Marches.TV at the Hay Festival: Monday 25th May
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Away from the literary themes and major debates, the weather is never far from conversation at the Hay Festival, whether that of seasoned campaigners, still slightly soggy from previous years, or eager first-timers, daunted by the stories of flooding camp sites and flying marquees. Sunday, however, was a glorious day, with people enjoying the heat, the spectacle and the general sense of well-being engendered by the beautiful location and stimulating environment. Our video report reflects the heat and we talk to Clare Keil, designer of the Wave and Splash at the Festival site, a welcome place to sit and relax in sun or rain.
Monday started brightly enough but the weather changed. Fortunately the mood of the festival remained upbeat, with Stephen Fry wowing the audience with his eloquent description of America and Britain’s relationship with it. Elsewhere, French free-running specialists Parkour apparently had some issues with the old soft stone walls of Hay being slightly less resistant to pounding human anatomy than city concrete and Poly Toynbee was concerned that if hanging from lampposts was re-introduced to engender more social responsibility in industrialists and politicians she might find herself swinging with them, as it were.
Also on the political front, there was an interesting, if slightly reserved debate, at the How The Light Gets In festival of philosophy www.howthelightgetsin.org between Red Tory Philip Blond, former director of Blair's strategy unit Geoff Mulgan, and Marxist thinker Alex Callinicos. Not many answers proffered but a whole load of contradictory statements from the blue corner, or is that red?
Three other notable blogs to follow for Hay Festival stories are:
Mike Wood at http://mjkewood.blogspot.com
James Rock at http://haystyle.wordpress.com
Guardian Books at http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/guardian-hay-festival
Worth thinking about for Tuesday 26th May.
Jo Herbert
How to Get Published
Tuesday 26 May, 10am–12.30pm
Venue: The Swan Hotel Buy tickets at £25.00
The Editor of The Writers’ and Artists’ Yearbook leads a masterclass workshop for aspiring writers.
Simon Blackburn
Cambridge 800 Series: Arguing about Religion – Hume Ten, Rest of World Nil
Tuesday 26 May, 11.30am
Venue: Guardian Stage Buy tickets at £6.00
Philosophers tend to roll their eyes when scientists arrive and declaim that they have discovered either that there is a God, or that there isn’t. Blackburn shows why the current debate between militant atheists and militant theists can be improved by paying attention to David Hume.
Anna Barford and Daniel Dorling
Atlas of the Real World
Tuesday 26 May, 1pm
Venue: Sony Screen Buy tickets at £5.00
The globe mapped not by landmass but by health, wealth, and a fascinating and revelatory variety of indices. You will never see Earth in the same light again.
Denis Norden talks to Paul Blezard
Clips from a Life
Tuesday 26 May, 2.30pm
Venue: Barclays Wealth Pavilion Buy tickets at £8.00
The grand master comedian spins yarns and anecdotes of a long, long golden age of British humour.
David Gilman
The Ultimate Survival Quiz
Tuesday 26 May, 4pm
Venue: Dream Stage Buy tickets at £4.00
Fancy yourself as the next ultimate survival daredevil? Then this is the place for you. Come and test your knowledge in this super buzzer quiz and pick up a few tips for those tricky situations from the author of the adrenalin-fuelled Danger Zone series. Look out Bear & Ray!
9–14 years
Hugh Masekela talks to Sarfraz Manzoor
The Guardian Sessions: Jazz Talk
Tuesday 26 May, 5.30pm
Venue: Barclays Wealth Pavilion Buy tickets at £7.00
The South African jazz legend discusses his music and his life.
Hugh Masekela in concert
Tuesday 26 May, 9pm
Venue: Barclays Wealth Pavilion Buy tickets at £23.00
The South African liberation legend brings his thrilling jazz concert to Hay.
