#332 A pair of tickets to the Primadonna Literary Festival in Suffolk (30 July-1 Aug 2021)

Win two tickets to this amazing new Suffolk-based Literary Festival that gives specific prominence to the work of women. This will be a live event for Summer 2021, set in the beautful Suffolk countryside.

What is the Primadonne festival?

We are the first literary festival, in the UK, to specifically give prominence to work by women, as well as writers of all genders, economic status and ethnicities whose voices are not usually heard.

We strive to tackle the current imbalance in the literary and publishing world, and to create a space where all ideas are welcome, and all experiences are of equal value.

The Primadonna Festival brings together writers, editors, readers, publishers, artists, thinkers, comedians, performers, musicians and foodies – as well as happy people of all ages and many backgrounds – to share experiences, explore new ideas and imagine new possibilities. It is a place of hope, inspiration, community and artistry in an intimate setting in the beautiful Suffolk countryside.

The Primadonna Festival is the brainchild of a group of women from publishing and entertainment. Together, these 17 women – the “Primadonnas” – have worked to create a festival of brilliant writing, borne out of a desire to give prominence to work by women and spotlight authors from the margins – and to create a thoroughly joyous and accessible experience.

Confirmed so far to appear in 2021:

Adele Parks, Anita Sethi, Catherine Mayer, Andi Oliver, Kit de Waal, Grace Dent, Helen Lederer, Juno Dawson, Saima Mir, Lennie Goodings, Shola Mos-Shogbamimu, Naoise Dolan, Christy Lefteri, Michele Roberts, Stella Duffy and Tracey Thorn.

We’re lining up some incredible panels, round tables, interviews and discussions including:

Rock’n’Roll friendships | Green shoots: nature writing | Queers in the Canon | Queens of the TV top table  | Poly Styrene: I Am A Cliche Q&A | Piers Off: Reasons To Be Cheerful | Never Mind The Bollocks |  Fallen Idols | Architects of Change: Gender in Urban Landscapes | Alternative Headlines: the Good News Edition! |  Consent: Laying Down The Law | Mother Tongue(s) |  Is it me or is it hot in here? On Menopause |  The Single State: Solitude and Alonement |  Why Women Are Poorer than Men | Because You Watched This: AI & Algorithms |  Invisible Lines: Borders and Belonging |  Cateyes and Clothes: Fashion in Subcultures

Plus everything you need to help you with your literary ambitions: workshops and advice surgeries, opportunities for you to pitch your work directly to an agent or publisher and, for the first time this year, a Creative Writing ‘Masters’ programme with teaching modules delivered by bestselling authors.

Added to this we’ll have more fun stuff than you’ll find time for:

Make a smartphone movie |  Going to the chapel and we’re going to get... self-partnered |  Moxie – Make Your Own  |  The Yoga Dissident  |  Cocktails in the conservatory |  Craftivism with Betsy |  Nature Rights |  Morning movie magic |  Bread baking |  Creative writing for kids |  Sixty Minute Stand-Up |  Make Sioned Laugh (again) |  Rhyme and Shine |  Foreign Language Poetry Readings |  The Stars Are Brighter Here |  Live Podcasts |  Film premiere: Lady Boss: The Jackie Collins Story |  Yoga for writers |  Campfire storytelling

Still to come

We’ve got many more big names to announce in the coming weeks, and will also reveal our live music lineup and some exciting partnerships… Stay tuned!