins.
Exploring the Universe with Fantastic Numbers
Exploring the Universe with Fantastic Numbers
If you love exploring science, numbers, physics and the universe then this fantastic event at Newark Library is the one for you.
Olympic Moments with John Goodbody
Olympic Moments with John Goodbody
Ahead of the Paris 24 Games this summer, join John Goodbody at Newark Book Festival to hear about iconic Olympic moments from over the years.
Orenda Historical Fiction with Essie Fox & A.J. West
Orenda Historical Fiction with Essie Fox & A.J. West
Joining us in the fabulous setting of the Tudor Hall are Orenda authors: Essie Fox & A.J. West.
Count Magnus – Two Ghost Stories by M R James
Count Magnus – Two Ghost Stories by M R James
Newark Palace Theatre sets the scene as the classic, spine chilling Count Magnus Ghost Stories are brought to life at Newark Book Festival!
Morning News
Morning News
Join our monthly Morning News event with Newark Book Festival board members, Mary and Richard Haig.
Urban Canvas Word Art
Urban Canvas Word Art
A free event which is not to be missed as the talented Urban Canvas transform the market place with their unique word art.
New Uses for a Wand – Five Leaves New Poets
New Uses for a Wand – Five Leaves New Poets
Join four fabulous poets at the Inspire Buttermarket for this free event to celebrate the publication of New Uses for a Wand.
Play at the Castle
Play at the Castle
Join Newark Book Festival for a day of Play at the Castle, filled with adventure, yoga, storytelling, colouring and much, much more!
5-a-Side: Young Ambassadors VS Authors and Illustrators
5-a-Side: Young Ambassadors VS Authors and Illustrators
A 5-a-side author and illustrator event with five of Newark Book Festival's Young Ambassadors asking the questions!
Newark BookBenches: Storytelling with Emma Oldham
Newark BookBenches: Storytelling with Emma Oldham
Find one of the many stunning BookBenches and join Emma Oldham for storytelling at the Shimmer and Shine BookBench near the Riverside Park.
Walkabout with Daisy
Walkabout with Daisy
Another free family event in the stunning Royal Market - see if you can spot Daisy with her walkabout playtime!
Highway Cello: Kenneth Wilson
Highway Cello: Kenneth Wilson
A musical book reading performance by author and cellist Kenneth Wilson introducing his latest book, Highway Cello.
Confessions of a Teletubby – Nikky Smedley
Confessions of a Teletubby – Nikky Smedley
Nikky Smedley reveals all about her life as she shares the Confessions of a Teletubby. LaaLaa will be joining the Newark Book Festival stage!
Beetlejuice! Wacky Walkabout with Rhubarb Theatre
Beetlejuice! Wacky Walkabout with Rhubarb Theatre
If you go down to the market place today you can find the fantastic Rhubarb Theatre as they perform their Beetlejuice Wacky Walkabout.
How to Raise a Viking & Live Danishly – Helen Russell
How to Raise a Viking & Live Danishly – Helen Russell
Joining us on stage is Helen Russell, sharing everything we need to know about How to Raise a Viking and live Danishly!
Historic Building Mythbusting – Dr James Wright
Historic Building Mythbusting – Dr James Wright
Dr James Wright takes us on a mythbusting journey, unveiling the truths about historical buildings in his Newark Book Festival author talk.
Red Side Story – Jasper Fforde
Red Side Story – Jasper Fforde
Join acclaimed author Jasper Fforde at Newark Town Hall as he shares a glimpse into his new book Red Side Story.
Reggie Houser Has The Power – Helen Rutter
Reggie Houser Has The Power – Helen Rutter
Helen Rutter joins us for the final event of the festival and a promising laugh-out-loud event to close on, with Reggie Houser has the Power!