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Lambeth Readers and Writers
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Charles Flint photography
Ken Lennox
Kate Adie
Gary Younge
Stella Duffy
Alex Wheatle
www.lambeth.gov.uk/events
#Lambethlitfest
Lambeth Libraries
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Lambeth Readers and Writers Festival 2017
Welcome to this year’s Lambeth Readers and Writers Festival.
In April Lambeth Libraries will be taking part in this
year’s Cityread London (www.cityread.london).
Cityread unites London every year by inviting the
whole capital to read the same book together.
Every April, more than 30,000 Londoners take part in a shared, cultural
experience that connects us to each other and the city we call home. Cityreaders
are encouraged into libraries and bookshops, museums and cinemas to explore,
understand and celebrate London through its stories. This year’s book is
Prophecy by S.J. Parris, an Elizabethan crime novel.
Luckily we also have the Cityread flagship event in Lambeth this year – at
Lambeth Palace. This will be a fantastic night for all Lambeth readers.
S.J. Parris and Tracy Borman in
conversation at Lambeth Palace Library
Wednesday 19 April, 6.30pm
Lambeth Palace, Lambeth Palace Rd,
Lambeth, London SE1 7JU
Join us for this Cityread festival highlight as Prophecy
writer S.J. Parris (pen name of journalist, author and
literary critic Stephanie Merritt) swaps Elizabethan
stories with historian and author of The Private Lives
of the Tudors Tracy Borman in the glorious setting of
the Great Hall at Lambeth Palace. On display will be
the execution warrant of Mary Queen of Scots, with
other Elizabethan books and manuscripts from the
collections of Lambeth Palace Library.
Tickets £10 in advance from www.cityread.london,
includes a glass of wine on arrival.
The 2017 festival is here with another month-long programme
of inspirational literary events – we hope you find something to
enjoy. For more information contact your local library or email
[email protected].
I am delighted to welcome you to the
Lambeth Libraries Readers and Writers
Festival. Since the first festival some
13 years ago it has become a regular
highlight in the Library calendar and goes
from strength to strength. In 2017 we
have another month of events to suit
all tastes whether you enjoy reading,
writing, discussion or simply sitting back
and listening. Come and join us and
express yourself! You’ll be amazed at the
fun you can have in your local library.
Cllr Sonia Winifred
Cabinet Member for Equalities and Culture
ReadersWritersF
Lambethreadersandwritersfestival
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Writing for Wellbeing: Exploring
the Self & Exploring Community
Thursdays 4 and
18 May,
Doors 7.30pm, Oasis
Centre/Waterloo
Library, 1 Kennington Road, SE1 7QP
Looking for inspiration? Seeking to
improve your writing, and grow in
confidence? Want to try something
new? Join us for two creative writing
workshops, where you will be
encouraged to explore yourself as an
individual, and your connection to others
and the community around you. The
workshops will encourage you to discover
different styles, techniques and content
used for writing, and help you grow in
confidence. Bring a pen and paper, an
open mind and a playful attitude.
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Workshops will be led by Jon
Sayers, a local poet, playwright,
teacher and workshop leader,
advertising copywriter and creative
director.
Festiwal Czytelnictwa
Książkowisko – Polish Poetry
Limited space available, so for
more information or to sign up,
email felicity.maries@oasiswaterloo.
org, call 020 7921 4205, or visit
facebook.com/oasiswaterloo
Lambeth Libraries are delighted to be
hosting the Książkowisko Polish poetry
festival. Streatham Library, Stockwell
Partnership, Akademia Mlodego Polaka,
KAMPE, Polish Book Club and Polish
Catholic Saturday School are all coming
together to showcase poetic work by
local Polish children alongside work of
established Polish poets. The weekend
events are all in Polish language but
everyone will be more than welcome to
the finale at 4pm on Saturday which is
open to all languages.
