With global superstar Dua Lipa and grime hero Stormzy heading the bill, Hay Festival 2023 is set to be one of the most exciting years yet for the Welsh-born giant of the literary world. A fitting time, then, for Hari Berrow to explore the history of the event, as well as what’s on this year.
It is said that the Hay Festival was born around a kitchen table. The festival was co-created by actor, director, theatre manager, and producer Norman Florence, his wife, actress Rhoda Lewis, and their son Peter. Florence had settled in Wales and wished to create an arts festival of global significance. He and his family did just that, and despite his death, nine years into the festival’s existence, it has now been running for 36 years. The event has proven to be hardy, surviving recessions, political unrest, and the recent pandemic, which saw them innovatively moving their content online.
Part of its longevity is due, in no small part, to its flexibility. Hay Festival is not just a place where people sit down and get lectured about books. Events of global significance have been and are discussed at Hay. Salman Rushdie’s 1992 appearance, following the fatwa declared against him three years before, demonstrates not only the global significance of Hay Festival but also that it has historically been known as a safe space for all kinds of thinkers. This year, the festival is hosting Planet Assembly, a series of discussions on how the global climate and ecological crises can be addressed, both on large and small scales.
The festival has not been without its controversies. In 2021, co-founder Peter Florence resigned following an investigation into allegations of bullying within the organization. In October 2020, festival curator Caitlin McNamara discussed how her allegations of sexual assault against a member of the United Arab Emirates royal family were not acted upon in the run-up to the May 2020 Hay Festival in Abu Dhabi. Following the incident, the festival recognised the mistakes made when organising the event. Psychological support, paid for by Hay, was offered to McNamara, and organisers declared that they would not return to UAE until the senior royal had left his position.
Despite all this, the Hay Festival has helped shape the lives of many young writers, artists, and thinkers. From its inception, it’s been responsible for giving many young artists their first platform on a global stage. Many developing artists have been supported by the festival and their partners’ organizations over the years. The Beacons Project offers a residency to scriptwriters aged 16-18 throughout the festival. On the business end, The Hay Academy has supported many young people aged 18-25 to develop skills such as content creation and events management. Many initiatives like these have come and gone over the years.
In 2013, the festival partnered with The Commonwealth Foundation and Granta to bring back the Commonwealth Book and Short Story prizes, offering recognition and a cash prize to writers from across the Commonwealth. The Hay Festival Creative Wales International Fellowship has offered Welsh writers the opportunity for their work to be acknowledged on a global platform, with winners travelling to Hay Festivals across the world. Two previous winners of the Fellowship, Alys Conran and Owen Sheers, will be presenting on panels during the festival this year.
Headliner Margaret Atwood’s solo slot has already sold out, but two panels she’s featuring in still have tickets available at the time of writing. Her panel with writer, political scientist, and activist Elif Shafak, Booker Prize winner Douglas Stuart, and Alex Clark on Salman Rushdie’s Victory City is a particular must-see, especially in light of the recent attack on Rushdie’s life. Similarly, Stormzy’s headliner panel with writers Jade LB, Jyoti Patel, and Malorie Blackman, all of whom have been published with his company #Merky Books, is also sold out.
An alternative with available tickets may be Charlotte Williams in conversation with Children’s Laureate Connor Allen and Steven Kavuma, Della Hill and Elisa Guerra on integrating anti-racism into the literary curriculum. The group will discuss the ‘Stormzy effect’ as well as the importance of honing the creative identities of young people.
Along with all of this, the usual lineup of incredible thinkers, live recordings of BBC shows, musical offerings and workshops for young people is available. The Hay Festival 2023 is set to be as exciting as ever – I’d grab your tickets before they’re gone.
More Hay 2023 highlights: icons of stage, screen and song
Hannah Collins and Emma Way peruse the stellar Hay 2023 lineup in-depth, spotlighting some of the biggest names and where and when you can catch them at this year’s literary and arts bonanza.
Richard Osman
In discussion with his brother – Mat Osman, founding member of Suede and a fellow novelist – Richard Osman, the cosy teatime TV favourite, will discuss the hot topic of his crime series, Thursday Murder Club. The murder mystery series is set in a retirement community and returns with the latest book, The Bullet That Missed.
Wed 31 May, Baillie Gifford Stage
Tickets: £14. Info: here
Alice Oseman
The creator of the global smash-hit coming-of-age romance, Heartstopper, will discuss the journey from webcomic to bestselling graphic novels to a major Netflix series. Joined by book influencer Jack Edwards, Oseman will delve into the ups and downs of first loves, friendships, coming out, and mental health in Heartstopper, while offering a possible sneak peek at what’s to come in Volume 5.
