upfront
HAY FESTIVAL
Danny Champken picks through another eagerly anticipated Hay Festival lineup, as the cultural hustle and bustle returns to the famous book town. pics: JEFF MORGAN
Staged in the picturesque border town of Hay-On-Wye( famous for its secondhand book stores), the Hay Festival( of Literature And The Arts) is the thinking person’ s festival. Aiming to“ inspire, delight and entertain,” Hay carries within its history an endless roll call of famous and intellectual names who have spoken at the festival. Once described by Bill Clinton as“ the Woodstock of the mind”, the festival has garnered an impressive and unstoppable reputation ever since its conception. The traditional programme of literary names, writers, politicians, economists, scientists and other great thinkers has diversified over the years to incorporate television personalities, comedians and musicians, thereby appealing to a wider audience and offering a far more varied, and customisable experience to all. With previous names ranging from national treasure Stephen Fry to current Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy, and from flamboyant Celebrity Big Brother winner Julian Clary to former Archbishop Of Canterbury Rowan Williams( who will appear again this year), it’ s evident that all manner of enquiring minds will be buzzed by the offerings of the Hay Festival. In the 25 years since the festival’ s inception, Hay has developed and expanded, especially in recent years, with international sister festivals, a supporting children’ s festival, and all manner of music, film and
BUZZ 12 comedy entertainment added to the bill. Telegraphsponsored once again, the festival expects 80,000 visitors to visit over the 11 days. Lured by the promise of major names( and minds) the world over, visitors will experience a packed programme of events in a beautiful setting. This year’ s festival will honour Welsh poet RS Thomas 100 years since his birth, and also mark the 10th anniversary of the Iraq War visiting the subject in a variety of sessions and debates. Notably, Swedish politician and UN weapons inspector Hans Blix will lecture on the topic with reference to his fruitless search for weapons of mass destruction. Meanwhile, star appearances this year will be in the form of actors Rupert Everett and Robert Lindsay, musicians Cerys Matthews, KT Tunstall and Noah And The Whale, and comedians Dara O‘ Briain and Miranda Hart amongst others. Quite the celebrity attraction, one might say. It’ s interesting to consider where Miranda’ s style of slapstick humour may factor into such an erudite event; perhaps we are to witness the precursor to her hotly anticipated stand-up tour of 2014 amongst the insight she gives into her career in comedy and drama. The most exciting of drama will of course take place in the spirited debates that the Hay Festival is famous for. The hot topic of press freedom will be tackled in conversation with American journalist Carl
Bernstein, who in 1972 contributed to breaking the Watergate story for the Washington Post. He will also discuss the Obama administration, and key American anniversaries; Gettysburg( 150 years), Vietnam( 50 years) and the assassination of President John F. Kennedy( 50 years). The host of authors in attendance at this year’ s festival, including Vikas Swarup( of Slumdog Millionaire success), Cressida Cowell( writer of beloved children’ s tale How To Train Your Dragon), will be joined by the as yet un-awarded winner of the Man Booker Prize 2013. In addition to the centenary of RS Thomas, to be celebrated in particular with poems written in response to his own, the bicentenary of Jane Austen will also be marked in the form of examinations of her work and of the woman herself, and by a comedy play in Austen’ s style. The Hay Festival’ s almost overwhelmingly packed programme this year offers quite enough to keep even the keenest of minds entertained for 11 days with equal servings of culture, politics, entertainment and Hay’ s delightful surroundings.
Hay Festival, Hay-On-Wye, Thurs 23 May- Sun 2 June. Tickets: prices vary. Info: 01497 822629 / www. hayfestival. com