Friday 5 May 4pm to 6pm
Saturday 6 May 1pm to 5pm
Streatham Library
W dniach 5 i 6 maja w ramach
Lambeth Readers & Writers Festival
zapraszamy na dwudniowy Festiwal
Czytelnictwa książkowisko w języku
polskim, które ma na celu promocjęę
czytelnictwa wśród Polaków w
Lambeth. Inicjatywa ta powstała
dzięki współpracy z: Stockwell
Partnership, Poles Connect, Grupy
Artystycznej KAMPE, Akademii
Młodego Polaka, Polskiego Klubu
Książki w bibliotece na Streatham
oraz Polskiej Katolickiej Szkoły
Sobotniej imienia Jana Pawła
II. Więcej informacji na temat
wydarzenia w języku polskim:
ksiazkowisko
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Clapham Book Festival
Saturday 6 May, 2pm to 8.30pm
Omnibus Arts Centre,
1 Clapham Common Northside
London SW4 0QW
Tickets £10 (£8 concessions)
www.omnibus-clapham.org
KATE ADIE TO
HEADLINE CLAPHAM
BOOK FESTIVAL 2017
Clapham’s very own book
festival has expanded to include
something for everyone, from
crime and thrillers, historical novels
and history books, to spies in fact
and fiction. Grab the opportunity
to quiz your favourite authors
on Saturday 6 May at Omnibus!
As well as author panels in the
afternoon, there’s a meet-andgreet session with local authors
in the Omnibus bar from 6.30pm
and, to round off the day, awardwinning broadcaster Kate Adie will
be discussing her life and work.
Tickets from
www.omnibus-clapham.org,
box office 020 7498 4699.
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Do Take Muriel Out: reading
Stevie Smith
The Philanthropist’s Tale:
The Life of Laurie Marsh
Sunday 7 May, 2.30pm
West Norwood Library
Monday 15 May, 6.45pm
Durning Library
Lambeth-based arts-advocacy
group PoetrySlabs – the people
who scattered the mad words from
‘Jabberwocky’ on West Norwood’s
pavements in the summer of 2016 –
will lead a shared reading of poems
by Stevie Smith, the prototypical
eccentric and arch-surveyor of the
suburbs of the English sou,l who
blithely broke most of the rules of
confessional poetry (and prose)
between 1937 and 1970. Audience
members are invited to bring their
own favourite poem by Smith to add
to the mix.
Laurie Marsh is one of the world’s
most successful entrepreneurs but you
may never have heard of him until now.
Here for the first time is the incredible
tale of one of the world’s leading
philanthropists; from the streets of
Lambeth to the glamour of LA, it’s a
compelling true story of rags to riches,
and much of Laurie’s success has
been shared, his philanthropic work
reaching the levels of far more public
‘givers’ such as Bill Gates. Now in
his eighties, Laurie still works every
day, using his wealth and influence
to help as many good causes and
charitable organisations as he can.
It’s an inspirational and fascinating
story of entrepreneurial success and
commitment to deserving causes. Join
Laurie at Durning Library.
Event organised by the Friends of
Durning Library. Light refreshments
are served. Everyone is welcome. A
£2 donation towards costs is invited.
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Presenting: Young Poets
Thursday 18 May,
6pm to 7.30pm
Oasis Centre/
Waterloo Library,
1 Kennington Road, SE1 7QP
An evening celebrating Young
Poets in our community,
presented by Harry Baker.
Harry is a local poet, and his
performances take him all around
the UK and internationally, with
a unique blend of huge talent in
both poetry and mathematics.
He holds the titles for World
Poetry Slam Champion. 2010
London Slam Champion,
2011 UK and European Slam
Champion and 2012 World Slam
Champion.
If you’d like to get involved
or perform in the evening,
please contact felicity.maries@
oasiswaterloo.org or visit
facebook.com/oasiswaterloo
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Authors without Borders
– introducing Polish
Literature and culture
Saturday 20 May, 2pm to 5.30pm
Clapham Library
Poles Connect introduce a fantastic day
of Polish craft and culture with Polish arts
and craft stalls, jewellery and graphic
novels from Centrala.
2pm – Polish traditional folk arts for
all the family - learn the art of Wycinanki
decorative paper cutting with Aga Tadaj and
needle felting basics with Dorota Bogus.
