After 12pm, Books, Reading | Events

Burns an' a' That! Festival

A whole festival dedicated to Scotland’s internationally acclaimed poet Robert Burns. To celebrate the 2013 Year of Natural Scotland, the festival heads outdoors to Belleisle Park for a programme of live music, and visual and performing arts.

Belleisle Park, Ayr

Fri 24 May

Prices vary / 01292 616143

12:00 – 17:30

Fri 31 May

Prices vary / 01292 616143

12:00 – 17:30

Fri 7 Jun

Prices vary / 01292 616143

12:00 – 17:30

…and 12 more dates until 30 Aug

Ann Widdecombe: Strictly Ann

The former politician, who joined the old Conservative party in 1964, is out in and about in support of her new autobiography.

Althorp, Northampton

Thu 13 Jun

Entrance with festival pass / 01604 770107

Part of Althorp Literary Festival.

14:00

Creative Innovation Centre, Taunton

Tue 2 Jul

Prices to be confirmed / 01823 337477

19:00

Dartington Hall, Totnes

Mon 8 Jul

Prices to be confirmed / 01803 847147

Part of Ways With Words Festival.

14:30

Also on at:

…and at 1 other place

Bike Slam

Inky Fingers present this bike-themed slam (yeah, bike-themed) in partnership with Edinburgh Festival of Cycling.

The Forest Café, Edinburgh

Mon 17 Jun

Free / 0131 229 4922

Part of Edinburgh Festival of Cycling.

19:30 – 22:30

Adult Reading Groups

Bromley Central Library

Thu 23 May

Free / 020 8460 6037

18:30

Thu 30 May

Free / 020 8460 6037

18:30

Thu 6 Jun

Free / 020 8460 6037

18:30

…and 7 more dates until 25 Jul

Peckham Library, London SE15

Tue 28 May

Free / 020 7525 2000

18:30 – 20:00

Tue 25 Jun

Free / 020 7525 2000

18:30 – 20:00

Tue 30 Jul

Free / 020 7525 2000

18:30 – 20:00

Plympton Library, Plymouth

Fri 21 Jun

Free / 01752 337867

17:45 – 18:45

Fri 19 Jul

Free / 01752 337867

17:45 – 18:45

Also on at:

Neu! Reekie!

Avant-garde spoken word, film and music fusion night describing itself as 'playing host to the sinister and the sanguine'.

The Poetry Club, Glasgow

Fri 14 Jun

£8

Neu! Reekie! heads back to Glasgow, this time taking along indie trio Sparrow and the Workshop, filmmakers Kim Moore and Gareth Griffiths (with their protest film Hell Unltd) and poet, novelist and performer Kevin Williamson. Plus, a mystery guest! Ooh, who could it be?!

19:15 – 22:15

Summerhall, Edinburgh

Fri 31 May

£7 / 0845 874 3001

With readings from American poet Krystelle Bamford and short story writer McGuire; music from Stevie Jackson of Belle and Sebastian and pop folkies Admiral Fallow; and the usual selection of animated goodness.

19:00 – 22:15

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Chatterbooks (Ages 7-11)

Children can talk about books, play games and complete quizzes.

Bath Central Library

Tue 4 Jun

Free / 01225 463362

16:00 – 17:00

Tue 2 Jul

Free / 01225 463362

16:00 – 17:00

Crime Reading Group

Cosby Library, Leicester

Mon 3 Jun

Free / 0116 286 2967

18:00 – 19:00

Mon 1 Jul

Free / 0116 286 2967

18:00 – 19:00

Glenhills Library, Leicester

Mon 17 Jun

Free / 0116 278 7146

18:00

South Lambeth Library, London SW8

Thu 30 May

Free / 020 7926 0705

15:00 – 16:00

Thu 27 Jun

Free / 020 7926 0705

15:00 – 16:00

Thu 25 Jul

Free / 020 7926 0705

15:00 – 16:00

Horrid Henry with Francesca Simon

Francesca Simon talks about what inspired her to create the world inhabited by Horrid Henry, Moody Margaret and Perfect Peter, and introduces Horrid Henry's Nightmare, the 22nd Horrid Henry book and a brand new story. Ages 6+.

Harmony Garden, Melrose

Sat 15 Jun

£5 / 0844 357 1060

Part of Borders Book Festival.

13:00

Inky Fingers Open Mic

Open mic for literature and spoken word lovers. Email ahead (inkyfingersedinburgh@gmail.com) for a chance to perform, or just watch and admire.

