I’m an experienced events programmer and producer, working over the past twenty years with clients such as Port Eliot Festival, the Southbank Centre, English PEN and Ledbury Poetry Festival.
I’ve delivered sit-down book events, outdoor events including walking book clubs, treasure hunts and foraging workshops, participatory events such as a drop-in translation lab called ‘The Spectacular Translation Machine’ which was attended by hundreds of people over four days, collaborative poetry readings, and many more beautiful projects, with dozens of amazing artists and writers.
I also chair literary events, with gigs at Newcastle Poetry Festival, Norfolk and Norwich Festival, Off the Shelf, London Literature Festival and the London Book Fair among many others. Chatting with authors about their books and ideas is one of my favourite jobs.
I’m proud to be a trustee for Adverse Camber Productions, a storytelling production charity based in Derbyshire.
And I am a singer and composer – currently mostly singing with Soul Sanctuary Gospel Choir.
Participatory events
Whether the focus is poetry, politics, translation or food, over the past two decades I have produced events where people can actively take part, ask questions, learn new things and express themselves. If you are a festival or organisation and would like programming or production support for a participatory event strand, I’d be delighted to work with you.
Erica Hesketh 