3.30pm – A Short Tour of Modern
Polish Literature in Translation Antonia Lloyd-Jones, one of Britain’s
leading literary translators, gives us a
whistle stop tour of what we should be
reading from Poland’s literary greats and
contemporary voices. Can you name
any Polish authors whose book(s) you’ve
read? No? But interested in knowing
more? This is for you….
r e c O r d: Smashing together
music and spoken word
Howard Cunnell –
Fathers & Sons
Saturday 20 May, Doors 7pm
Clapham Library
Wednesday 24 May, 7pm
Tate South Lambeth Library
Price: £6 online, £8 on door. Ticket
link: https://www.wegottickets.com/
event/395009
As a boy growing up on the south coast
of England, Howard Cunnell’s sense
of self was dominated by his father’s
absence. Now, years later, he is a father,
and his daughter is becoming his son.
In Fathers and Sons Howard tells the
story of the years of self-destruction
that defined his young adulthood and
the escape he found in reading and the
natural world. Still he felt compelled to
destroy the relationships that mattered
to him. Saved by love and responsibility,
Cunnell charts his journey from anger
to compassion, as his daughter Jay
realizes he is a boy, and a son.
Red Chord Theatre are proud to
present r e c O r d; a genre-defying
night, fusing together live music
and spoken word. An experiment
and testament to what London’s
freshest, young talent has to offer,
r e c O r d allows artists to take centre
stage and perform a riotous mix of
poetry and music. It promises to be
an eclectic, entertaining and friendly
evening providing an opportunity for
new poets to get involved through the
open mic.
Check the full line-up at
@redchordtheatre
Alexander James
4.30pm – Modern Polish literature
panel discussion - with Antonia LloydJones, Dr Stanley Bill, lecturer in Polish
studies at Cambridge University and
editor and translator Eliza Marciniak.
Deeply thoughtful, searingly honest and
exquisitely lyrical, Fathers & Sons is an
exploration of fatherhood, masculinity,
authenticity and family. Join Howard at
Tate South Lambeth Library.
Charles Flint photography
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Vintage Voices – Oral
History Celebration
Friday 26 May, 7pm
Brixton Library
Vintage Voices is a creative project
which draws on memories, experience
and place. Over the last three months,
Sixteenfeet Productions invited
Lambeth Elders to take part in a series
of 7 writing workshops developing
skills, sharing experiences and having
fun on Thursday afternoons at Brixton
Community Base.
For more information or to book email
[email protected]
Brixton Rock – the film –
Director Q&A with Alex
Wheatle
Saturday 27 May, 7.30pm
Brixton Library
The first chance to see a taster of
the film of Brixton Rock. Brenton
Brown has spent the majority of
his childhood in a notorious care
home. With his inability to express
his emotional frustration to his social
worker or anyone close to him he
becomes a recluse. That is until his
social worker discovers his estranged
mother’s whereabouts. Alex Wheatle’s
story is set in Brixton, during the
1980’s and highlights the struggles
of children who are raised within the
social care system.
Now in process to be made into a
film, join the Director in conversation
with Alex Wheatle himself.
Ancestry Talks – Roots 40th
Anniversary with Paul Crooks
Wednesday 31 May, 6.30pm
Clapham Library
Wednesday 21 June, 6.30pm
Brixton Library
Paul Crooks, the author of Ancestors,
traces his family back 6 generations
to Ami Djaba who were living in the
Krobo Mountain in Ghana. Paul’s
acclaimed novel, and appearance
on BBC’s Who Do You Think You
Are with Moira Stuart, inspired a
generation to start exploring Black
and British ancestry.
Paul will talk about his book and his
journey to find his family history.
Booking essential email
[email protected]
For more information
www.paulcrooks.info
A breath of cold air: reading
Sylvia Plath
Sunday 4 June, 2.30pm
West Norwood Library
Lambeth-based arts-advocacy group
PoetrySlabs – the people behind the
two lines from Tennyson stuck to a
wall at West Norwood Bus Garage –
will lead a shared reading of poems
by Sylvia Plath, the woman whose
Ariel collection, published in 1965,
two years after her death, changed
poetry forever on both sides of the
Atlantic. Audience members are
invited to bring their own favourite
poem by Plath to add to the mix.