The Banshee Labyrinth, Edinburgh

Tue 28 May

Free / 0131 558 8209

Preceeded by a screening of We Are Poets.

20:00 – 23:00

The Forest Café, Edinburgh

Tue 6 Jan

Free / 0131 229 4922

20:00 – 23:00

Poetry Reading Group

A reading of poems written by the group or by other writers.

Gateshead Central Library

Mon 17 Jun

Free / 0191 433 8420

14:00 – 15:30

Mon 15 Jul

Free / 0191 433 8420

14:00 – 15:30

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Hilary Mantel: Bring Up the Bodies

Possibly Britain's greatest living novelist, Hilary Mantel discusses her Man Booker Prize-winning novel, Bring up the Bodies, the haunting sequel Wolf Hall – which also won the Man Booker.

Harmony Garden, Melrose

Fri 14 Jun

£14 (£12) / 0844 357 1060

Part of Borders Book Festival.

18:00

Karen Campbell: Fact v Fiction

The author of This Is Where I Am talks about her book, which focuses on a refugee family, and speaks with Joe Brady and Wafa Shaheen of Refugee Council Scotland.

Mitchell Library, Glasgow

Thu 20 Jun

Free / 0141 287 2999

Part of Scottish Refugee Week.

18:00 – 19:00

Meet the Author: Silvana Biagioni

New author Silvana Biagioni reads extracts from her book Sacha Meets a Sellkie. She'll also bring in Sacha's story sack, full of things for children to rummage through.

Mount Stuart Visitor Centre, Isle of Bute

Sat 13 Jul

Free / 01700 503877

12:00 – 12:45
13:15 – 14:00
14:15 – 15:00

Sat 20 Jul

Free / 01700 503877

12:00 – 12:45
13:15 – 14:00
14:15 – 15:00

Sat 27 Jul

Free / 01700 503877

12:00 – 12:45
13:15 – 14:00
14:15 – 15:00

Sat 3 Aug

Free / 01700 503877

12:00 – 12:45
13:15 – 14:00
14:15 – 15:00

Michael Longley: My Life of Make-Believe

The prize-winning poet gives a talk about his experiences as a writing, including a look at his latest collection, A Hundred Doors.

St Cecilia's Hall, Edinburgh

Tue 28 May

Free / 0131 668 2019

19:30

Shakespearean Memory 1

Actor William Sutton can recite each of Shakespeare's 154 sonnets on demand. Come along to a discussion on the memorability of the playwrights structure and test his ability to recall particular stanzas.

QUAD, Derby

Mon 17 Jun

£3 / 01332 290606

18:00 – 20:00

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Word Play

Open mic night with acoustic music, poetry and prose, hosted by The Word Factory.

Riverside Museum, Glasgow

Wed 29 May

£2 / 0141 287 2660

Usually the location of the event is the Tron Theatre in Glasgow, but since that venue is used in May as home for Mayfesto, the Word Factory gets the opportunity to put Word Play on tour. On this occasion they are laying down the gauntlet to all budding writers to come along to Kelvin Street section of Riverside Museum and participate, indeed the red carpet will be rolled out to anyone who is a member of any local writing group. Come to get your five minutes of fame.

13:30 – 16:00

Tron Theatre, Glasgow

Wed 5 Jun

£2 / 0141 552 4267

20:30

Wed 3 Jul

£2 / 0141 552 4267

20:30

Wed 7 Aug

£2 / 0141 552 4267

20:30

Agony Art

An evening of contemporary dance, physical theatre and performance art, with a different curated theme each time.

Chisenhale Dance Space, London E3

Fri 31 May

£5 / 020 8981 6617

This time it's 'No Man's Land', with Mariana Camiloti, Geneviève Giron & Anne-Gaëlle Thiriot, Mary Ann Hushlak and Holly Blakey & Claudia Palazzo.

18:30 – 21:00

Alexander McCall Smith: The Limpopo Academy of Private Detection

The charming author talks about the latest in his No 1 Ladies Detective Agency series, the 13th title in the 15-year project.

Harmony Garden, Melrose

Thu 13 Jun

£14 (£12) / 0844 357 1060

Part of Borders Book Festival.

19:30

Anatomy

Variety night with a focus on risk-taking performance from any genre.

Summerhall, Edinburgh

Fri 14 Jun

£6 / 0845 874 3001

19:30 – 22:30

Andrew Greig with Mike Heron

Novelist, poet, sometime mountain climber and writer-of-unclassifiable-books Greig reads from his new book-length poem Found at Sea, with music from Incredible String Band founder and Greig buddy Mike Heron.