Stewart Lee and free-jazz

8 months ago

Following his fantastic win on Celebrity Mastermind — where he specialised on British avant-garde guitarist Derek Bailey — we are excited to announce that comedian Stewart Lee will be joining us at the 2010 Cheltenham Jazz Festival, to explore the world of improvised jazz.

In collaboration with our artistic director Tony Dudley-Evans, Stewart is curating a special three night series, which will include performances by British free-jazz legend Evan Parker, drummer Mark Sanders, bassist John Edwards, rising star of the New York scene trumpeter Peter Evans and a special Xposed Club Night featuring Chris Cundy.

We’ve tagged this post with comedy, jazz, Stewart Lee, Tony Dudley-Evans on Tuesday 5 January 2010.

Big comedy names this weekend…

10 months
3 weeks ago

Vic Reeves and Al Murray are in town as The Times Cheltenham Literature Festival goes out with a bang this weekend. We unite two of the biggest names in comedy for a celebration of laughter.

If you fancy a laugh don’t miss Vic Reeves this Saturday, one of Britain’s funniest and most idiosyncratic minds will be entertaining the audience with a guide through his Vast Book of World Knowledge, covering everything from Asparagus to ZZ top! And the Pub Landlord himself, Al Murray, will be stepping out from behind the taps on Sunday, determined to help you Think Yourself British. First lesson: to take one step forward, we must first take two steps back.

Vic Reeves — Saturday 17 October / Town Hall / 8:45–10pm
Al Murray — Sunday 18 October / Town Hall / 2–3pm

visit the festival box office or call 0844 576 8970

We’ve tagged this post with comedy, literature on Friday 16 October 2009.

What to see on Sunday…

10 months
3 weeks ago

From science for the family with Adam Hart-Davis, Shakespeare with Gregory Doran to innovative British drama with Stephen Poliakoff. Join us for an incredible final Sunday at the 2009 Literature Festival.

For last minute booking, visit the festival box office or call 0844 576 8970.

Join Adam Hart-Davis on an epic journey from the earliest beginnings of science to the present day and beyond — taking in everything from ancient Greek geometry to quantum physics and the wedge to the worldwide web. Science has never been more fun!

Gregory Doran, Chief Associate Director of the Royal Shakespeare Company, discusses his work on stage and his latest book The Shakespeare Almanac, a cornucopia of the family occasions, local customs and global events that made up Shakespeare’s world.

How has the changing political and social landscape of Britain been reflected in comedy writing over the last 50 years? From Beyond the Fringe to The Young Ones and The Day Today, Jonathan Coe is joined by The Thick of It creator Armando Iannucci, David Nobbs, creator of Reginald Perrin and author of A Bit of a Do, and Spitting Image writer John O’Farrell.

After helping Great Britain get back on her feet with his Book of British Common Sense, Pub Landlord Al Murray is back! He steps out from behind the taps once again, determined to help you Think Yourself British. First lesson: to take one step forward, we must first take two steps back.

Arguably the most inventive writer/director working in the UK today, BAFTA winner Stephen Poliakoff offers us a rare glimpse behind the scenes. From his seminal TV dramas Caught on a Train, The Lost Prince and the award-winning Gideon’s Daughter to his upcoming, long-awaited new screen release Glorious 39, he is at the very heart of innovative British drama.

We’ve tagged this post with comedy, literature, science, Shakespeare on Friday 16 October 2009.

What to see on Saturday…

10 months
3 weeks ago

Another busy weekend coming up at the 2009 Literature Festival. Take a look at a few of our events below, or browse our full list for Saturday.

For last minute booking, visit the festival box office or call 0844 576 8970.

Acclaimed broadcaster and journalist Joan Bakewell makes a welcome return to Cheltenham to discuss her life and her debut novel, All the Nice Girls. Adopting a Navy ship in 1942, the Girls’ grammar school soon receives a visit from the ship’s Captain and his men which will change their lives in unimaginable ways.

Bestselling author Steve Smallman knows that bears are best for bedtime, so join him for a charming storytelling session featuring his latest books Gruff the Grump and There’s No Such Thing As Monsters. Come and share stories with your little bears!

One of Britain’s best-loved gardeners and a charismatic presenter of Gardener’s World, Monty Don has documented the creation of his own garden in his very personal Ivington Diaries. He joins us to tell the story of how a semi-derelict farmhouse and garden became the centre of his family life.

Teamwork, craft, overcoming adversity and a bit of luck all contributed to the overwhelming triumphs of Steve Redgrave, five-time Olympic gold medallist in rowing and Britain’s greatest Olympian. Here he talks about his life and reveals how his heroes and peers have Inspired him to be the very best at his game.

He came, he cracked a joke or two, he conquered. Join Vic Reeves, one of Britain’s funniest and most idiosyncratic minds. Perhaps best known for his work with Shooting Stars co-creator Bob Mortimer, he presents his Vast Book of World Knowledge, covering everything from Asparagus to ZZ Top.

Iain Banks is an outstanding voice in contemporary fiction, whose books include The Wasp Factory and The Crow Road, adapted into the acclaimed BBC series. Here he discusses his work and new novel, Transition, set in a world that hangs suspended between triumph and catastrophe.

We’ve tagged this post with Book It!, comedy, literature, sport on Thursday 15 October 2009.

Laugh out Loud!

11 months ago

In need of a laugh? This year’s Literature Festival brings a whole mix of topics, and our comedy line-up this year is one we’re particularly proud of. As part of our 60th year celebrations, some of the best names in comedy are descending on Cheltenham, and if you’re ready to laugh out loud you’d be mad to miss out!

Pub Landlord Al Murray steps out from behind the taps once again to help us fix Britain, teaching us that in order to take one step forward, we must first take two steps back; one of our most hilarious and idiosyncratic minds Vic Reeves takes a break from the new Shooting Stars series to present his Vast Book of World Knowledge; panel show favourite Rich Hall joins us to introduce a series of Magnificent Bastards, from a man vacuuming prairie dogs to a werewolf being mistaken for Brian Blessed; and Bristol boy Justin Lee Collins is his usual funny and shambolic self, as he tells how a M&S shelf stacker went to running riot on the Sunday Night Project.

And that’s not to forget there are still tickets left for Alistair McGowan and Ronni Ancona, hoping to make a Big Impression; our Guest Director Mark Watson and his very own Earth Summit; and of course, the award-winning and yet very bizarre world of comedy stars David Mitchell and Robert Webb.

See our comedy events →

We’ve tagged this post with comedy, literature on Friday 2 October 2009.

Literature comedy line-up announced!

1 year
1 month ago

There may still be a fortnight to go before the full programme’s released, but we already have a special announcement of a fantastic comedy feast for The Times Cheltenham Literature Festival.

At October’s festival, we’ll be joined by deadpan legend Jack Dee in an exclusive event to mark his new memoir, Thanks for Nothing. And the fun’s only just begun: fellow laughter merchants Jo Brand, Vic Reeves, Alan Davies, Stephen Fry, David Mitchell & Robert Webb, and many more will also be making the trip to Cheltenham this year — full line-up announced and on sale to members 3rd August.

Tickets are sure to sell out incredibly quickly, and if you’re keen to secure your seats (and save 20% to boot), Cheltenham Festivals Membership offers a full week’s priority booking and generous ticket discounts. Join today!

Save £££s and jump the queue at every Festival
become a member today from £15

We’ve tagged this post with 60th anniversary, comedy, literature, membership on Friday 17 July 2009.

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