Hailed as ‘the greatest work of prose in 20th century science’, and inspiring scientists, artists and thinkers alike, On Growth and Form by the Scottish mathematical biologist D’Arcy Wentworth Thompson celebrates its 100th anniversary.
Matthew Jarron, curator of the D’Arcy Thomson Museum of Zoology at the University of Dundee will discuss the influence of D’Arcy Thompson’s writing.
*Please note, due to unforeseen circumstances, Peter Randall-Page will, unfortunately, not be able to be involved in this talk as previously advertised.
Celebrating literature and ‘words’ through a diverse range of art forms including theatre, film and more
A Star Wars actor, a Booker Prize shortlisted author, and the acclaimed director of one of the 1980's iconic black comedies – what’s not to love about the Plymouth Festival of Words?
Building on the success of the Plymouth International Book Festival, Plymouth Festival of Words celebrates words in all their forms...
In 1890, Anton Chekhov did a most un-Chekhovian thing: he battled 4,000 miles across Russia in order to conduct a survey of the penal colonies of Sakhalin Island. Michael Pennington brings that journey superbly – and shockingly – to life with a pungent one-man performance.
Pennington’s deep affection for Chekhov shines throughout the performance highlighting the intimate relationship that can miraculously bloom between reader and writer.
Michael is an actor, director and writer. Well known for his roles as Moff Jerjerrod in...
Irenosen Okojie's unique and highly imaginative critically acclaimed debut novel, Butterfly Fish deftly charts a dark, multigenerational tale of loss, legacy and inheritance.
Selected by Booker Prize winning author Ben Okri as a dynamic talent to watch, Butterfly Fish traverses modern London, the ancient kingdom of Benin and 1950's Nigeria.
Her second book, Speak Gigantular, a collection of surreal and unusual short stories was shortlisted for the Jhalak Prize. Join the award-winning author to discuss reimagining lost...
Re-imagining the famous last words of Marilyn Monroe and Ruth Ellis
Marilyn Monroe. Ruth Ellis. Infamous women. Famous last words reimagined. What secrets did Marilyn whisper to Joe DiMaggio? How did Ruth Ellis justify her crime to the lover she shot, David Blakely?
Piecing together the latest theories, award-winning writer, Joan Ellis enables two so-called dumb blondes to find their voice during her stunning solo performance.
Joan is the author of four acclaimed books including psychological thrillers, Guilt and The Killing of Mummy’s Boy – shortlisted for the...
Jen McDerra, CEO of the Charles Causley Trust, introduces the Writers-in-Residence based at Causley’s former home, Cyprus Well. She will discuss with them how the poet inspires them and the development of their writing.
Part of the Plymouth Festival of Words. Find out more at www.plymouth.ac.uk/campaign/plymouth-festival-of-words
Ticket information: £3/£1.50. Discounts available to Plymouth University students through SPiA.
Author of 13 highly acclaimed novels, Michèle Roberts is best known for The Looking Glass and Daughters of the House, which won the WH Smith Literary Award and was shortlisted for the Booker Prize.
Ignorance, her most recent novel, was longlisted for Women’s Prize for Fiction and her memoir, Paper Houses, was BBC Radio 4’s ‘Book of the Week’. She has also published poetry and short stories, most recently collected in Mud-Stories of Sex and Love.
Michèle will introduce her latest novel, A Walworth Beauty – published by...
As a curtain raiser for Plymouth History Month, BBC’s Sam Willis and Plymouth University’s James Daybell present Histories of the Unexpected Live, the chart-topping, history podcast that features on Dan Snow’s History Hit Network, Histories of the Unexpected Live.
There is a new buzz about history – the new rock and roll! Surely, there is nothing unexpected about the past? About history?
Adopting a new approach to exploring our past, and moving away from the traditional linear plotting of battles, monarchs and political...
A short story writer and novelist living in Tehran, Fereshteh is widely recognised for her enigmatic and mysterious psychological fantasies, including her first short story collection, Everybody’s Sara (2004). She has won several literary awards for both her short stories and novels which include The Fairy of Forgetfulness (2007), Cheese Forest (2008) and Domestic Monsters (2016).
Fereshteh will be reading from her work and discussing its influences in the context of contemporary Iranian literature. Co-presented by...
