- 28 February - 31 March 2020
November 2019
January 2020
February 2020
- Fiction
Launch Event: How the Dead Speak
Val McDermid, Queen of Crime and number one bestseller, joins us for the launch of Essex Book Festival. Perhaps best known for her Wire in the Blood series, Val will talk about her latest heart-pounding thriller in the series How the Dead Speak. Read more
- Performance
Wet Sounds
Get ready for a truly unique experience. Wet Sounds will be transforming Riverside swimming pool with soundscapes both above the surface and underwater, to produce an immersive audio-visual performance which promises to be bizarre, magical and astonishing. Read more
March 2020
- Memoir
- Non-fiction
Staunch
Honest, funny and poignant, Staunch follows Eleanor as she journeys to India with her grandmother and two great aunts in the wake of a painful break-up. As she spends time with the older women in her family, in the country they fled over fifty years before, Eleanor learns what it truly means to be staunch in the face of true adversity. Read more
- Essex 2020
- Fiction
Sunfall
Quantum physicist, author and presenter of the long-running weekly BBC Radio 4 programme, The Life Scientific, Jim Al-Khalili OBE FRS, joins us to talk about his debut novel Sunfall which combines rip-roaring storytelling and mind-expanding science. Read more
- Non-fiction
Murray’s Cabaret Club: Discovering Soho’s Secret
Today, 16-18 Beak Street is a burger bar but it was once filled with dancing showgirls in glitzy costumes as Murray's Cabaret Club forged fantasies for deadened aristocrats, served dishes of dreams to Arab businessmen, and provided refuge for hounded celebrities. Read more
- SOLD OUT!
The Beekeeper of Aleppo
Moving, powerful, compassionate and beautifully written, The Beekeeper of Aleppo is a testament to the triumph of the human spirit. Christy Lefteri will speak about her experiences in refugee camps and the simple steps we can all take to encourage hope for those who need it most. Read more
- Date changed
Truth to Power
This event has changed dates to Thursday 7th May. If you had already booked tickets for the previous date (5th March) the box office will be contacting you to confirm if you are able to make the change of date. If not you will receive a refund. We are sorry for any inconvenience caused. Read more
- Fiction
- SOLD OUT!
The Forgotten Wife
Emma Robinson is the author of five novels about motherhood and friendship and writes the humorous blog Motherhood For Slackers. Emma will share her own journey to publication as well as reading from her latest novel The Forgotten Wife – a heart-breaking family drama with a stunning twist. Read more
- Essex 2020
- Theatre
STELLA a story of women, their men and astronomy
In this play two women astronomers, Jessica Bell from the C21st and Caroline Herschel from the C18th both look up at the same night sky and find themselves colliding in their search for understanding. Read more
- Non-fiction
Because we are worth it! On changes in advertising, gender and society.
Celebrating International Women’s Day. How have men and women been portrayed in advertising and does it matter? Dr Magdalena Zawisza-Riley will take you on her research journey into the land of psychology. Read more
- Non-fiction
- SOLD OUT!
Threads of Life – A History of the World Through the Eye of a Needle
An eloquent history of the language of sewing over centuries and across continents. Clare Hunter's Threads of Life is an evocative and moving book about the need we all have to tell our story. Read more
- Podcast
1954 – Radio Podcast
As part of this year's festival Essex-based Packing Shed Film and Theatre has released its very first radio podcast. Marking 100 years since Marconi made his first radio broadcast in Chelmsford and the 70th anniversary of George Orwell's death, 1954 re-imagines Orwell's classic 1984. Read more
- Guided Tour
- PLACE
- SOLD OUT!
Colchester’s Literary Legacies
This guided walk will take you on a literary quest to discover serpents, detectives, serving wenches and many other fictional characters and their creators who have known the streets of the ancient town. Read more
- PLACE
- SOLD OUT!
- Workshop
- Young Essex
Printing and Illustration Workshop – Manifesto For Essex
Join resident artist Tom Armstrong and Lee Thomas for a children’s printing and illustration extravaganza as part of our Manifesto For Essex activities and hosted in partnership with Colchester’s Extinction Rebellion. Ages 11-16. Read more
- For writers
- PLACE
- SOLD OUT!
