Words by the Water – Festival of Words and Ideas 12-16 March 2025

It is with great delight that the Words by the Water, in collaboration with Bookends, returns to Theatre by the Lake this March with a glittering line-up this year with a huge variety of speakers and expanded programme.

The festival is delighted to welcome back festival favourite James Rebanks will explore what it means to have roots in the land, the much anticipated new book by climate activist Mike Berners-Lee will be explored in the festival. Poet Laureate, Simon Armitage, will deliver readings of both his published work and new poems and writer and broadcaster Reverend Richard Coles will discuss his latest murder mystery in the festival finale.

Popular North-Eastern crime fiction queens, Ann Cleeves and L.J.Ross will both be at the festival and this year’s Booker long-listed Sarah Perry will be interviewed by Cumbrian novelist Sarah Hall.

Leah Varnell (Festival Director) says ‘We are delighted that alongside the Main House programme the festival will be flying the flag for Cumbria once again with ‘Book Case Choices’ and ‘On Your Doorstep’ as well as other themed days in the Studio focussing on the environment, culture and politics. We are also championing on young and emerging local talent by launching the Cumbrian ‘Young Writers Competition’.

Lucy Matthews (Bookends Director) says ‘Words by the Water brings people together to debate and discuss as well as entertain with Guardian journalists Polly Toynbee and George Monbiot, classicist and comedian Natalie Haynes, former politician Alan Johnson. Added to this, there is even a murder with local theatre company Highly Suspect.’

The programme covers a wide range of subjects with Luke Pepera discussing the history of African culture, food and farming will be debated by philosopher Julian Baggini and Pen Vogler, to events about Gaugin and Lowry and a talk about Winifred Nicholson and Cumbrian rag rugs. Sharon Blackie is speaking on stories celebrating women, Georgian feminists will be explored by Rebecca Wilson and TV critic / author Lucy Mangan will be examining how reading shapes our lives.

Philip Marsden will reflect on his life through rocks and Elsa Richardson will speak about her fasciation with the gut. Andrew Seaton will consider the past, present and future of the NHS and Diarmaid McCullough looks at the relationship between Christianity and sex.

The festival will continue into the summer with events on Tuesday the 3rd of June with Joanne Harris – author of Chocolat – and on Sunday 6th July with celebrated writer David Nichols who wrote One Day.

The main festival runs from 12-16th March and includes author talks, workshops, poetry and a number of free events including story telling for children.

For up to date information join our newsletter go to wordsbythewaterkeswick.co.uk where you can browse the festival programme. Printed brochures are available in various locations in Cumbria, but your best bet is going into Bookends in Keswick or Theatre by the Lake.