Welcome back!

A very warm welcome as we return to live events in Berwick at this year’s Festival. We are delighted to offer a varied and attractive programme that has a focus on Berwick and north-east England, a strong Scottish element, and an international aspect. We hope to entertain, to inform, and to encourage everyone with an interest in words and their expression. Over four days the 9th Festival will include both Zoom and live events around the town, using several new locations for the first time too. Central to north Northumberland and the eastern Scottish Borders, our walled town provides a stunning backdrop to very varied events.

Whether your love is for novels from established writers or by new authors making their debut; perhaps crime fiction, or maybe history – military, local or Roman – there are talks and interviews to suit. We are running our popular writing workshops and tours of our local printing works; speedway is as central to Berwick as the Burrell art collection, with events covering both; and we’re both joining with the Berwick Music Series and welcoming live poetry readings. It’s a fascinating mix.

We have deliberately set ticket prices as low as possible this year at a standard £5 for most events, with more events free. It is important to us and our speakers to bring back live audiences and lively discussion, it’s been too long since our last in-person festival in 2019.

Providing schools with high-quality enrichment events that both educate and entertain has always been a key part of the Festival’s role. This year we have extended our Schools’ and Young People’s provision and are excited to offer free workshops and drama to pupils at all levels in all the schools within the Berwick Partnership: please see the Schools Programme 2022 page on this website. There will also be free events for young and older children on in Berwick Library on the Saturday.

On behalf of all the organising team, we look forward to seeing you in October.

Michael Gallico
Chair, BLF Steering Group