- Workshop
Wild Writing Workshop
Join James Canton for a workshop which delves into the nature that exists in the cracks between our human constructs, in the wilds just a few feet from our doors. Work with words, reframe your view of how you see the wild, and become mindful of the living landscapes that exist around us. Read more
- PLACE
- Young Essex
Tallulah Goes to the Festival
Join children’s author Rachel Jane for a Campervan storytime and craft session. Sing along with Tallulah the Campervan as she counts down the days to her first festival and get into the Festival spirit by decorating your very own festival headband! Read more
- Performance
- PLACE
Sweatbox
Travelling across the UK, Chloë Moss’s Sweatbox invites you to enter the back of a prison van in which three women share their stories of arrival and anticipation as they are transported from court to prison, from prison to prison, from prison to court. Read more
- Storytelling
- Young Essex
Pop-Up Storytelling Armchair
Our Pop-Up Storytelling Armchair will be at Firstsite, Colchester on Saturday 14 March as part of our PLACE weekend. A super comfy treat for book lovers young and old to enjoy their favourite stories out loud. Read more
- Essex 2020
- PLACE
- Young Essex
Tackling Climate Change Makers Workshops
With the Manifesto For Essex now up and running, we urge everyone to come and make their Manifesto 'mark' at our special Tackling Climate Change Makers event at Firstsite. It's free, no booking required. Read more
- PLACE
- Storytelling
- Workshop
- Young Essex
Dragon Detective:Catnapped! Workshop
The Dragon Detective is in town and he needs your help to solve a mystery. Unpredictable, musical and hilarious, Gareth P Jones' performances are totally unique and not to be missed. Read more
- PLACE
- SOLD OUT!
- Workshop
- Young Essex
Printing and Illustration Workshop – Manifesto For Essex
Join resident artist Tom Armstrong and Lee Thomas for a children’s printing and illustration extravaganza as part of our Manifesto For Essex activities and hosted in partnership with Colchester’s Extinction Rebellion. Ages 5 and up. Read more
- CANCELLED
- For writers
- PLACE
- Workshop
Writing on Place in a Changing World
This writing workshop will be looking at how writers place themselves in their physical surroundings and how this embodies itself in their work. Participants will be invited to write, walk and workshop their words as we examine what lies beneath the surface of the places we move through. Read more
- Essex 2020
- PLACE
- Young Essex
The Timebubble Machine
Come along and have a go in the interactive Timebubble Machine and get closer to the past… our amazing past. Then use your time-travelling adventures to inspire you to build your own toys using Timebubble Toys sustainable wooden construction kits. Read more
- Discussion
- Non-fiction
- PLACE
- POSTPONED
All at Sea?
The unusually long coastline of Essex makes it especially vulnerable to flooding. Writer and social historian Ken Worpole will be in conversation with Hana Loftus. The talk will be illustrated with archive and contemporary photographs, and graphic material opening out to a discussion of the wider issues raised for the Essex coast as a result of Climate Change. Read more
- Non-fiction
- PLACE
Apples, Orchards and Community
Two different talks with a common thread. Hear Adrian May discuss how apples are closer to human life than Nature. Marina O’Connell will talk about how the back to the land movement is still relevant today with our climate crisis and in re-creating local food supplies. Followed by an open discussion, hosted by Ken Worpole around the subjects of apples, orchards and community. Read more
- Non-fiction
- PLACE
- POSTPONED
Smashing It – Working Class Artists Making It Happen
Smashing It celebrates the exceptional works and words of 30 leading working-class artists in Britain including reflections on how class has impacted these creators’ careers and offers guidance for those looking for a way into the creative arts industry. Read more
- For writers
- PLACE
- Workshop
Writing for Radio Masterclass
This workshop offers an introduction to writing drama for the radio. Robin Brooks has over twenty years’ experience of writing original plays and adaptations for BBC Radio. Suitable for all tastes and levels of experience. Read more
- Music
- Performance
- PLACE
- Poetry
Blackwaterside
Ultramarine (Ian Cooper and Paul Hammond) present Blackwaterside, performing music inspired by their time working close to the Blackwater estuary. The performance will feature Philip Terry reading poems from his Quennets collection and a screening of the Blackwaterside film with live soundtrack based on the Survey East photography of Ian Cooper. Read more
- Discussion
- Non-fiction
- PLACE
The power of protest: where should we draw the line?