Giovanni Giovannetti/Grazia Neri
Memories and experiences of first
generation Brixtonians who settled
here and shaped its identity have
been recorded and the work is
presented at Brixton Library in an
exciting picture of how things were ready to pass on to a new generation.
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The First Clapham Saints:
A London Village 1600-1720
with Timothy Walker
Sunday 4 June, 3pm
Clapham Library
In the early seventeenth century,
Clapham was just another small
village outside London, but from
1630 it became home to a group
of radical Puritan merchants. Their
influence was far reaching. After the
Restoration, Clapham continued as a
centre for nonconformist merchants,
so much so that it was described as
a ‘Whig Warren’. The First Clapham
Saints explains why they chose
Clapham and gives an absorbing
picture of the village community, the
relationships within it, and the part its
inhabitants played in the major events
of the time.
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Brixton Book Jam
Monday 5 June, 7.30pm
Hootenanny pub, Brixton. SW2 1DF
The unpredictable, irrepressible FREE
literary event returns to the Hootananny
on Monday 5th June. A series of
15-minute readings - Brainfood for a
Monday night! (and it’s free!)
www.brixtonbookjam.com
1984 Live
Tuesday 6 June, 9am to 11pm
All Libraries
Another Day in the Death of
America with Gary Younge
This day is George Orwell day
in Lambeth Libraries and we are
delighted to be supporting The
Orwell Foundation in the live,
start-to-finish, reading of Nineteen
Eighty-Four. For the first time in the
UK, George Orwell’s book will be
read by a host of actors, writers,
journalists and members of the
public over the course of a single
day in the centre of London. This
unique event at Senate House,
University of London (inspiration
for the Ministry of Truth) is free and
open to the public. It can also be
seen live via the UCLTV YouTube
channel.
Saturday, November 23rd, 2013. It
was just another day in America; an
unremarkable Saturday on which
ten children and teens were killed by
gunfire. The youngest was nine; the
oldest was nineteen. White, Black and
Latino, they fell in suburbs, hamlets
and ghettos. None made the national
news. There was no outrage about
their passing. It was just another day
in the death of America, where on a
daily average - seven children and
teens are killed by guns.
During the day Lambeth Libraries
will be hosting ‘Selfie stations’
where you can borrow copies of
Orwell novels as well as tweeting
your own alt-fact, fake news,
or as Orwell would have put it,
‘newspeak’. #1984Live
www.theorwellprize.co.uk
filller image
Wednesday 7 June, 7pm
Brixton Library
Younge picked this day at random,
searched for their families and tells
their stories. He finds out who they
were, who they wanted to be and
what this might tell us about society
at large. What emerges is a searing
portrait of childhood and youth in
contemporary America. Don’t miss
this event!
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Events for Children
Portugal Day
Saturday 10 June, 11am to 4pm
Tate South Lambeth Library
The Library is pleased to be joining
forces with the Business Women
Network UK to run a special
community market at the Library to
celebrate the Day of Portugal. The
day is celebrated all over the world
and we will have Portuguese food,
traditional music and dance and lots
of fun for all the family. We would
The Runaway Egg storytime
and crafts with author Katy
Hudson
Wednesday 10 May, 10.30am
Durning Library
love to see Londoners joining us in
celebration. For more information
contact Fernanda Correia-Sefzick at
[email protected].
Women and Words with
Stella Duffy, Patrice Lawrence
and friends
Wednesday 14 June, 7pm
Brixton Library
Stella Duffy leads a panel of women
authors discussing the power of reading
and writing for women and girls. Political
movements and personal journeys, all
begin with people imagining another
life. The Women and Words event will
bring together authors from different
genres and backgrounds to discuss
how reading and writing have changed
their lives.
Stella Duffy has written thirteen novels,
over fifty short stories, and ten plays.
