Biography & Memoir
Meet one of the producers of the cult-hit TV show Father Ted. In her nostalgic, warm-hearted memoir Lissa Evans reveals the challenges of the job and shares a hilarious montage of some of her most treasured Father Ted moments, from clerics crashing through windows to runaway milk floats. Lissa is in conversation with author Clare Chambers.
| Event Date | Sat 22 Feb 1:00pm |
| Individual Price | £10.00 |
| Location | The Alexander Centre |
| Categories | 2025, Sat 22 Feb, Biography & Memoir, Comedy / Satire, Non Fiction |
The Chinese-born writer and film-maker talks to Daniel Hahn about her life in Hastings, asking how an immigrant, an outsider and a woman can embrace local and national history.
Xiaolu Guo is 'One of the most valuable writers in the world' – Deborah Levy
| Event Date | Sat 22 Feb 1:00pm |
| Individual Price | £10.00 |
| Location | Faversham Assembly Rooms |
| Categories | 2025, Sat 22 Feb, Biography & Memoir, Non Fiction, Place, Geography & Travel |
A true story about class and ambition, loneliness and community, success and failure – told with real heart and humour it reminds us that the extraordinary can be found in the most unexpected places. Scriptwriter and producer Joe Tucker will be talking to host Steven Gale.
| Event Date | Sat 22 Feb 1:00pm |
| Individual Price | £8.00 |
| Location | The Almshouses Chapel |
| Categories | 2025, Sat 22 Feb, Art & Music, Biography & Memoir, Non Fiction |
Iain Sinclair’s latest book follows the life of street photographer John Deakin, whose chronicles of bygone Soho life, portraits of bohemian Soho characters and artists are now hailed as pioneering masterpieces. He talks to author and broadcaster Horatio Clare about why Deakin's photographs are timeless, why the Soho he knew is gradually disappearing, and why Deakin remains such a compelling figure.
| Event Date | Sat 22 Feb 3:00pm |
| Individual Price | £10.00 |
| Location | The Alexander Centre |
| Categories | 2025, Sat 22 Feb, Biography & Memoir, Historical, Non Fiction, Place, Geography & Travel |
Simon Goddard’s book-by-book, year-by-year literary trip through Bowie's greatest decade reaches 1974, the year in which one man is trying to find his soul in a world that's gone to the devil. Wickedly funny and shockingly tragic. With author Mark Stay.
| Event Date | Sat 22 Feb 5:00pm |
| Individual Price | £10.00 |
| Location | Faversham Assembly Rooms |
| Categories | 2025, Sat 22 Feb, Art & Music, Biography & Memoir, Non Fiction |
The New European's Nonfiction Book of the Year – a love song to grifters, drifters, cities and lost youth, literary hauntings and the power of belonging. Jeff Young talks to travel writer and broadcaster Horatio Clare.
| Event Date | Sun 23 Feb 3:00pm |
| Individual Price | £10.00 |
| Location | Faversham Assembly Rooms |
| Categories | 2025, Sun 23 Feb, Biography & Memoir, Non Fiction, Place, Geography & Travel |
The much-loved Gavin and Stacey star talks to Julia Wheeler about her post-war working-class roots, varied acting career – from Abigail’s Party to Pride and Prejudice – and her former marriage to Mike Leigh. Expect it to be very funny, very feminist and very entertaining!
| Event Date | Fri 28 Feb 7:00pm |
| Individual Price | Sold out – waiting list full |
| Location | St Mary of Charity |
| Categories | 2025, Fri 28 Feb, Biography & Memoir, Comedy / Satire, Non Fiction |
Dancer and entertainer Wayne Sleep talks to Marg Mayne about his life both on and off stage. In his memoir Just Different he looks back on the extraordinary times he has lived through, from dancing with ballet legends Rudolf Nureyev and Margot Fonteyn to the prejudices he faced as a working-class, gay man and living through the Aids epidemic. Expect laughter, tears, and plenty of gossip.