Sat 3 June, Llwyfan Cymru – Wales Stage
Tickets: £7. Info: here
Dua Lipa
Join music icon and global superstar Dua Lipa at Hay Festival for an exclusive recording of her podcast, Dua Lipa: At Your Service with guest author Douglas Stuart, for insight into his Booker Prize winner Shuggie Bain. Dua will also be in conversation the following day with Gaby Wood, discussing the people, places, events and – of course – books that shaped her life.
Sat 3 + Sun 4 June, Baillie Gifford Stage
Tickets: SOLD OUT / £14. Info: Sat 3 / Sun 4
Richard E. Grant
Actor Richard E. Grant, one of the country’s most beloved thespians, is taking to the road this year with an extremely personal book and solo show, A Pocketful Of Happiness, based on his recently passed wife’s desire for how to cope without her. If you can’t make it to Hay, he’ll also be at Cardiff’s New Theatre that same weekend.
Sat 27 May, Baillie Gifford Stage
Tickets: SOLD OUT. Info: here
Sun 28 May, New Theatre, Cardiff
Tickets: £30-£45.50. Info: here
Sadiq Khan
London’s current Mayor, Sadiq Khan, will talk about something close to his heart. His book – Breathe: Tackling The Climate Change Emergency, published in the same week as this appearance – is inspired by his adult-onset asthma diagnosis, and how it set him on course to become a champion for cleaning up The Big Smoke’s air.
Sat 27 May, Baillie Gifford Stage and online
Tickets: £14. Info: here
Simon Schama
In Foreign Bodies: Pandemics, Vaccines And The Health of Nations, one of Britain’s foremost historians contextualises recent events within world history, looking back at how we got through similar health crises in the past, including smallpox, cholera, and the plague. The special focus will be on Waldemar Haffkine, “a gun-toting Jewish student in Odessa turned microbiologist at the Pasteur Institute.”
Sun 28 May, Baillie Gifford Stage
Tickets: £12. Info: here
Tracey Emin
One of the YBA bratpack of the 1980s in the UK, Tracey Emin remains one of the most recognizable and boldest figures in the modern art world. Now a member of the Royal Academy – one of its very few female professors in history, no less – Emin has gone from outsider to elite. Still, her recent experience with bladder cancer fostered a “creative rebirth.” At Hay, she’ll be in conversation with former GQ editor Dylan Jones.
Thurs 1 June, Baillie Gifford Stage
Tickets: £12. Info: here
Fflur Dafydd
On the back of her Gwyl Crime Cymru appearance, Fflur Dafydd presents the story of twins Ana and Nan in The Library Suicides. Fflur is a former Hay Festival International Fellow.
Tue 30 May, The Hive
Tickets: £12. Info: here
Carol Ann Duffy
Award-winning Scottish poet Carol Ann Duffy performs new and much-loved works dispersed between interludes from musician John Sampson.
Tue 30 May, Baillie Gifford Stage
Tickets: £14. Info: here
Michael Rosen
British children’s author, poet, presenter, and political columnist Michael Rosen partakes in stories, poetry, humour, and entertainment for all ages and talks about his new memoir Getting Better with Rachel Clarke.
Sat 27 May, Baillie Gifford Stage
Tickets: £7. Info: here
Dara Ó Briain
The Irish comedian and TV presenter’s new show, So… Where Were We?, ignores the pandemic and features his usual mix of stories, one-liners, and audience interaction.
Sat 3 June, Baillie Gifford Stage
Tickets: £30. Info: here
Munroe Bergdorf
Activist Munroe Bergdorf cuts through the political noise around trans issues to offer nuanced, considered, and joyful work. Her recent book Transitional, for instance, is all about the universality of transitioning, especially in ways that are healing, from “shame into pride”.
Sat 3 June, Hwyl Stage
Tickets: £12. Info: here
Jack Monroe
A champion of economic cooking during the ‘cosi liv’ era, and without snatching a single Turkey Twizzler from a crying schoolchild, food writer and activist Jack Monroe opens up her Thrifty Kitchen for hungry listeners.
Mon 29 May, The Hive
Tickets: £10. Info: here
Hay Festival, various venues, Hay-On-Wye, Thurs 25 May-Sun 4 June.
Tickets priced individually per event. Info: hayfestival.com
words HARI BERROW / HANNAH COLLINS / EMMA WAY
