Shute Festival moves to Lyme Regis for October event

The Shute Literary Festival, which has taken place in the East Devon village of Shute since 2016, will be moving to Lyme Regis for its October 2022 event.

The festival, which has hosted a number of internationally-renowned authors over the years, will be bringing a star-studded line-up to the Marine Theatre from October 1 to 11.

Best-selling authors speaking at the festival will include international lawyer Philippe Sands, who will be speaking about his newly-released book 'The Last Colony', on the struggle of the Chagos islanders to return to their home; actress Maddy Anholt on 'How to Leave Your Psychopath'; and Helen Rappaport on her new book, 'In Search Of Mary Seacole: The Making Of A Cultural Icon'.

Nino Strachey will also present her book on 'Young Bloomsbury: the generation that reimagined love, freedom and self-expression' – with "lashings of lust and society larks" (Daily Mail). 

The festival will offer a diverse program of events on ideas and places near and far.

Sir Ghillean Prance, the world-renowned botanist and Amazonian explorer, will be discussing his latest book on 'The Amazonian Forest and its People'.

The campaigner Dan Gretton will introduce his book 'I You We Them', a Spectator and Washington Post book of the Year, on the 'desk killers' who have ordered and directed some of the worst atrocities of the modern era, from the capitals of empire to the offices of Nazi Germany, to the boardrooms of oil corporations today.

Jo Seaman, the former British Council Director, will discuss 'Love and Revolution in Georgia '– a country, like Ukraine, under the shadow of a Russian threat. 

Debut authors Jendella Benson and T. Orr Monro will be speaking on their new novels 'Hope and Glory '– a family drama set in Peckham – and 'Breakneck Point '– a CSI crime thriller set in North Devon.

Louisa Adjoa Parker, another local author, and Davina Quinlivan, will speak on their experience of diversity in rural Britain.

Other South West authors include Nicholas Jubber, winner of the Dolman Travel Book Award, and Lisa Schneidau, discussing their new books on the history of Folk Tales, and Graham Harvey, agricultural editor for BBC Radio 4's The Archers, will be in conversation with Western Morning News columnist Martin Hesp about real farming, ecological agriculture, and what needs to be done to transform our food production.

The festival will also present three concerts. The renowned Afghan music specialists John Baily and Veronica Doubleday will offer a concert of music from Afghanistan.

Merlin and Polina Shepherd will be leading a workshop and concert of Yiddish and Klezmer Music. Local band The South Country will be presenting a concert exploring English Folk Tunes. 

Shute Festival co-director Samantha Knights said: "We are absolutely delighted to be working with the Marine Theatre in Lyme Regis, a beautiful and historic venue on the Jurassic coast, and it will be a great home for our autumn festival." 

Full details of all events and speakers can be found at www.shutefest.org.uk