Durham Book Festival Unveils 2012 Programme

The annual book festival returns with guests including PD James, Nick Robinson, Ian Rankin, Jack Straw, and Kate Mosse, and a new version of Rapunzel by balletLORENT, written by Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy. The programme for the 2012 Durham Book Festival was unveiled at a launch event at Crook Hall in Durham on Wednesday 15 August, which included a special appearance by Rachel Joyce, whose recent novel, The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry, has just been longlisted for the Man Booker Prize. This year’s festival takes place from 13th-30th October, in venues across Durham city and county. Among its varied programme of prose writers, politicians, poets and philosophers, Durham Book Festival is proud to be hosting the world premiere of Rapunzel, written by the Poet Laureate, Carol Ann Duffy. Carol Ann was commissioned by New Writing North, on behalf of Durham Book Festival, to write a new version of the classic Brothers Grimm fairytale for the modern age, which has been made into a new show by award-winning choreographer Liv Lorent and her company balletLORENT. Following the premiere in Durham, the production will tour the UK and play at Sadler's Wells in London. Authors appearing at the festival include Carol Ann Duffy, Anne Stevenson, Val McDermid, PD James, Ian Rankin, Gavin Esler, Kate Mosse, Roger McGough, Gillian Slovo, Pat Barker, Ruth Padel, Sophie Hannah, Ann Cleeves, Lorna Goodison, Nick Robinson, Jack Straw, Ben Miller, Chris Mullin and Cressida Cowell. This year we are proud to welcome authors from Canada, China and the US. Durham Book Festival is the North East's biggest annual celebration of books. The festival is produced by New Writing North for Durham County Council and supported by Durham University and Arts Council England. This year the festival welcomes on board a host of new supporters including Banks Group, Eversheds, Muckle LLP, Redbox Design Group, Dickinson Dees, Sunderland University, Swinburne Maddison and Northumbrian Water, and retains its partnership with the Radisson.  A full programme of events and booking details are at www.durhambookfestival.com. Source: Durham Book Festival Press Release