Talks and events to inspire us all at Stratford Literary Festival

One of the literary highlights of Warwickshire’s calender, the ten-day event ends this bank holiday weekend - and the final few days will see Shakespeare’s birth town filled with plenty more fascinating talks, workshops and events.

This afternoon (Friday May 2), the celebrated UK poet Simon Armitage CBE is leading a writing workshop at Stratford Arts House from 2pm. Places cost £15. Then at 6pm at the same venue, audiences can listen to Simon read his own poetry and extracts from his latest book, The Last Days of Troy. Tickets £10.

Also tonight (Friday), author Joanne Harris - made famous for her novel Chocolat - will read from her new fantasy novel, The Gospel of Loki, and speak about the challenges she faced in approaching a new genre of writing. The event is at the Bear Pit Theatre in Rother Street at 7.30pm. Tickets £8.

The co-founder of one of the UK’s most successful companies, Emma Bridgewater, is talking about how the pottery venture began and her journey since then at the Shakespeare Centre tomorrow (Saturday) at 3pm. Tickets £10 including tea and cake.

A journalist with an extraordinary career who has been shot six times will be sharing some of his incredible experiences at Stratford Arts House on Sunday. BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner, who was made OBE in 2005, will speak at the venue at 7.45pm. Tickets £12.

Also taking place this weekend will be a free open mic poetry evening tonight (Friday), Children’s Book Day events on Sunday and many more talks and workshops.

For full details and to book tickets, visit www.stratfordliteraryfestival.co.uk