7 days of inspiration covering literature, drama, music, comedy, current affairs, creative writing and spoken word. You have all the ingredients for a fabulous festival.
This is far more than just your average literature festival – it’s the ideas bit that makes the difference, and we’ve got hundreds.
It’s all been organised by Rochdale Borough Council funded by ticket sales and the Maskew Bequest, with valued sponsorship from Wheatsheaf Shopping Centre. The festival team are excited to be working with a range of local organisations who share our passion for the written and spoken word.
We want everyone to try something different, get the reading habit, but most of all, enjoy our fabulous festival.
Our strong line-ups over the last few years have secured our great reputation, with Dame Carol Ann Duffy, Simon Callow, Willy Russell, Owen Jones, Gyles Brandreth, Jenny Eclair, Alastair Campbell, Tony Walsh, Ed Byrne, Simon Armitage, Dom Joly, Joanne Harris, Helen Lederer, Mark Steel, Lucy Spraggan, Gervase Phinn, David Starkey, Bonnie Greer and Lemn Sissay being just some of the high-profile names who have taken part.
