“There are premiership footballers and authors who are the same age as the Swindon Festival of Literature!” marvelled event director Matt Holland at the launch of the 25th annual event.
Invited guests gathered in the open courtyard of Swindon Central Library to welcome the unveiling of the 40-page event programme - showcasing more than 50 events across two weeks.
And they were treated to a buffet of wonderful Lower Shaw Farm food and an exquisite rendition of the classic love song The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face by founder and leader of Swindon Community Choir Linda Lee.
Wowing the crowd with his rarely deployed magical skills, Matt Holland used a banana to illustrate the power of belief - which had been instrumental in the setting up of festival way back in 1994. He challenged his audience to believe that the fruit could be cut just by the power of thought alone… and peeling back the skin he revealed it to be inexplicably cut into five segments.
And continuing the literary theme, Mayor Maureen Penny, resplendent in purple coat read out one of her favourite poems - When I Am Old by Jenny Joseph - which highlights the joys of ageing disgracefully - before welcoming the launch of the 25th Swindon Festival of Literature programme.
To witness magic of a literary kind, including encounters with the likes of novelist and broadcaster Will Self, the longest-serving female MP Harriet Harman and philosopher A C Grayling, now is the time to pick up tickets.
The event will run from 7-19th May.
Tickets can be booked in advance, online www.swindontheatres.co.uk and by phone on 01793 524481.
Tickets can also be bought on the day but many sell out ahead of time.
Festival information is available by calling 01793 771080 or email [email protected]
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