Cheltenham Literature Festival
Open's Alex Hopkins reports back from the Cheltenham Literature Festival
The tents in Imperial Gardens were already buzzing with an eclectic group of people when I arrived at 9am. Serious intellectuals mingled seamlessly with families enjoying live music, whisky tasting and even a hairdressing display! The vans of the festival’s TV partner Sky Arts, who are launching a much anticipated new series of The Book Show on 15 October, framed the sun drenched floral displays and the atmosphere was alive with civilised expectation.
My day began with an audience with Dylan Thomas’ granddaughter, Hannah Ellis. The tributes and observations were by turns poignant and amusing, but lacked that one vital component – Thomas’ unique, booming voice. ‘Why couldn’t they have played a CD of him reading his poems?’ I heard one woman muse.
There followed a talk by that immaculately coiffed doyen of the arts Melvyn Bragg. Focussing on autobiographical fiction, Bragg entranced the audience with astute observations on memory and loss. Self deprecating and comically charged, his performance elicited near hysterics. After speaking with extraordinary openness about the suicide of his first wife and his novel Remember Me, he discussed his groundbreaking television series In Our Times. His wit and candour reminded everyone how much they will miss The South Bank Show.
With the sun still miraculously shining, I made my way to the Main Hall for perhaps the most anticipated event on the day’s programme – an interview with Cherie Blair on her new memoir Speaking For Myself. Unsurprisingly, the hall was packed and there was a sense of silent tension in the air –this audience were clearly going to be hard to win over.. With unprecedented warmth and honesty Blair rose to the challenge. Displaying good humour and modesty she spoke of her numerous impending law suits against the Daily Mail, her working class background and even handled the inevitable question on the Iraq War with admirable diplomacy.
The highlight of the day, however, was yet a come – legendary Director Richard Eyre’s interview with theatre royalty Judi Dench. Jumping on a crowded, but friendly bus I made my way up to the racecourse. Dame Judi was everything I expected her to be. Exuding infinite modesty and an understated, graceful passion for her craft she spoke of her many roles thoughtfully. Walking on to the stage with her left hand bandaged, she explained that she had had an accident the night before, cutting her hand in the kitchen. A trip to Stroud Hospital had followed, but she was as stoic as ever, justifying the unconditional love that shone from her listeners.
The Times Debate concluded the day. The pertinent question, is celebrity the curse of our age? led to a discussion featuring P.R. guru Max Clifford. Predictably issues of cultural impoverishment were raised by an irascible panel as they contemplated the impact of fame and the media on public consciousness. The heated arguments on the decline of society could not be more relevant to a festival accused of becoming too reliant on the presence of celebrity guests.