She has twice won Stonewall Writer of
the Year and twice won the CWA Short
Story Dagger. HBO have optioned her
two Theodora novels for television. She
was awarded an OBE in 2016 for her
services to the Arts.Patrice Lawrence
Katy Hudson started her illustration
career as a small child drawing on
freshly emulsioned walls around the
house! Her parents quickly dissuaded
this medium and encouraged drawing
with pencil and paper instead. The
idea stuck and she is now a freelance
Illustrator based in London. Katy
will be reading her latest book, The
Runaway Egg, published by Random
House this Spring. The reading will be
followed by fun, egg themed,
crafts and activities.
Elmer Day
Saturday 27 May
has been writing for as long as she
has been reading and her first novel,
Orangeboy, was shortlisted for the
Costa Book Award and nominated
for the Carnegie Award.
Join us for a fun and inspirational
night with the power of literature.
Celebrate Elmer Day at
your local library – an Elmer
Apron to be won for the
best Elmer colouring sheet.
Check for activity times at
your local library.
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National Bookstart Week 2017
Monday 5 June to Sunday 11 June
Spring Half Term
A range of storytelling and craft activities will be
hosted in your local library celebrating spring.
Jump into Spring!
Ages 5 years and above
The theme for National Bookstart Week 2017 is ‘Let’s Explore
Outdoors!’, and our chosen book is Everybunny Dance!, written
and Illustrated by Ellie Sandall. Libraries work to inspire a love of
reading in children because we know that reading can transform
lives. Visit your local library to enjoy the wonderful words and
brilliant artwork that make this book dance. There will be free activities for under
5s and their parents, carers and bunnies in all Lambeth Libraries, check for activity
times at your local library.
Wednesday 31 May
West Norwood Library, 2.30pm
Tate South Lambeth Library, 2.30pm
Durning Library, 2.30pm
Waterloo Library, 2pm
Thursday 1 June
Streatham Library, 2.30pm
Friday 2 June
Clapham Library, 2.30pm
Friday 2 June
Waterloo Library, 2pm
illustration ©Ellie Sandall
Saturday 3 June
Waterloo Library, 3pm
along the way.
Make your own Story Character
Ages 5 years and above
Friday 2 June and Saturday 3 June
Brixton Library, 3pm
The 2017 Summer Reading
Challenge theme is Animal Agents
with artwork by the fantastic
Horrid Henry illustrator Tony Ross.
Children can sign up to read at least
six library books over the school
holidays and collect special rewards
They can use the website to keep
track of the books they’ve read, write
book reviews, enter competitions,
chat to other readers and much
more.
This national reading scheme is
aimed at children 4 to 12 years of
age. The fun begins on Saturday 15
July and runs through to Sunday 17
September 2017.
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Lambeth libraries
Libraries Contact details:
Brixton Library
Brixton Oval, SW2 1JQ.
Tel: 020 7926 1058
Clapham Library
Mary Seacole Centre,
91 Clapham High Street, SW4 7DB.
Tel: 020 7926 0717
Durning Library
167 Kennington Lane, SE11 4HF.
Tel: 020 7926 8682
Streatham Library
63 Streatham High Road SW16 1PN.
Tel: 020 7926 6768
Tate South Lambeth Library
180 South Lambeth Road, SW8 1QP.
Tel: 020 7926 0705
Upper Norwood Library,
41 Westow Hill SE19 1TJ.
Tel: 020 7926 1063
Waterloo Library
The Oasis Centre,
1 Kennington Road, SE1 7QP.
Tel: 020 7926 0750
West Norwood Library
The Old Library Centre,
14-16 Knights Hill SE27 0HY
Tel: 020 7926 8092.
This information was believed to be
correct at the time it was published,
but may be subject to changes and
circumstances outside the control
of the organisers. For more events
and information visit
www.lambeth.gov.uk/events
Booking
Unless otherwise stated please
book by phoning the local library or
emailing [email protected]
For all service and general enquiries please
contact the Lambeth service centre.
Email [email protected]
Tel 020 7926 1000 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm)
Website www.lambeth.gov.uk
Spanish
Bengali
020 7926 0750
Portuguese
020 7926 0750
Twi
020 7926 0750
020 7926 0750
French
Yoruba
020 7926 0750
020 7926 0750
If you would like this information in large print, in Braille, on audio
tape or in another language, please phone 020 7926 0750