Hay Festival 2016

The former Supreme Court judge and author of Divided Houses (winner of the 2009 Wolfson History Prize) cuts through the political noise with his acute analysis of the state of democracy today. How did all this happen, and where do we go from here?

In this timely and incisive event, Sumption uses his provocative essays in The Challenges of Democracy: And the Rule of Law as a springboard to discuss issues from the vulnerabilities of international law to the deepening suppression of democracy activism, and from the complexities of human rights legislation to the defence of freedom of speech. He talks to Bronwen Maddox, the CEO of the International Affairs Think Tank Chatham House.

Many years ago, farmer and writer James Rebanks met an old woman on a remote Norwegian island. She lived and worked alone on a tiny rocky outcrop, caring for wild Eider ducks and gathering their down. Hers was a centuries-old trade that had once made people rich, but had long been in decline.

Years later, he travelled to the edge of the Arctic to witness her last season on the island. The Place of Tides is his account of that season – the story of a woman in a unique and ancient landscape, and his slow realisation that she and her world were not what he had previously thought.

In conversation with writer, broadcaster, photographer and educator, David Lindo, also known as the Urban Birder.

Kate Summerscale (The Suspicions of Mr Whicher) brings her groundbreaking form of novelistic non-fiction writing to bear on the murders at 10 Rillington Place – a sensational true crime story from 1950s London, followed relentlessly by tabloids and public alike. The bodies of multiple young women are discovered hidden in a dingy terrace house, and a nationwide manhunt is launched for the tenant of the ground-floor flat, a former policeman named Reg Christie.

Summerscale’s research uncovers the lives of the victims, and sheds fascinating light both on what happened inside the house and the origins of our fixation with true crime.

Join the novelist and screenwriter as she launches her haunting new novel. A boundary-pushing thriller told through the lens of a lyrical family drama, The House of Water is both unsettling and thought-provoking.

Placing that key in the lock was the last ordinary moment of her life. Iona returns home one evening to find her family murdered and her father missing. Her home is entirely submerged in water. An unnamed girl lies dead in her bed. As the police declare her father the main suspect, Iona is forced to confront how much she really knew about the man who raised her. Hidden in the fragments of her father’s final manuscript, recovered from the flood, an unimaginable secret slowly rises to the surface.

Catherine Airey discusses her debut novel, a mesmerising story of family, fate and survival, with feminist writer and activist Laura Bates. Moving from the windy wastes of 1970s Ireland to the burning lights of New York City and back, Confessions follows three generations of women in an expansive tale of secrets and revelation, departure and connection. Painting Ireland both as a place of belonging and as a place that makes a stranger of its women and girls, she examines the irresistible gravity of the past – how it endures through generations, pervasively present even when buried or forgotten.

A superb and searingly emotional debut film from Scottish writer-director Charlotte Wells. Aftersun juxtaposes a hopeful coming-of-age story with a poignant, intimate family portrait that leaves an indelible impression.

At a fading vacation resort in the late 1990s, 11-year-old Sophie (Frankie Corio) treasures rare time together with her loving and idealistic father, Calum (Oscar nominee Paul Mescal). As a world of adolescence creeps into view, beyond her eye Calum struggles under the weight of life outside of fatherhood.

Twenty years later, Sophie's tender recollections of their last holiday become a powerful and heartrending portrait of their relationship, as she tries to reconcile the father she knew with the man she didn’t.

Aftersun is the winner of seven British Independent Film Awards including Best British Film.

“What a pleasure… ripples and shimmers like a swimming pool of mystery” – The Guardian

Do you feel like we’re living in the end times? You’re not the first to feel that way. Two tourists of the apocalypse have looked into the abyss, and come to share their findings with us.

Tom Phillips’ A Brief History of the End of the F*cking World is about the apocalypse, and how humans have always believed it to be nigh. The former Buzzfeed editorial director tells of weird cults, failed prophets and mass panics, holy warriors leading revolts in anticipation of the last days, and suburbanites waiting for aliens to rescue them.

Lynskey’s Everything Must Go is a witty exploration of our fantasies of the end of the world. He surveys the endings we have read, listened to or watched with morbid fascination, from the sci-fi terrors of HG Wells and John Wyndham to the apocalyptic ballads of Bob Dylan. Why do we like to scare ourselves?

In conversation with author and journalist, Oliver Bullough.

