Hay Festival 2014

Much more than a prison drama, The Rig won The Guardian Hot Key Young Writers Prize for new talent Joe Ducie, combining science fiction with nasty wardens and impossible odds of escape.
12+ years (YA)

From Civillisation  to What Do Artists Do All Day?  An expert panel chaired by Razia Iqbal on how the arts are represented in the media.  Speakers include the BBC’s new Director of Arts, Jonty Claypole, Tony Phillips,  Commissioning Editor for Arts, Radio Four and Sarah Crompton dance critic, columnist and arts editor in chief of the Telegraph. Not for broadcast.

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

FREE BUT TICKETED

The writer and actor, hailed in the West End and on Broadway for his Malvolio, talks about the Bard and Love.

What are the key factors for sustainability and change, for disruption and catastrophe? The Director of the London School of Economics considers the threats, internal and external, to global capitalism.

The Speaker of the House, a former Junior competitor and LTA-qualified coach, argues the case for his ranking of the twenty greatest male tennis stars of all time, surface by surface, era by era. Rafa vs Bill Tilden? Perry vs Murray? Federer vs Lacoste? Anyone for an hour of nostalgic fanaticism?

The Battle of Plataea in 479 BCE is one of world history’s unjustly neglected events. It decisively ended the threat of a Persian conquest of Greece. For the Spartans, the driving force behind the Greek victory, the battle was sweet vengeance for their defeat at Thermopylae the year before. Cartledge masterfully exposes the Athenian/Spartan rivalry that ‘rewrote the history books’.

Tom Keely has lost his bearings and cut himself off. He intends to keep it that way, until one day he runs into some neighbours: a woman from his past and her introverted young boy…The author of Cloud Street, Dirt Music and the memoir Land’s Edge launches a heart-stopping novel written with breathtaking tenderness. It asks how, in an impossibly compromised world, we can ever hope to do the right thing. 

The Director of the Festival Cumbre Tajin at the spectacular pre-Hispanic Mexican world heritage site in Veracruz explains the culture of the Totonac people, their relationship with Cortez and the Aztecs, the elemental power of the thunder god and the relationship of the people and the sacred city, with its Mesoamerican pyramids and rituals.

Weird science facts combine with one key question: ‘what would Clarkson do?’ in this highly engaging session introducing sci-fi adventure series Infinity Drake, a debut from scriptwriter John McNally.
10+ years

Highly-acclaimed spoken word artist Steven Camden, aka Polarbear, will engage, entertain and provoke your creative side in a session built around his debut YA novel, TAPE.
12+ years (YA)

As Brazil sits on the cusp of hosting the World Cup, acclaimed film maker Julien Temple talks to Francine Stock about his new film for BBC ONE on Rio de Janiero.  The film travels through this extraordinary city, exploring the best and worst of Rio, powered and narrated by the music and voices of this Brazillian metropolis.  Not for broadcast.

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

FREE BUT TICKETED

A conversation about the star’s novels and her film career, from Warren Beatty and Star Wars to her current status as one of the most admired and sought-after screenwriters in Hollywood. Fisher wrote Postcards from the Edge.

Is the welfare generation a myth? What can our economy gain from an older workforce, and how can our politicians and policy makers harness the potential in an ageing population?

The creators of Moro, who trained under Rose at The River Café, demonstrate and discuss their vibrant mezze and tapas food and restaurant with Sarah Crompton.

The Everything But The Girl musician’s beautiful and funny memoir is a personal journey and a portrait of his parents, Romany and Tom. It is a vivid story of the post-war years, of ambition and stardom, family roots and secrets, of life in clubs and in care homes.

Detailing all the buildings of significance in the historic counties of Montgomeryshire, Radnorshire and Breconshire, this final volume of the Pevsner Buildings of Wales series details hill forts, ruined castles, medieval churches, manor houses and industrial buildings. The co-author talks to Justin Albert, Director of National Trust Wales.

Recent discoveries have allowed archaeologists to locate the site, near Torksey in Lincolnshire, where the Viking Great Army wintered in AD 872–3. Richards describes what archaeological fieldwork can tell about the Great Army and their camp.

The Welsh Government Minister for Natural Resources and Food is proposing to increase the focus on green growth as an alternative economic model for Wales. What does this mean in reality? And what will Wales look like in 20 years if this vision is realised, and how does this fit with the wider global economy? In conversation with the Festival’s Sustainability Director Andy Fryers.

Sara Fanelli divides her time between self-generated projects and commercial illustration commissions from clients including the New Yorker, Tate Modern and the Victoria & Albert Museum. She has written and illustrated a number of highly original and acclaimed children’s books, including The Onion’s Great Escape and has twice been the winner of the Victoria & Albert Museum’s illustration award. Lauren Child is one of the most remarkable and original children’s book author/illustrators working today. Creator of Charlie and Lola, Clarice Bean and most recently her new Ruby Redfort series, she has won numerous awards including the prestigious Kate Greenaway Medal and the Smarties Gold Award. Her books have been a huge success around the world. Join Sara and Lauren for a thought-provoking, informative and engaging conversation about words and pictures. Chaired by Alison Gwynn.

11+ years

The panel members debate the question being put to voters north of Hadrian’s Wall on 18 September 2014, with the Speaker of the House of Commons in the chair. Audience participation included!