- 28 May -30 June 2025
- Young Essex
The Mothership Project Launch
The Festival is thrilled to be launching The Mothership Project at The Redoubt. A partnership project with UK/Chinese charity The Mother's Bridge of Love: Culture for Children, school children in Essex and China will be sending messages of friendship to each other via drawings, postcards and origami boats. Read more
- Theatre
- Young Essex
Malorie Blackman‘s Noughts and Crosses
Sephy and Callum are in love. It is forbidden: Sephy is a Cross and Callum is a Nought. Between Noughts and Crosses there are racial and social divides. This gripping Romeo and Juliet story is a captivating drama of love, revolution and what it means to grow up in a divided world. Recommended for 11+yrs. Read more
- Fiction
Amer Anwar
A Sikh girl on the run. A Muslim ex-con who has to find her. A whole heap of trouble. After being released from prison, Zaq Khan is lucky to land a dead-end job at a builders' yard. All he wants to do is keep his head down and put the past behind him. But when Zaq is forced to search for his boss's runaway daughter, he quickly finds himself caught up in a deadly web of deception, murder and revenge.… Read more
- Non-fiction
Nathen Amin
The Wars of the Roses were a tumultuous period in English history, with family fighting family for the greatest prize in the kingdom – the throne of England. The story of the Beauforts, with their rise, fall and rise again, is the story of England during the period, a dramatic century of war, intrigue and scandal. Read more
- Young Essex
Epping at the Movies
For Essex Book Festival, Epping at the Movies will screen three fantastic adaptations: BlacKkKlansman, Spike Lee’s masterful retelling of Ron Stallworth’s memoir; Big Bad Fox and Other Tales, a sublime animation for young audiences adapted from Benjamin Renner’s comic books; and The Big Sleep, the ultimate Raymond Chandler. Community Cinema at its best! Read more
- Art
- Storytelling
- Young Essex
Oh, The Places We’ll Go!
Come and explore the theme of journeys, adventures and places around the world and in our imaginations. Drop-in for our Pop Up Storytelling Armchair, hear traditional tales from Africa with Djembe drumming, try your hand at Chinese calligraphy, and wrap your tongue around different languages with bilingual storytelling. Suitable for ages 4+ Read more
- Fiction
Apple and Knife
Intam Paramaditha is an Indonesian writer who re-writes traditional Indonesian folk tales through a feminist horror lens. Syd Moore's mystery thrillers are inspired by the myths of Essex. The authors discuss what it means to re-write old stories and myths with a contemporary, feminist slant. Read more
- Art
- Workshop
- Young Essex
Weaving with Words
Join local writer and artist Wendy Constance for a fun family drop-in session where you choose words which best describe Paycocke’s House and Garden. Compose a list, a sentence or poem - then write it on fabric which we will all weave together to create a banner to celebrate this special place. Suitable for ages 4+ Read more
- Storytelling
- Young Essex
Rosie Sandler – Agatha Oddly
Agatha Oddly has been a detective for as long as she can remember – she’s just been waiting for her first big case. And nothing gets bigger than saving the City of London from strange goings-on. With a secret key that gives her access to a whole hidden side of London, Agatha is perfectly poised to solve any mystery. Read more
- Fiction
Stella Duffy
Inspector Roderick Alleyn is back in this unique crime novel, started by Ngaio Marsh during the Second World War and now completed by Stella Duffy. Stella Duffy skilfully picks up where March left off, in a way that has delighted readers and critics alike. Shortlisted for the CWA Historical Dagger Award 2018. Read more
- Memoir
- Non-fiction
Staunch
Honest, funny and poignant, Staunch follows Eleanor as she journeys to India with her grandmother and two great aunts in the wake of a painful break-up. As she spends time with the older women in her family, in the country they fled over fifty years before, Eleanor learns what it truly means to be staunch in the face of true adversity. Read more
- Fiction
- SOLD OUT!
The Forgotten Wife
Emma Robinson is the author of five novels about motherhood and friendship and writes the humorous blog Motherhood For Slackers. Emma will share her own journey to publication as well as reading from her latest novel The Forgotten Wife – a heart-breaking family drama with a stunning twist. Read more