Spend an evening with Strictly Come Dancing royalty Anton Du Beke as he introduces his new novel, Monte Carlo by Moonlight.

Anton Du Beke is one of this generation’s all-round entertainers. In 2018, he realised his boyhood ambition and published the first in a series of novels set in the 1930s world of the exclusive Mayfair hotel, The Buckingham. Nine bestselling books later, and in the sequel to The Royal Show, the Forsyth family arrive in 1960s Monte Carlo, a world of glitz, glamour, scandal and betrayal…

Exploring the art of literary collaboration, director and screenwriter Rebecca Lenkiewicz and Gaby Wood, chief executive of the Booker Prize Foundation, discuss taking Deborah Levy’s Hot Milk from book to screen.

The adaptation by Lenkiewicz of Levy’s Booker-shortlisted novel of the same name follows Rose (played by Fiona Shaw) and her daughter Sofia (Emma Mackey), as they wrestle with co-dependency and desire by the Spanish seaside.

This event is a collaboration between MUBI and the London Review of Books.

Our own Festival bookseller and author of Do Not Call the Tortoise returns to the stage to discuss his new book, which offers a quietly revolutionary perspective on our surroundings with the help of poets, trees, cats (of course), and, most of all, an openness to wonder. It raises many questions, and even answers some of them. How can a cat be a portal to the universe? Why did our ancestors make cave paintings? And, above all, what is it that your lowly hedgehog knows? In conversation with Owen Sheers.

"Says more about our relations with a living planet than an entire library of other Nature books. I couldn't recommend it more highly." - Mark Cocker

With whip-smart wit and a cavalcade of cads, dashing gents and fierce heroines, this is a legendary comedy experience for Austen fans and newcomers alike!

Austentatious is the improvised Jane Austen novel which has become a West End institution. Marking Austen’s 250th birthday this year, an all-star cast in full costume takes an audience suggestion for an unknown Jane Austen book, and then you watch it unfold before your eyes. Previous suggestions have included Mansfield Shark, Double O Darcy, Bend It Like Bennet and The Taking of Pemberley 123.

Austentatious took the Edinburgh Fringe by storm in 2012, and from those humble roots has continued to grow and grow, performing everywhere from the RSC in Stratford to Hampton Court Palace.

Welsh comedian Kiri Pritchard-McLean, host of Radio 4 panel show Best Medicine, hosts a night of comedy with Michael Akadiri and Rosie Jones.

As well as performing comedy, Akadiri works as a junior doctor in the NHS. His natural charm and cheeky, observational style have made an impact, and he’s the inaugural winner of the Komedia New Comedy Award. He has a growing list of TV and radio credits, from Comedy Central Live to BBC Radio 4’s Loose Ends.

Rosie Jones has quickly made a household name for herself, but is still striving for national treasure status. She’s the star of Out of Order, hosted Channel 4’s hard-hitting documentary Am I a R*tard, and fronted comedy travel series Mission: Accessible and BAFTA-nominated Trip Hazard. As an actor, Rosie has appeared in Silent Witness, Casualty, and Call the Midwife, proving her versatility across both drama and comedy. She’s appeared on Taskmaster, Live at the Apollo and The Jonathan Ross Show.

Outpost Drive, where the American South meets the British Isles, features the talents of Willow Robinson and Mary Bragg Robinson. Mary Bragg, a native of Mobile, Alabama, tells tales of her homeland with honey sweet vocals, while Willow, hailing from the English Countryside, brings his powerful voice and guitar playing to their harmonious blend of American Country and British Folk.

Start your day with an hour of movement and breathwork. Our daily yoga classes are brought to you by a collective of highly skilled practitioners, all local to Hay-on-Wye. Each practitioner has their own style, but whichever class you attend, you can expect a mindful, student-focused practice with clear cueing and functional sequencing. Blending movement, mantra, meditation and breathwork, the classes support detoxification and regeneration – physically, emotionally and spiritually.

Whether you need grounding and recharging before a busy day at the Festival, an opportunity to stretch and move your body, or simply an hour to focus on your breathing, these yoga classes are open and accessible to all. Practitioners will adapt to different levels of experience, providing options for deepening or softening within poses so that each student takes what they need from the practice.

Beginners and experienced students are most welcome. Yoga mats are provided.

