Wymondham Words, South Norfolk’s festival of literature, poetry, drama and conversation, returns for the seventh year from 13 October to 2 November, with a fantastic mix of events featuring local and national writers.

Enjoy everything from poetry in the pub to the History of Norfolk in 100 Objects, adventures in the rock ‘n roll underworld, Radio 4-based comedy, and an awe-inspiring talk about the world’s largest creatures from one of the country’s finest nature writers. There’s also a talk on the development of the English Language, an evening with three award-winning new Norwich novelists inspired by North America, and a free programme of half-term children’s events, the intriguing The Flying Shop of Imagination.

Tickets for events are available in person at Kett’s Books, Wymondham and The Book Hive, London Street, Norwich. Tickets can also be reserved by calling Kett’s Books on 01953 603663 and will also be available on the door for most events, as long as there’s any left! Keep up to date with Wymondham Words on Facebook and Twitter and at www.wymwords.co.uk.

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Wymondham Words Festival Programme

Thursday 13 October, 7.30pm, Wymondham Baptist Church

The Sea Inside Us All: Philip Hoare  

Philip Hoare – one of Britain’s finest biographers and writers on nature (winner of the Samuel Johnson Prize for Non-Fiction for his book ‘Leviathan’) is obsessed with the sea and what it contains, particularly its largest creatures, the cetaceans. In this wide-ranging illustrated talk, he will ask what the sea and its whales mean to us now, and what they have meant in the past. Ticket adult £7.50, under 21 £4.

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Tuesday 18 October, 7.30pm, Wymondham Bridewell Heritage Museum

 A History of Norfolk in 100 Objects:  John A. Davies, Chief Curator Norfolk Museums Service and Tim Pestell Senior Curator of Archaeology Norwich Castle Museum

Join John and Tim for a fascinating insight into some of the items that define Norfolk. The county has a substantially longer human past than any other part of Britain. Ticket adult £7.50, under 21 £4.

Wednesday 19 August, 7.30pm, Wymondham Library

Adventures in the Rock ‘n’ Roll Underworld: Keiron Pim in conversation with Paul Willetts.

Keiron Pim is the biographer of David Litvinoff (1928-75), one of the mythic figures of 1960s London, who was determined to live without trace. Keiron’s extraordinary feat of research, with more than 100 interviews over five years, including Eric Clapton, Marianne Faithfull and ‘Mad’ Frankie Fraser resulted in Jumpin’ Jack Flash: David Litvinoff and the Rock ‘n’ Roll Underworld (published earlier this year). Paul Willetts is the author of Members Only (2010), the biography of Paul Raymond, which was made into the 2013 film, The Look of Love, starring Steve Coogan. Ticket adult £7.50, under 21 £4.

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Friday 21 October, 7.30pm, Wymondham High Academy Studio Theatre

Three Shows From Radio 4: John Osborne

Join John Osborne for an evening of comedy stories. John has written and performed six half hour storytelling shows for Radio 4. They are funny, heart-warming and a masterclass in how to keep an audience captivated. This autumn he is travelling around with a stage show, during which he tells a selection of these stories, as well as performing new radio material he is developing. Ticket adult £7.50, under 21 £4.

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Saturday 22 October, 3pm and 8pm, Wymondham Baptist Church

Slow Theatre Company presents I’m Here

A creative performance highlighting the world of the carers of people living with dementia, directed by Danny O’Hara.

No need to book, donations on the day, which will be shared with Wymondham Pabulum Cafe, a meeting place for for people with dementia and their carers.

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Saturday 22 to Sunday 30 October, Wymondham Abbey

The Flying Shop of Imagination led by writer Bel Greenwood and artist Kate Munroe 

The Flying Shop of Imagination at Wymondham Abbey, created by participating children, is the central focus of family events at the festival. Six local primary schools are involved in the project.

Special workshops:

Tuesday 25 October, 2.30pm to 3pm Wymondham Library and Wednesday 26 October, 10.30am to 12noon at Wymondham Abbey.

Also Thursday 27 October, 2pm to 3.30pm at Wymondham Abbey, Making ‘story Pictures’ with Clare Jarrett

All workshops are free thanks to Norfolk Town Close Charity funding. To book a place email [email protected],  t. 07533 421023.

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Sunday 23 October, 3pm, Wymondham Abbey

The Early Development of the English Language: Dr Graham Platts

How did English establish itself as our national language? Graham Platts’ illustrated talk will describe the foundations of English and its evolution up to the 12th century, before modern forces standardised the language.

Free event, no need to book

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Wednesday 26 October, 7.30pm, Wymondham Library

This Land is Not Our Land: three Norwich writers whose work focuses on North America, Megan Bradbury, James Ferron Anderson and Benjamin Johncock

Megan Bradbury’s debut novel, Everyone is Watching charts the story of New York through various of its famous inhabitants. James Ferron Anderson’s upcoming novel Terminal City is set in a noir 1950s Vancouver and charts the last days of faded movie star Emmet Fanning (based on Errol Flynn). Benjamin Johncock’s award-winning debut The Last Pilot charts the early day’s of NASA’s space programme. Ticket adult £7.50, under 21 £4.

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Wednesday 2 November, 7.30pm, The Green Dragon 

Poetry Supper at the Dragon

Join poets Kate Bingham, Heidi Williamson and Julia Webb for a feast of poetry at Wymondham’s popular medieval pub. There will also be a few open mic spots.

Ticket £7.50, in advance only (includes jacket potato supper).

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Edward Parnell, Festival Director, said: “

We have a very exciting line-up for our seventh festival and look forward to the town buzzing with words in October. A healthy population of professional writers call Wymondham home, but it’s great to be able to welcome up-and-coming and high-profile figures from further afield to this year’s Festival. We’re excited to be showcasing a fantastic combination of talent at venues all over town – from the medieval Green Dragon Tavern and the magnificent Abbey to our busy new library and Bridewell Heritage Museum, an eighteenth-century prison. We look forward to welcoming big audiences to our events!”