Hay Festival 2019 Programme

The Supervet recounts this often-surprising journey that sees him leaving behind a farm animal practice in rural Ireland to set up Fitzpatrick Referrals in Surrey, one of the most advanced small animal specialist centres in the world. We meet the animals that paved the way, from calving cows and corralling bullocks to talkative parrots and bionic cats and dogs.

Vietnam became the Western world’s most divisive modern conflict, precipitating a battlefield humiliation for France in 1954, then a vastly greater one for the United States in 1975. The historian and journalist takes testimony from Viet Cong guerrillas, Southern paratroopers, Saigon bar-girls and Hanoi students alongside that of infantrymen from South Dakota, Marines from North Carolina and Huey pilots from Arkansas to create an epic narrative of an epic tragedy. Here are the vivid realities of strife amid jungle and paddies that killed two million people, informed with deep understanding and a sweeping narrative.

The walker discusses her mesmerising and inspirational memoir: just days after Raynor learns that Moth, her husband of thirty-two years, is terminally ill, their home is taken away and they lose their livelihood. With nothing left and little time, they make the brave and impulsive decision to walk the 630 miles of the sea-swept South West Coast Path, from Somerset to Dorset, via Devon and Cornwall. Carrying only the essentials for survival on their backs, they live wild in the ancient, weathered landscape of cliffs, sea and sky. Yet through every step, every encounter and every test along the way, their walk becomes a remarkable journey.

The YA Book Prize singles out the best new young adult fiction every year. Join shortlisted authors Sara Barnard (Goodbye, Perfect), Muhammad Khan (I Am Thunder) and Laura Wood (A Sky Painted Gold) for a discussion of their books and the the importance of YA fiction. Chaired by Sian Cain, Online Books Editor at the Guardian.

In Sweden, children and young people are recognised as an important part of society. Swedish children’s culture is open-minded and doesn’t shy away from difficult topics. This has fostered a generation of young people who express their opinions, are listened to and speak up to claim their rights, from Pippi Longstocking to Greta Thunberg. Join us to explore the power and potential of children changing the world.

Book your table for dinner in The Grove festival restaurant and receive a complimentary drink* with each ticket.

The comfortable and relaxed restaurant offers friendly and professional table service and an exciting menu of locally-sourced fresh and seasonal food, expertly crafted by our passionate kitchen team. Click here to see a sample of the menu.

We also offer delicious vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free choices, desserts and local cheeses. Complement your meal with a choice of local craft beers, artisan gins and quality wines from our fully stocked bar. A selection of Fairtrade coffees and teas is also available.

Your reservation will be held for your arrival between 5pm and 6pm and our staff will be ready to warmly welcome you.

If you have any special dietary requirements please contact us in advance on 01453 708336 or email thegrove@bigeventcatering.co.uk

 *A 125ml glass of house wine, 500ml bottle of beer, lager or cider or a soft drink.


The Grove also offers delicious afternoon teas, including optional Bollinger Champagne, and a sumptuous array of delicate finger sandwiches and homemade cakes. Please call ahead to book for afternoon tea on 01453 708336. £25 per person.

Following the Silk Roads eastwards from Europe through to China, by way of Russia and the Middle East, The New Silk Roads provides a timely reminder that we live in a world that is profoundly interconnected. In this prescient contemporary history, Peter Frankopan assesses the global reverberations of these continual shifts in the centre of power – all too often absent from headlines in the West. Chaired by Elif Shafak.

The unforgettable life story of a man who served more than four decades in solitary confinement, in a 6 x 9-foot cell, twenty-three hours a day, in the notorious Angola prison in Louisiana – all for a crime he did not commit. That Albert Woodfox survived was, in itself, a feat of extraordinary endurance against the violence and deprivation he faced daily. That he was able to emerge whole from his odyssey within America’s prison and judicial systems is a triumph of the human spirit. 

“I’ve discovered that going for a daily walk has become as essential to me feeling good for the rest of the day as that first cup of tea. But I would argue that all I am doing is responding to a natural need we all have. Humans have always been migrants, the physiological urge to be nomadic is deep-rooted in all of us and, perhaps because of that, our brains are stimulated by walking. I solve all sorts of problems, formulate ideas, work things out to that gentle rhythm of self-propelled movement.” As she explores the reasons why we walk, whether for creative energy, challenge and pleasure, or therapeutic benefits, Kate’s reflections and insights will encourage, motivate and spur readers into action.

Who or what determines what we eat? The Bernard Wolfe Professor of Health Neuroscience at Cambridge University will outline the brain processes involved in responding to environmental stimuli and determining our food choices.

After three years of being on the statute books, what has the Wellbeing of Future Generations Act 2015 achieved? Has the groundbreaking, world-leading legislation achieved world-beating results? Has the legal responsibility put on the Welsh public sector, including Welsh Government, to consider sustainability in all of its actions, actually made a difference? Jane Hutt, Welsh Assembly Deputy Minister and Chief Whip, Jane Davidson, the original architect of this Act, and Sophie Howe, the independent commissioner responsible for delivery, discuss progress.

A two-hour practical writing workshop led by award-winning playwright Sebastian Baczkiewicz. We’ll look at what you love about radio plays and find out how to unlock that initial idea that’s been itching to break free. We’ll look at how to write scenes and to keep the all-important action of your story moving. You will also find out how to get your work read in the first place, as well as insights into how radio drama series such as Homefront came to be developed and produced. There will be plenty of time for any questions you may be burning to ask! Sebastian has written for radio, TV and theatre. Among his many radio credits are seven seasons of his acclaimed series Pilgrim as well as adaptations of Les Miserables and The Count of Monte Cristo. He was also part of the core writing team for Radio 4’s landmark WWI drama Homefront.