Please contact Clare Fry at hello@larchwoodstudio.com with any questions relating to these classes. As capacity is limited, we recommend booking in advance to avoid disappointment.

Charlie and David Blandford open the gates to their farm for a visit led by agronomist Jonathon Harrington and vet Barney Sampson. Brobury Farm lies alongside the River Wye, in the heart of Kilvert country, and produces top quality lamb and arable crops. Walk around the farm (a distance of up to a mile), watch working sheep-dogs, learn about sheep shearing and wool spinning, and taste lamb that has been produced on the farm.

With thanks to Charlie & David Blandford for welcoming us to their farm.

Please wear walking boots or wellies and waterproof clothing in case of inclement weather. These are visits to real working farms and are suitable for anyone interested in learning more about food and farming. Families are welcome but children must be supervised at all times.

Ten years on from the Serious Crime Act 2015, which made coercive and controlling behaviour a criminal offence, domestic abuse campaigner David Challen and solicitor Harriet Wistrich speak to broadcaster Samira Ahmed about misogyny, male violence and how to bring about justice.

Challen, author of The Unthinkable, successfully campaigned to overturn his mother Sally Challen’s murder conviction in a landmark appeal recognising the lifetime of coercive control she suffered. An advisor to the Domestic Abuse Commissioner for England and Wales, he is a leading campaigner on coercive control and has written about his own fight for justice and society’s failure to recognise its impact.

Wistrich acted for Sally Challen in the appeal that overturned her conviction for the murder of her coercively controlling husband. She has written about that battle for justice and several others, including acting in the landmark Supreme Court case that held the Metropolitan Police accountable for their failures in the investigation of taxi driver and serial rapist John Worboys. She is founder director of the Centre for Women’s Justice, a founder member of campaign group Justice for Women, and author of Sister in Law.

Start the day at Hay Festival with headline guests chaired by editors from The Independent reviewing the news, discussing the headlines and issues of the day, and revealing what’s breaking and trending online. A fascinating look at what’s tickling the nation’s fancy – and driving it to splenetic fury. Bring your coffee!

Among today’s guests are historian and broadcaster David Olusoga, author of Black and British and presenter of Britain’s Forgotten Slave Owners, Eluned Morgan MS First Minister of Wales and farmer and writer Helen Rebanks, author of The Farmer’s Wife. They talk to The Independent's Chief Book Critic, Martin Chilton.

Guides from the Bannau Brycheiniog National Park and Hay Heritage Group lead a walk through the beautiful ancient environment of Hay-on-Wye. Learn more about the historic buildings of the town and its surroundings.

Hay-on-Wye is located within 520 square miles of beautiful landscape that makes up the Bannau Brycheiniog National Park. The National Park is driving change to bring about a sustainable future, meeting our needs within planetary boundaries. Their Hay Festival series of walks take you into the town’s local environment while offering the opportunity to learn more about the Park’s work and its treasured landscape.

Join much-loved actor and activist Michael Sheen, Jess Webb and illustrator Sarah Massini, for a family event to launch A Home for Spark the Dragon – a heartwarming picture book about the importance of finding a home, written in association with national home and homelessness charity Shelter. When Spark the dragon wakes up and finds a storm has destroyed his nest, he tries to find a new place to live. But Spark soon discovers that a house needs more than just walls to feel like home. Will he ever find the right place for him? Please bring your own paper and pencil to the event.

Shimmy up to hear the ballroom star, Strictly Come Dancing judge and author Anton Du Beke talk about his new book for young readers with CBeebies presenter Maddie Moate.

Set in Britain during WW2, the book sees 10-year-old twins Harry and Rosie evacuated to live with their great uncle on the Lancashire coast. Missing the vibrancy of London and the dancers at the tearoom where their mother works, they throw themselves into a local Christmas show. But when Harry sees strange lights out on the treacherous mudflats, he and Rosie discover their new home is hiding huge secrets…

Get your Hay day off to a brilliant start with our daily Ready, Steady, Music workshops! With different activities each day, these interactive, fun-filled sessions for mini musicians and their grown-ups will have you tapping sticks, roaring like dinosaurs, flying with unicorns, dancing with scarves, playing with parachutes and so much more. Come and meet our puppets, explore our range of instruments and listen to the beautiful sound of the cello.

