In order of appearance. Click on author photo to book online.
FRIDAY 5 JUNE
DEBORAH LUTZ
THE LIFE OF EMILY BRONTE
TIME 10 am-11 am
TICKETS £9
VENUE Queen Street Church
In conversation with Helen Boaden
At the opening event we immerse ourselves in the world of Emily Bronte. Scholar, author and Bronte specialist DEBORAH LUTZ is here from the USA to share her expertise and introduce her new book THIS DARK NIGHT. The first full biography of Emily in over two decades, it reveals the events, delights and tragedies of Bronte life which inspired her writing and offers a fresh take on her short but momentous life. A must-see event for all lovers of Bronte storytelling.
Photo credit Victoria Rich
FRIDAY 5 JUNE
ESSIE FOX
WUTHERING HEIGHTS REIMAGINED
TIME 12.30pm – 1.30pm
TICKETS £9
VENUE Queen Street Church
In conversation with Gerry Foley
You thought you knew Wuthering Heights … what if you were wrong? Staying in the Emily Bronte theme we welcome queen of the gothic and bestselling author of seven historical novels, ESSIE FOX. Essie has reimagined the Bronte classic from a new angle, in the narrative voice of Catherine Earnshaw. Essie’s novel CATHERINE is a haunting and atmospheric retelling. Nelly Dean told only half the story…this version sees Catherine rise from the grave to tell her own.
FRIDAY 5 JUNE
SALLY COULTHARD
THE SECRET WORLD OF TWILIGHT
TIME 3pm-4pm
TICKETS £9
VENUE Queen Street Church
In conversation with Helen Boaden
SALLY COULTHARD is a bestselling author of books about nature and rural life. She lives on a Yorkshire smallholding with her family and an assortment of unruly animals. Welcome to THE SECRET WORLD OF TWILIGHT, when Sally shares the science, natural history and folklore that surrounds the most otherworldly time of day. Skies flare with colour, seductive flowers open and hidden creatures stir. Twilight affects human life too but in our age of electricity we’ve almost forgotten how to see it.
Today Sally opens our eyes to Twilight’s beauty.
Photo credit Andrew Montgomery
FRIDAY 5 JUNE
TIM SULLIVAN
THE BOOKSELLER
TIME 5.30pm-6.30pm
TICKETS £9
VENUE Queen Street Church
In conversation with Gerry Foley
TIM SULLIVAN is a crime writer, screenwriter and director. Tim’s film credits include A Handful of Dust and Cold Feet. His acclaimed crime series features brilliantly persistent DS George Cross who has autism. The twisty, touching and funny series has sold over a million copies. Today Tim discusses his latest novel, THE BOOKSELLER. A bookseller is found dead in his shop, surrounded by rare books, first editions and a profusion of blood. The prime suspects are rival dealers, as being familiar with crime novels they know how to get away with murder…
Photo credit Ivan Weiss
FRIDAY 5 JUNE
TOM BRADBY
RED SCORPION
TIME 8pm – 9pm
TICKETS £9
VENUE Queen Street Church
In conversation with Gerry Foley
TOM BRADBY is a novelist, screenwriter and journalist. He is the author of ten previous novels, including top-ten bestselling thrillers Secret Service, and two sequels, Double Agent and Triple Cross. Tom adapted his first novel Shadow Dancer into a film, the script of which was nominated for Screenplay of the Year in the Evening Standard Film Awards. He has also co-written the screenplay for ITV’s adaptation of Secret Service, which stars Gemma Arterton and Rafe Spall and will be aired later this year.
As a broadcaster, Tom is best known as the empathetic Anchor of ITV’s News at Ten, a position he has held for over ten years. In his first year he was named Network Presenter of the Year by the Royal Television Society.
Tonight Tom will be introducing his new novel RED SCORPION. Set within the dangerous world of Columbian drug cartels, it depicts the dark underbelly of the crime world. With his signature sinuous plotting which his readers have come to love and his experience in world politics, Tom’s latest novel is a guaranteed success. Come join him for a fascinating and entertaining Friday evening.
