Photo taken by James Klug.
Every year, the MA English cohort undertakes a module called ‘Literary Festival Planning’ where they learn to plan and deliver a literary festival with funding and support from LU Arts. This year, the festival will run from the 29th to the 31st of May 2025. From a one-man play to an in-depth panel on the publishing industry, this year aims to bring together the weird and the wonderful sides of literature.
The festival is open to the public and the Loughborough University community, with events taking place in Loughborough Students’ Union and around campus. This year, the festival features four alumni returning to Loughborough to celebrate the power of writing and their career direction since graduating. Here’s a brief overview of the events in the festival:
The Publishing Industry: A Panel
Have you ever wondered how to become a published author or start your own indie press? Loughborough University alumni Ricardo Uribe-Victoria, Ray Russell, and Kathryn Cockrill Woolard will be discussing their experiences with the publishing industry from 2-4 pm in the Council Chambers on the 29th May.
Talk and Book Signing by Penny Batchelor
Alumni Penny Bachelor is the author of best-selling psychological thrillers including titles such as The Reunion Party, Her Best Friend and The Perfect Sister.
She is a published author through Embla Books. Keep your eye out for her newest novel, The Woman Next Door, coming out on the 15th May. This event will be in the Stanley Evernden Studio (Room MHL.0.14 in Martin Hall) on 31st May 2025, 12-2pm.
J.O.I. A One-Man Play by Christopher Lieberman
Award-winning writer and actor Christopher Lieberman will be bringing his one-man play “J.O.I.” to Loughborough.
“J.O.I.” combines stand-up comedy with science-fiction. Christopher Lieberman finds an unlikely way to raise cash for his gender-affirming surgery when he uncovers a bizarre conspiracy linked to the porn videos he consumes. A supernatural comedy about heartbreak, UFOs, and the nature of reality.
The event will be a production of the play followed by a short break and a Q&A, 6pm in the Lounge, Saturday 31st May.
Student Readings and Workshop
Following on from student readings, featuring work by MA Creative Writing students that they’ve written during the course, let your creative spark run wild with our Fantasy Fiction Workshop: Lives in Landscapes! This two-part workshop features exercises to help fantasy writers break out of the conventional, and sometimes stereotypical, fantasy environments and write in a narrative voice with strong characterisation, all culminating to help you develop a fun, experimental and thought-provoking fantasy piece. This event will be in the Council Chambers, 2-4 pm on the 20th May.
Keep up to date on our Instagram: @luliteraryfestival
Book your tickets here: https://linktr.ee/lulitfest
