A celebration of the Spoken Word is the theme of this year’s London Literature Festival which takes place from Wednesday 18th October to Sunday 29th October 2023 at the Southbank Centre.
Guest Curator George the Poet opens the festivities with an exciting programme of music and and spoken word reflecting the current talent from London’s spoken word scene. The acclaimed artist and award-winning podcaster behind the Have You Heard George’s Podcasts will enthrall audiences with a blend of poetry, music and hip hop inspired by his new anthology, Part of a Story That Started Before Me. The opening night is at the Festival Hall on 20th October.
This year’s literature festival offers an array of celebrities from Kerry Washington to Jada Pinkett Smith, who both launch their memoirs. As part of Black History month, the Black British Book Festival partners with the Southbank Centre for the first time, presenting another memoir launch from Little Mix ‘s Leigh-Anne Pinnock, talks from Strictly’s Oti Mabuse, as well a vibrant annual day-long festival, celebrating Black British authors across all genres. Included in the day event are writing workshops, activities for children and a Black book marketplace,.
Across its twelve-day programme, London Literature Festival showcases the diversity of British literary talent such as Helen Oyeyemi, the international bestselling, prize-winning novelist who delivers the New Statesman/Goldsmiths Prize lecture on 22nd October at the Purcell Room, Queen Elizabeth Hall.
Ted Hodgkinson, Head of Literature & Spoken Word at the Southbank Centre, said “London Literature Festival this year celebrates the explosive talent, energy and creativity of the city’s spoken word community. We’re excited to have George the Poet open the first weekend with a night dedicated to the artists he believes are driving the future of the artform.”
For more about the full programme of events at the London Literature Festival visit: https://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whats-on/literature-poetry-events?type=literature-poetry