Soho Literary Festival

Britain’s most intimate festival runs from 25th -29th September at the Soho Theatre. Instead of schlepping off to the Welsh borders to sit at the back of an enormous tent in a soggy field, you can relax at the theatre bar, the green room for all the stars, before popping off for another event. And you will be up close and personal because the maximum audience capacity is 140 people. And what a bargain they are: all events from Thursday to Sunday are just £9. They’re cheaper than most cinema tickets.

Our third year’s line-up is our best to date. Events include::

The Betrayal of Oscar Wilde: Rupert Everett, Merlin Holland and Sir David Hare
25 September
Sir David Hare, who wrote The Judas Kiss, and Rupert Everett, the play’s star, are delighted to be opening the festival with a discussion with Merlin Holland. Merlin is Oscar Wilde’s only grandchild and the co-curator of the Wilde exhibition at the British library.

Ruby Wax: Taming the Mind
28 September
Sane New World is Ruby Wax’s first book about the persistently taboo subject of mental health. In her eloquent and humorous exploration of what it is to battle with depression, Wax has produced a funny and universally relevant book. This is a rare opportunity to see this talented woman talk about a deeply personal experience.

Dear Lupin and Dear Lumpy: Charlie Mortimer and Louise Mortimer
28 September
The funniest book of 2012 was Dear Lupin: Letters to a Wayward Son, a compilation of the letters Roger Mortimer, the racing correspondent of the Sunday Times, sent his wayward son, Charlie, throughout Charlie’s schooldays and ever more disastrous career. Roger also wrote to his daughter Louise – or ‘Lumpy’. We are delighted to welcome them both to the stage to read from their letters. Charlie assures us this is a complete one-off.

Dan Snow on the History of Syria
29 September
Following his most recent BBC2 series, A History of Syria, and with the civil war in the country worsening, historian, broadcaster and television presenter Dan Snow takes a look at the historical roots of the conflict.

In and Out of the Book: The Uses of Illustration by Quentin Blake
29 September
Quentin Blake is one of Britain’s greatest artists and most loved illustrators, famous both for his collaboration with Roald Dahl and his own works – including Clown, Zagazoo, Mrs Armitage and Mister Magnolia. His recent study Beyond the Page explores his career since 2000 and contains over 240 colour reproductions of his work.

See official website for full programme of events.