| Event Date | Sat 1 Mar 1:00pm |
| Individual Price | Various Prices |
| Location | St Mary of Charity |
| Categories | 2025, Sat 01 Mar, Art & Music, Biography & Memoir, Non Fiction |
The author of A Honeybee Heart Has Five Openings talks to Alex Preston about her new book Mother Animal, which investigates motherhood in the animal world, combining personal memoir with scientific insight to ask how motherhood works in other species.
| Event Date | Sat 1 Mar 3:00pm |
| Individual Price | £10.00 |
| Location | The Arden Theatre |
| Categories | 2025, Sat 01 Mar, Biography & Memoir, Non Fiction, Science & Nature |
Buzzcocks bass player and lead guitarist Steve Diggle has been the driving force keeping the band alive since he first met Pete Shelley in 1976. He talks to music journalist Siân Pattenden about his new book Autonomy, Diggle’s definitive inside account of their shared musical legacy and complex friendship through the band’s rise, fall, and rise again.
| Event Date | Sat 1 Mar 3:00pm |
| Individual Price | £15.00 |
| Location | The Old Brewery Store |
| Categories | 2025, Sat 01 Mar, Art & Music, Biography & Memoir, Non Fiction |
Leeroy Thornhill, ex-member of The Prodigy, talks to author and music journalist Miranda Sawyer about the story of the first decade of the band, from the earliest raves to Japan and the United States in the late 1990s, by which point the band were one of the biggest on the planet.
| Event Date | Sat 1 Mar 5:00pm |
| Individual Price | £15.00 |
| Location | The Old Brewery Store |
| Categories | 2025, Sat 01 Mar, Art & Music, Biography & Memoir, Non Fiction |
Known for her creativity and individuality Dame Zandra Rhodes is one of the most significant figures in British fashion. She talks to Julia Wheeler about her archive of iconic garments, her life spent among rockstars and royalty, life-changing friendships and the highs and lows that come with being an era-defining designer.
| Event Date | Sat 1 Mar 5:00pm |
| Individual Price | Sold out |
| Location | St Mary of Charity |
| Categories | 2025, Sat 01 Mar, Biography & Memoir, Non Fiction |
Paralympic champion and Strictly Come Dancing star Jonnie Peacock shares experience and offers inspiration on chasing your dreams and being unstoppable, building confidence, overcoming setbacks and knowing you can achieve anything, no matter what you think your abilities might be. With host Caroline Carpenter.
Family event. Suitable for age 8+
| Event Date | Sat 1 Mar 5:00pm |
| Individual Price | £8.00 |
| Location | QE Assembly Hall |
| Categories | 2025, Children & Family Events, Sat 01 Mar, Biography & Memoir, Children / Family, Mental Health & Wellbeing, Non Fiction, Teen / Young Adult |
Jamaican reggae poet, activist and critic Linton Kwesi Johnson performs a selection of his poetry and talks about his latest book, Time Come, in conversation with author Jacqueline Crooks.
| Event Date | Sat 1 Mar 7:00pm |
| Individual Price | £15.00 |
| Location | St Mary of Charity |
| Categories | 2025, Sat 01 Mar, Art & Music, Biography & Memoir, Culture & Diversity, Performance, Poetry / Spoken Word, Politics |
A sonic alchemist to the stars, Brian Eno's address book is a veritable who's who of rock and pop. On Some Faraway Beach is the first serious, critical examination of his life and music, from an idiosyncratic childhood to 1960s art school and the sharp end of pop charts around the world. The book's author, David Sheppard, will be talking to to Whitstable music journalist Michael O'Connell.
| Event Date | Sun 2 Mar 2:00pm |
| Individual Price | £8.00 |
| Location | The Arden Theatre |
| Categories | 2025, Sun 02 Mar, Non Fiction, Biography & Memoir, Art & Music |
Faversham Literary Festival CIC