FESTIVAL FEVER

Saturday 25 March 1995 19:02 EST
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

As a student back in Leeds in the early '80s, this little bookworm was privileged to attend the legendary Leeds Fringe Festival. What a party! Liggers and performers outnumbered punters. Having obtained bogus press accreditation, we established ourselves in a box at the Festival's hub, the City Varieties, where nightly we entertained notables like Billy Bragg. Theatre groups, poets, gigs, pig-squealing sax breaks from busker Xero Slingsby: all presided over by the man from the council smiling bravely as his budget haemorrhaged all over the stage.

A quick look at the Events above demonstrates that the Festival spirit lives on in Portsmouth (In A Word season); Galway (the Cirt Festival), Swansea (UK Year of Literature) and "Poetry Capital of Britain", Hudders- field. Looming ever closer is the Hay Festival (26 May to 4 June - watch this space next week).

The Brighton Festival (5-28 May) fields Michael Holroyd on Oscar Wilde, Maureen Duffy and Jonathan Keates discussing Purcell, Geoff Dyer and Louis de Bernires on war, Will Self and Clive Sinclair on themselves, and Jenny Diski and Fay Weldon lambasting therapy.

Some dear old troupers have been playing the festival circuit for yonks. In Portsmouth in the Wedgewood Rooms at 7pm tonight are Roger McGough and Brian Patten - are they joined at the hip, or what?

! For further information: Brighton Festival Box Office: 0273 709709. Hay-on-Wye Box Office: 0497 821299

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in