Join Observer columnist Kenan Malik, legendary LGBT campaigner Peter Tatchell and actor Stella Odunlami for a debate on whether we should stand up for the right to protest. Chaired by Index on Censorship editor in chief Rachael Jolley. Read more
- PLACE
- Poetry
The Word From Paris
The Penguin Book of Oulipo book launch. This is the first collection in English to bring together 100 pieces of "Oulipo" writing. Editor and translator Philip Terry will be joined by novelist Tony White to read and discuss selections from the book. Read more
- Non-fiction
Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock MBE
Come along to hear Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock MBE, a space scientist whose passion is presenting science to a general audience. Her BBC 2 programme “Do We Really Need the Moon?” earned Maggie the talkback Thames new talent award. Read more
- Fiction
- SOLD OUT!
Bone China
Join award-winning author, Laura Purcell, to hear about her latest spine-tinglingly eerie book, Bone China. It’s a Daphne du Maurier-esque chilling tale set on the mysterious Cornish coast. Menacing and macabre…you may want to bring somebody to hold your hand. Read more
- Fiction
A Death in Mayfair
Mark Ellis is a thriller writer and the creator of DCI Frank Merlin. Mark grew up under the shadow of his parents’ experience of the Second World War and has always been fascinated by the Home Front and the fact that while the nation was engaged in a heroic endeavour, crime flourished. Read more
- CANCELLED
- Non-fiction
Are You With Me? Kevin Boyle and the Rise of the Human Rights Movement
An event to celebrate the launch of Mike Chinoy's latest book Are You With Me? Kevin Boyle and the Rise of the Human Rights Movement. He tells the remarkable story of the late Prof. Kevin Boyle, one of the world's great human rights lawyers. Read more
- Podcast
1954 – Radio Podcast
As part of this year's festival Essex-based Packing Shed Film and Theatre has released its very first radio podcast. Marking 100 years since Marconi made his first radio broadcast in Chelmsford and the 70th anniversary of George Orwell's death, 1954 re-imagines Orwell's classic 1984. Read more
- CANCELLED
- SOLD OUT!
Dorothy L Sayers Society Lecture: The Female of the Species: Key Women Crime Writers from Sayers and Highsmith to the Present
This event has been cancelled. We are sorry for any inconvenience caused. If you have a ticket for this event the Box Office will be in touch about next steps. Read more
- Podcast
1954 – Radio Podcast
As part of this year's festival Essex-based Packing Shed Film and Theatre has released its very first radio podcast. Marking 100 years since Marconi made his first radio broadcast in Chelmsford and the 70th anniversary of George Orwell's death, 1954. Read more
- CANCELLED
- Golden Age of Crime
Golden Age of Crime Weekend 2020
Our Golden Age of Crime Weekend has been cancelled. We are sorry for any inconvenience caused.
If you have a ticket for any of our Golden Age of Crime events the Box Office will be in touch soon about next steps.
Read more
- CANCELLED
- Discussion
- Golden Age of Crime
Mysteries for ever: the ongoing popularity of PD James and Agatha Christie
This event has been cancelled. We are sorry for any inconvenience caused. If you had a ticket for this event the Box Office will be in touch about next steps. Read more
April 2020
May 2020
June 2020
July 2020
August 2020
- For writers
- Online
- SOLD OUT!
Re-Writing the Archive – An Online Writing Workshop
Taking your inspiration from specific objects picked from Colchester Museum archives, you will work with bestselling novelist, Syd Moore, to devise a unique piece of creative writing during this online workshop. Read more
September 2020