Traditional Japanese gardens combine aesthetics with ethics, beauty with philosophy in a perfectly curated celebration of the natural world. A Japanese garden is the world in miniature: rocks represent mountains, ponds represent seas. Natural and man-made elements combine to create a garden that, while natural, is not wild. The gardener and photographer look at the traditions and culture which inform some of the most beautiful and famous gardens from all over Japan, from Kenroku-en to the Zen gardens of Tokyo and the historic beauty of Kyoto, and from the famous cherry blossom celebration hanami to the autumnal crimson magnificence of momijigari.

Fauré’s Requiem has rightly become a well-loved standard work in the choral repertoire. The work itself has been described as a lullaby to death and Fauré’s questioning attitude to his own faith is evident in the way he modifies the religious text, giving it more relevance to a wider community. By the time of his death in 1924, jazz was becoming a major form of musical expression. It is with these factors in mind that Paula Gardiner and Fiona Evans are excited to be collaborating on a jazz Fauré Requiem.

Paula is Head of Jazz at Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama and is an inspirational and important presence on the Welsh jazz scene. Just as the late Jacques Loussier explored the potential for jazz in JS Bach’s music, Paula has followed a similar path, using Fauré’s beautiful melodies and gentle harmonic structure to produce a crossover performance of this much-loved work. Fiona worked as a professional singer with small consorts including The Sixteen for over a decade. Drawing on her performance experience, she has been running a number of community choirs for over twenty years and is currently MD of the Hay Community Choir.

Jazz trio performers: Josh Heaton: saxophone; Frazer Mcintosh: piano; Paula Gardiner: double bass. Conductor: Fiona Evans.

Chorus Membership: £20

Open to all singers, this event is developing the Hay Festival Chorus idea from its initial performance in December 2018, with Fiona’s rearranged Handel’s Messiah for three part mixed voices. Performers can choose to sing a high, middle or low voice part. There will be three afternoon rehearsals on 29, 30 and 31 May (2pm–5pm) at Hay Primary School, culminating in a performance on 31 May at 7pm. Scores may be purchased from Amazon. Voice part CDs are available from the Festival Office. The Hay Community Choir will be working on this exciting project weekly in the Parish Hall on Thursday evenings from 7.30pm if you wish to join in earlier.

This is a very exciting and innovative look at this choral classic and one that will bring a new dimension to your experience of this beautiful piece. The Hay Festival Chorus idea hopes to join together singers from a wide variety of abilities and traditions, bringing a new slant to standard works, in parallel with the Hay Festival’s approach to exploration and investigation of word and thought.

At a time when opinion trumps fact and truth is treated as nothing more than another perspective, free speech has become a battleground. While authoritarians and algorithms threaten democracy, we argue over who has the right to speak. The singer-songwriter and activist argues that, to protect ourselves from encroaching tyranny, we must look beyond this one-dimensional notion of what it means to be free and, by reconnecting liberty to equality and accountability, restore the individual agency engendered by the three dimensions of freedom.

In 1187, Saladin marched triumphantly into Jerusalem, ending decades of struggle against the Christians and reclaiming the holy city for Islam. Four years later he fought off the armies of the Third Crusade, which were commanded by Richard the Lionheart. A fierce warrior and savvy diplomat, Saladin’s unparalleled courtesy, justice, generosity and mercy were revered by both his fellow Muslims and his Christian rivals. Phillips offers a fresh and captivating look at the triumphs, failures and contradictions of one of the medieval world’s most influential figures. The Crusade historian looks at Saladin’s complicated legacy, examining the ways he has been invoked in the modern age by Arab and Muslim leaders ranging from Nasser in Egypt and al-Assad in Syria to Osama bin Laden.

A celebration of the brand-new, plant-based cookbook from the vegan superhero chefs. Do you want a quick weeknight supper that gets more veg into your diet? A show-stopping vegan Christmas dinner? A fun, fresh meal plan to set you up with plant-based packed lunches? Whatever you’re after, BISH BASH BOSH! has the perfect recipe. Henry and Ian have created a food revolution through the world’s biggest plant-based platform. BOSH! are on a mission to show the world just how versatile cooking with veg can be.

How I Got Here sessions are in-conversation events where Hay Festival Youth Council members interview Hay Festival speakers (speakers will be chalkboarded at the venue and updated on #HAYCOMPASS). These sessions are programmed and delivered by young people for young people. Free for 16–25-year-olds who register at hayfestival.org/compass.

Book your table for dinner in The Grove festival restaurant and receive a complimentary drink* with each ticket.

The comfortable and relaxed restaurant offers friendly and professional table service and an exciting menu of locally-sourced fresh and seasonal food, expertly crafted by our passionate kitchen team. Click here to see a sample of the menu.

We also offer delicious vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free choices, desserts and local cheeses. Complement your meal with a choice of local craft beers, artisan gins and quality wines from our fully stocked bar. A selection of Fairtrade coffees and teas is also available.

Your reservation will be held for your arrival between 7pm and 8pm and our staff will be ready to warmly welcome you.

If you have any special dietary requirements please contact us in advance on 01453 708336 or email thegrove@bigeventcatering.co.uk

 *A 125ml glass of house wine, 500ml bottle of beer, lager or cider or a soft drink.


The Grove also offers delicious afternoon teas, including optional Bollinger Champagne, and a sumptuous array of delicate finger sandwiches and homemade cakes. Please call ahead to book for afternoon tea on 01453 708336. £25 per person.