Festival smashes record (From Stroud News and Journal)

Festival smashes record

THE Cheltenham Festival of Literature has been celebrating its 53rd record-breaking year which saw faster ticket sales at more venues than ever before.

Over 56,000 tickets were sold in total for the ten-day festival - which included over 300 events involving some 400 leading authors.

Thirty-five events sold out completely including Tony Benn, Judi Dench, Michael Parkinson and Michael Palin which were booked to capacity within weeks of going on sale plus a host of workshops, children's events and literary walks and tours.

Festival director, Sarah Smyth, commented: "We're delighted with the success of this year's festival - audience figures have exceeded all our expectations and feedback has been excellent."

"As well as welcoming some of the country's leading writers we have been particularly pleased with some of our new, local Voices Off initiatives such as Living Room Literature and Words at Work."

With writers, poets, politicians and performers of national and international repute gracing the Cheltenham stage, the festival has become a crucible for topical debate and discussion.

Miss the festival? See this week's SNJ for more news and reviews and find out next year's dates - including those for the taster Spring Weekend.