Photo credit Tony Ward
SATURDAY 6 JUNE
FELICITY CLOAKE
THE UNDERDOG
TIME 10am – 11am
TICKETS £9
VENUE Queen Street Church
In conversation with Helen Boaden
Saturday morning opens with award-winning food writer, FELICITY CLOAKE. Felicity has written five cookbooks, two food travelogues and is the author of The Guardian’s How to Cook the Perfect … recipe series. Her sixth book, One More Croissant for the Road, was a Radio Four book of the week. And now Felicity has turned her hand to novel writing. THE UNDERDOG is a restaurant-set romcom about a recently rejected 36-year-old woman who abandons her career to pursue her dream of becoming a chef. If you’re a lover of food, romance or dogs come join us … you’re in for a tasty treat!
Photo credit Jill Mead
SATURDAY 6 JUNE
SINCLAIR MCKAY
DAD’S ARMY
TIME 12.30pm – 1.30pm
TICKETS £9
VENUE Queen Street Church
In conversation with Gerry Foley
Renowned historian SINCLAIR MCKAY is a Sunday Times bestselling author and literary critic. Today he discusses his new work, DAD’S ARMY. With the threat of invasion from Hitler’s forces looming large in 1940, men and women of all ages and backgrounds assembled under the banner of the Home Guard. Far from the stereotype of charming incompetence they were highly professional in their approach. Sinclair shares the remarkable story of these courageous and pioneering volunteers who trained on top of their everyday jobs. Their dutiful approach was underpinned by essential good humour, vital for keeping up a much-needed spirit of defiance. Come hear their glorious true story.
Photo credit Liam Bergin
SATURDAY 6 JUNE
HARRIET TYCE
WITCH TRIAL
TIME 3pm – 4pm
TICKETS £9
VENUE Queen Street Church
In conversation with Gerry Foley
HARRIET TYCE, author and TRAITORS star practised as a criminal barrister in London for nearly a decade before turning to writing. Her first thriller, Blood Orange, was published to critical acclaim and subsequent novels were all Sunday Times bestsellers. Today Harriet shares her new book, WITCH TRIAL – a chilling legal thriller revolving around the death of a teenager, and trial of her two best friends charged with her murder. Who’s telling the truth? Who can be trusted? With a defence no-one saw coming, let the Witch Trial begin…
Photo credit Charlotte Knee Photography
SATURDAY 6 JUNE
DOMINIC GREGORY
LIFEBOAT AT THE END OF THE WORLD
TIME 5.30pm – 6.30pm
TICKETS £9
VENUE Queen Street Church
In conversation with Helen Boaden
LIFEBOAT AT THE END OF THE WORLD is the first book to depict the experience of being a RNLI volunteer.
DOMINIC GREGORY’s memoir is the compelling story of being part of a crew who give up their time, livelihoods and safety to rescue anyone in distress at sea. Dominic shares the emotions of the ‘shout out’, the heart-in-mouth experiences of stormy night launches, how the crew is trained, plus the ethos of the service. Through him we meet the lifeboat team based in Dungeness on the English Channel, many from families who have crewed for generations. An inspiring story which resonates here in Scarborough where we have our very own brave RNLI crew.
Photo credit Johnny Ring
SATURDAY 6 JUNE
MARY PORTAS
I SHOP, THEREFORE I AM
TIME 8pm – 9pm
TICKETS £9
VENUE Queen Street Church
In conversation with Helen Boaden
MARY PORTAS is a businesswoman, broadcaster, author and activist. At age 32 she became a board member at Harvey Nichols before founding her own retail consultancy. Mary has since worked with some of the biggest names in global retail. Her BBC series Mary Queen of Shops premiered in 2007 and she’s presented on television and radio ever since. In 2009, she partnered with Save the Children to reinvent charity shops. Mary conducted a review of the future of high streets for the British government in 2011. In 2024, she was awarded an OBE for her services to business, broadcasting and charity.
This evening Mary will be sharing her new memoir I SHOP, THEREFORE I AM. The setting is the 1990s and British fashion is ripe for reinvention. Leading the charge is a twenty-something Mary who has been brought in to revitalise the fusty department store Harvey Nichols into Harvey Nicks! Mary takes us behind her headline-grabbing window displays to show how she created an era-defining global brand destination. In her inimitable way she shares how her life altered alongside her career. An entertaining evening of wit, humour and frank conversation. The perfect Saturday night out!
