Hay Festival 2014

Imagine a jazz musician, improvising on a theme. Then imagine that he is able to play half a dozen instruments – not one after another, but almost simultaneously, switching effortlessly between instruments and musical styles with hardly a pause for breath. If you can countenance that, you are halfway towards appreciating the extraordinary song of the nightingale…

Why did the size of the US economy increase by three percent on one day in mid-2013? Or Ghana’s balloon by 60 percent overnight in 2010? Why did the UK financial industry show its fastest expansion ever at the end of 2008 – just as the world’s financial system went into meltdown? The answers to all these questions lie in the way we define and measure national economies around the world: Gross Domestic Product.

Agronomist Jonathon Harrington and vet Barney Sampson lead a walk through David and Catherine James’s cider orchards. See how the trees are managed and the apples harvested to make the cider. The fruit is purchased by Bulmers and Gaymers for their premium brands, some of which are available for tasting! The trees are fertilised by the bees, which produce delicious honey. Look inside the beehives, and learn how honey is made. We will also see crops of peas and wheat together with an impressive range of farm machinery. Also see events 182, 230, 276, 322

This is a visit to a real working farm and is suitable for anyone interested in learning more about food and farming. Families are welcome, children must be supervised at all times. Coaches will return to the festival site in time for events starting at 1pm.

Writer Mary Evans presents an interactive and downright daft creative writing show for primary school children and grown-ups. What are the ingredients for a great story? Is there a recipe we can follow to make our stories taste even better? Bring a big dollop of imagination along and find out the answers.
7+ years

The author of The Serpent’s Promise, Almost Like A Whale, The Language of the Genes and In the Blood conducts an evolutionist’s exploration.

The Prospect editor and her panel of expert psephologists analyse election results across Europe. Britain votes on 22 May. The final results from around the continent will come in overnight on 25 May.

On 11 September 1973, President Salvador Allende of Chile, Latin America’s first democratically elected Marxist president, was deposed in a violent coup d’état. The Colombian historian explains why and how business leaders in Chile, extreme right-wing groups, high-ranking officers in the Chilean military and the US administration, and the CIA worked together to secure a prompt and dramatic end to his progressive social programme.

Food is an important theme in Jane Austen’s novels: it is used as a commodity for showing off, as a way of showing kindliness among neighbours, as part of the dynamics of family life, and – of course – for comic effect. Dinner With Mr Darcy takes authentic recipes from the period, inspired by the food that features in Austen’s novels and letters, and adapts them for contemporary cooks.

Three international writers chosen with our festival partners in Italy and Germany have written stories on the theme of Sarajevo. They discuss their stories and the translations with Daniel Hahn of the British Centre for Literary Translation.

Join Gill Lewis, bestselling author of Skyhawk and Moonbear, and novelist Julia Green as they talk about their new books, Scarlet Ibis and Seal Island. They share lots of interesting animal facts and stories about how animals bring people together in some very special places.
7+ years

Have some piratical fun with Winnie the Witch and her illustrator, the one and only Korky Paul. Join him for an energy-filled event of quick sketching, storybook adventure and plenty of audience participation.

5+ years

Join giant and author Philip Ardagh…and his beard…and The Grunts. The latest adventure sees The Grunts All At Sea and on a mission to transport a Person of Great Importance (POGI) somewhere… Will the Grunts deliver their POGI? Will Mr Grunt get the silver coins he’s been promised? Will an audience member faint at the wonder of Philip’s beard?! There’s only one way to find out…
7+ years

A listening session and discussion based around the follow-up to Black Roses. Porcelain is a drama documentary written by Ian Kershaw about the trial following the 2007 fatal attack of Sophie Lancaster for her Goth style dressing in Bacup, Lancashire. Sophie’s mother, Sylvia Lancaster, will be joining the discussion panel. Not for broadcast.

12+ years. Under 16s must be accompanied by an adult over 18.

FREE BUT TICKETED