Captivating young imaginations and creating lasting memories, these sessions offer a unique musical adventure. The perfect way to boost wellbeing, increase confidence, spark creativity and introduce children to the joy of music.

An opportunity to get crafting! Activities differ every day, including everything from print-making to junk modelling with recycled materials. Get messy and creative in these interactive sessions delivered by artists and discover that your imagination is the only limit.

Book for the session and you can drop in at any point during the 1.5 hour duration. Accompanying adults: please stay in attendance at all times, but you do not require a ticket.

Battles, borders, books and breakfast! Come and explore Hay Castle with its director Tom True, who will introduce the history and invite you to get to know some of the characters from the castle’s past. He’ll also talk about running Hay Castle for the past three years.

Coffee and pastry included in the ticket price. Meet in the Great Hall.

Legend has it that Hay Castle was built in a day by a giantess called Matilda who hurled a stone across the Wye at the end of construction. Find out about this story and more with this entry ticket that also allows you to visit the castle as many times as you like for a year. Explore Matilda’s room, the castle’s costumes and cellars, and the Richard Booth Archive, and make your way right to the top for amazing views from the viewing platform.

This ticket allows you to visit the Castle at a time of your choice on the day selected, and also gives you entry into the 20th Century Welsh Artists exhibition on the second floor.

Come to the Family Garden for a pizza masterclass with Kitchen Garden Pizza. In this one-hour session your imagination and creativity will be fed along with your belly! You’ll get your hands messy with freshly grown and foraged ingredients, make and top your own dough and observe the pizzaioli at work at the wood-fired oven.

Dairy-free and gluten-free options available.

Join us for an exclusive guided tour led by one of our passionate volunteer guides during Hay Festival 2025. Our knowledgeable guides will take you on a captivating journey through the castle, revealing tales of medieval knights, royal intrigue and the castle’s remarkable restoration. As you explore the castle you’ll gain unique insights into the lives of those who once called this place home. The tour also offers breathtaking views of the surrounding countryside, providing the perfect backdrop for your visit.

Guided tours run daily at 11am and 2pm. Tour price includes entry into the Castle for a year including the current exhibition: 20th Century Welsh Artists.

Come to the Family Garden for a pizza masterclass with Kitchen Garden Pizza. In this one-hour session your imagination and creativity will be fed along with your belly! You’ll get your hands messy with freshly grown and foraged ingredients, make and top your own dough and observe the pizzaioli at work at the wood-fired oven.

Dairy-free and gluten-free options available.

Grab a front row seat to an extraordinary conversation between two literary greats: Nobel Prize-winner Abdulrazak Gurnah and Booker-shortlisted Elif Shafak. The pair talk about their writing, the role of literature in presenting diverse perspectives, and the power of storytelling to bring hope in times of crisis and in a deeply polarised and fractured world.

Gurnah’s latest novel is Theft, in which he explores the intertwined lives of three young people as they come of age in postcolonial East Africa. He is Emeritus Professor of English and Postcolonial Literatures at the University of Kent.

Step into a world where little girls dressed up as women dance for an audience of adult men, where a pornographic deep fake video of you exists on the internet and you just don’t know it yet, and where men create ‘perfect’ AI girlfriends who live in their pocket.

This isn’t an image of the future. Sex robots, chatbots and the metaverse are here and spreading fast. A new wave of AI-powered technologies, with misogyny baked into their design, is putting women everywhere in danger.

Laura Bates, founder of the Everyday Sexism Project, takes us deep into the heart of this strange new world, from cyber brothels to schools gripped by an epidemic of online sexual abuse, showing how our lives are being infiltrated by ever-evolving technologies that are changing the way we live and love.

Enjoy an uplifting burst of springtime joy from the much-loved author of War Horse and Private Peaceful. Michael Morpurgo has lived on Nethercott Farm, deep in Devon river country, for more than forty years. In spring, he observes the changing season all around him, as new shoots emerge and seeds are sown, lambs are born and blossom flowers overhead.

As the weeks pass, he watches the lambing on the farm, walks through the bluebell woods, and feeds the birds in his garden in his wellies and dressing gown. He describes dramatic encounters with sparrowhawks, hares and otters, while sharing other magical discoveries, new poems and reminiscences about childhood and springs gone by. Morpurgo discusses Spring, his first adult non-fiction in nearly four decades, with Helen Rebanks, author of The Farmer’s Wife: My Life in Days.