Photo credit Linda Nylind
SUNDAY 7 JUNE
ALAN JOHNSON
IN MY LIFE
TIME 10am-11am
TICKETS £9
VENUE YMCA Theatre
In conversation with Gerry Foley
Did you know that former Labour MP turned award-winning author ALAN JOHNSON wanted to be a rock star? Today he charts his remarkable story from growing up in a condemned area of West London to the corridors of power – but with a musical soundtrack. Sharing his memoir IN MY LIFE, he recalls a vanished world of dance halls, jukeboxes and flower power. His delightful but unsentimental take on post-war Britain is played back to the soundtrack of Dylan, Springsteen and his beloved Beatles. Alan may not have made the pop charts but we guarantee a morning of nostalgia and laughter to keep the audience hooked …
SUNDAY 7 JUNE
DAVID TORRANCE
THE GENERAL STRIKE
TIME 1pm – 2pm
TICKETS £9
VENUE Queen Street Church
In conversation with Alan Johnson
On Tuesday 4th of May 1926, two million workers downed tools in the only nationwide strike ever held in Britain. Industry was deprived of gas and electricity, public transport stopped, newspapers ceased publication. Workers abandoned mines and industrial works throughout the country. Even though it lasted only nine days, it left a legacy of bitterness that has had a profound impact on modern-day politics. DAVID TORRANCE, constitutional specialist and widely published political historian will discuss his new book, THE EDGE OF REVOLUTION – published to mark the centenary of The General Strike. David will discuss this historical event with former MP Alan Johnson.
SUNDAY 7 JUNE
ALEXANDER MCCALL SMITH
POETRY AND STORYTELLING
TIME 3pm – 4pm
TICKETS £9
VENUE Queen Street Church
In conversation with Helen Boaden
Join worldwide best-selling author, Sir Alexander McCall Smith for an afternoon of sheer delight. The master storyteller will entertain us with tales from his many series of books, including the 44 Scotland Street novels and the No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series. He will also be celebrating the publication of the latest Isabel Dalhousie Novel, THE SUBTLE PLEASURES OF INDISCRECTION, and reading poems from his new poetry collection, THE KIND COMPANY OF OTHERS. Unmissable!
SUNDAY 7 JUNE
BEN ROBINSON
COASTLINE
TIME 5.30pm – 6.30pm
TICKETS £9
VENUE Queen Street Church
Dr Ben Robinson is an archaeologist, TV presenter and author, known as ‘The Flying Archaeologist’. Ben’s expertise led him to roles in television programmes, including several series of the cult archaeological TV show TIME TEAM. For BBC Four he has tracked the path of Zeppelin raids and taken to the skies in THE FLYING ARCHAELOGIST series. He joined Bettany Hughes for the ITV series SECRETS FROM THE SKY and was Alice Roberts’ ‘eye in the sky’ for three series of Channel 4’s BRITAIN’S MOST HISTORICAL TOWNS. He now fronts VILLAGES BY THE SEA for BBC Two, which explores Britain’s fascinating coastal heritage. At the festival Ben will be talking about his new book COASTLINE: AN EXPLORATION OF BRITAIN’S COASTAL HERITAGE.
This is a change to the original programme as Annabelle Thorpe has had to withdraw.
SUNDAY 7 JUNE
MARY BEARD
TALKING CLASSICS
TIME 8pm – 9pm
TICKETS £9
VENUE Queen Street Church
In conversation with Alan Johnson
MARY BEARD is the most acclaimed classicist working today. She is the Professor Emerita of Classics at Cambridge and the Classics editor of the TLS. She is also the co-host, with Charlotte Higgins, of the podcast Instant Classics. Her previous books include the bestselling Wolfson Prize-winning Pompeii as well as Confronting the Classics, Women & Power and Emperor of Rome. Her work has been published in over 35 languages.
Today Mary shares her new book, TALKING CLASSICS: THE SHOCK OF THE OLD. What’s exciting about a piece of bread 4,000 years old? Or some pots of paint abandoned in the eruption of Pompeii? Why should we be bothered with the distant past anyway? What’s the point?
Mary will discuss such questions and more, making surprising connections between antiquity and the present. Sharing lively stories, curious facts and good gossip she argues it’s not compulsory to be
excited by antiquity … but its a shame not to be!
Mary will share the stage with bestselling author and festival friend Alan Johnson. Mary is a wonderful speaker and a lively finale is promised. Join us and discover why the Classics still matter.
Photo credit Caterina Turroni and Lion TV
Day Tickets
Click here to book a day ticket online:
https://ymcatheatre.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/shows/1173677128