Loughborough University Literary Festival 2025
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A three-day festival of literary events, where the strange meets the cozy and thrills haunt every event!
About the festival
Each year Loughborough University students on the master’s courses in 'Creative Writing and the Writing Industries' and 'Contemporary Literature and Culture' undertake a module called ‘Writing in the Community’ (School of Social Sciences and Humanities). During this module, students collectively plan, curate, promote, and hold a literary festival, which is funded and supported by LU Arts.
This year the students have curated a three-day programme of events which include a publishing industry panel event, guest speakers, readings and performances.
Speakers include Penny Batchelor, whose work blends domestic noir and sci-fi to crime writing, Kathryn Cookrill Woolard, who specialises in short stories, and Ricardo Uribe-Victoria, author of sci-fi and fantasy fiction.
Award-winning writer and actor Christopher Leiberman will present his one-man play J.O.I. which combines stand up comedy with science fiction.
Festival programme
The Publishing Industry Panel Event
Thursday 29 May, 2-4pm
The Council Chambers, First Floor, Students' Union (LSU)
A panel about independent publishing featuring authors R.B.Russell, Kathryn Cockrill and Ricardo Victoria-Uribe.
Student Readings and Fantasy Fiction Workshop
Friday 30 May, 2-4pm
The Council Chambers, First Floor, Students' Union (LSU)
The MA Creative Writing students will be reading out excerpts of their work, from funny retellings to spooky fantasy. This is followed by a Fantasy Fiction Workshop: Lives in Landscapes, featuring exercises to help fantasy writers break out of the conventional, and sometimes stereotypical, fantasy environments and write in a narrative voice with strong characterisation.
Book for the readings and workshop
A Talk with Penny Batchelor
Saturday 31 May, 12-2pm
Stanley Evernden Theatre, Martin Hall
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 and will be discussing her writing and her latest novel, The Woman Next Door, followed by a book signing.
J.O.I.: The One-Man Play
Saturday 31 May, 6-8.30pm
The Lounge, Ground Floor, Students' Union (LSU)
Award-winning writer and actor Christopher Lieberman presents his one-man play “J.O.I.”, which combines stand-up comedy with science-fiction. Watch as his character 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.
For more information and updates on the festival follow @luliteraryfestival on Instagram or go to their Linktree webpage.