Hay Festival 2019 Programme

Wake up and re-energise with our morning yoga class. Iyengar yoga is characterised by precision, alignment and attention to detail and is an inclusive and accessible yoga practice. Mats are provided; wear comfortable clothing; all abilities welcome.  Wye Valley Yoga

In this workshop you will be looking at yourself through drawing. Looking in the mirror and putting pencil to paper, there is an honesty in the difficulty of it, an immediate reaction in time, never to be repeated.  'I am who I am now, here, not who I could or should or want to be.'

No experience necessary, All materials provided

A little light ridicule to start the day, as the satirists read the tabloids and surf the social media storms for an irreverent look at what’s tickling the nation’s fancy today. 

Join the Cardiff scientist to understand and explore the genetic disorder, a condition that prevents the brain working properly. It gets gradually worse over time and causes motor, cognitive and psychiatric symptoms. Yhnell will discuss the ethical dilemmas of genetic testing and their implications before focusing on current research into novel therapies and her research on computerised cognitive training (brain training) for people with the disease.

Ursula Martin was diagnosed with ovarian cancer aged 31 and walked around Wales to raise money for a cancer charity: she recorded the experience in One Woman Walks Wales. Hannah Engelkamp’s book and film Seaside Donkey were based on her experience travelling with this companion around Wales. Hannah’s meanders are now accompanied by her toddler, Osian, who inspired her current writing on ‘wilding’ childhood and what the ‘dériving’ and colonialist habits of infants can teach us about travel. They talk to Gwen Davies.

A masterclass on how to get started in the media, featuring a discussion with researchers and producers from radio, television and online, chaired by writer and broadcaster Clemency Burton-Hill.
Contributors include: Caroline Carter, Talent Executive, BBC Studios.  Chris Walsh-Heron, Executive Producer, Digital, BBC Wales.  Elizabeth Clements, BBC Production Trainee.  Terry Goodwin, Assistant Editor, BBC Coventry and Warwickshire.

The author of the internationally bestselling The Walker’s Guide to Outdoor Clues and Signs and How to Read Water will lead a walk up Offa’s Dyke talking about his new book Wild Signs and Star Paths: The Keys to Our Lost Sixth Sense, showing how it is possible to achieve a level of outdoors awareness that will enable you to sense direction from stars and plants, and forecast weather from woodland sounds. A member of the Brecon Beacons National Park team will join the walk.

Sarah is the author of five YA books including The Weight of Water, One, and her latest, Moonrise. She has a passion for words: written and spoken, poetry and prose. Join the star of the YA fiction scene for an entertaining and sometimes emotional conversation about her literary heroes, inspiration, research and more. Sarah Crossan will be in conversation with Claire Armitstead, Associate Editor, Culture for the Guardian News & Media. Little Black Fish celebrates its 50th anniversary this year.

The illustrator reveals all the things that went wrong in the making of his picture-book. In this case, the author had a great idea for a story about a crocodile, but, even when he was writing it, the manuscript got soaked with tea and nibbled by snails. And that was just the start...

Ding Dong! Auntie, Uncle, Nannie and the whole family are here and they all want to kiss, cuddle and squeeze you. Come and listen to a heart-warming family story by Trish Cooke from the Discover Children’s Story Centre.

An exciting workshop with plenty of hands-on activities and exciting coding challenges for parents and children who will work together and code Sphero SPRK+ robot to dance to their favourite song. Children will then code their Spheros to race, with amazing prizes for winners.

The artist, co-creator of the Book of the Year, talks about the extraordinary project to reclaim and celebrate The Lost Words whilst she paints live onstage. She is accompanied by the music and song of Kerry Andrew performing the spells. All over the country, there are words disappearing from children’s lives. These are the words of the natural world – dandelion, otter, bramble, acorn – all gone. The rich landscape of wild imagination and wild play is rapidly fading from our children’s minds. Morris and her poet-spellcaster, Robert Macfarlane, have created a joyful celebration of nature words and the natural world they invoke. They capture the irreplaceable magic of language and nature for all ages.
Sponsored by Richard Booth’s Bookshop, which is hosting an exhibition of Jackie’s work until 31 August 2018

The distinguished science writer explains why the human brain became so clever; how it controls everything from breathing, sleeping and seeing to identity, imagination, pleasure and pain; and what will happen when the brain integrates with computers or the latest genetic discoveries.

Morpurgo dramatises an episode in Francis Drake's circumnavigation during which the Golden Hind was stranded on a rock off Celebes, Indonesia. What altercation occurred between Drake and the ship's chaplain, Francis Fletcher, during those terrifying 20 hours? Morpurgo makes a compelling argument for what was really at the heart of that disagreement, and its present-day repercussions. He argues that the Tudor navigators and their stories may hold the key to how we should approach the current environmental crisis. Chaired by Daisy Leitch.

The author and illustrator introduces the much-loved character of Claude and gives a behind-the-scenes view of the making of the new TV series about him. Come and learn how to draw him and meet the new detective, the star of Mr Penguin.

The YA Book Prize singles out the best new fiction every year. Join the authors of The One Memory of Flora Banks, It Only Happens in the Movies, and Indigo Donut as they discuss the emotional range of adolescence, both now and a century ago. Chaired by Jenny Valentine.

Ding Dong! Auntie, Uncle, Nannie and the whole family are here and they all want to kiss, cuddle and squeeze you. Come and listen to a heart-warming family story by Trish Cooke from the Discover Children’s Story Centre.