Fowey Festival of Arts and Literature programme now available
The Fowey Festival of Arts and Literature programme of events is now available at www.foweyfestival.com and if you are on the mailing list hard copies will be with you soon. Booking for Friends of the Festival begins immediately and for everyone else on Friday 15th March. You can, of course, still become a Friend now and get early booking and other benefits straight away. There are all sorts of great events to interest everyone and as usual we are highlighting the Daphne du Maurier related events for you here.
Monday 13th May (Daphne du Maurier’s birthday).
THE BREAKING POINT BY DAPHNE DU MAURIER
A Reading Group with Dr Laura Varnam 9.30am – 10.30am, Fowey Hall Hotel, £10
Come along to The Fowey Hall Hotel for an informal reading group discussion of du Maurier’s fascinating short story collection, The Breaking Point (1959), with Dr Laura Varnam from University College, Oxford. Laura is a du Maurier expert, researcher, and regular contributor to the Festival. The reading group will be a relaxed and informal opportunity to discuss and share ideas about the macabre and psychological stories in this brilliant collection, including the masterful ‘Blue Lenses’. Please can participants have read the short stories; no further preparation is necessary. Just bring yourself, your copy of the book, and your enthusiasm for du Maurier!
This event is sponsored by Jamaica Inn
Tuesday 14th May.
KATE ASPENGREN Where’s the Fire? A Playwright Considers the Plays of Daphne du Maurier 11am – 12noon, Fowey Town Hall, £8
|
|
|
|
While primarily known as a writer of novels and short stories, Daphne du Maurier was also an accomplished playwright. Her work for the theatre includes September Tide, The Years Between, and a stage adaptation of Rebecca. Join playwright Kate Aspengren as we take a closer look at these plays. While all three will be discussed, there will be a particular focus on the Rebecca adaptations. What are the challenges involved in adapting a novel for the stage? Kate is on the faculty of Coe College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where she teaches playwriting. Her published plays include Flyer and Blue Yonder. Her work has been produced throughout North America.
Wednesday 15th May.
I’LL NEVER BE YOUNG AGAIN BY DAPHNE DU MAURIER
A Reading Group with Dr Laura Varnam 9.30am – 10.30am, Fowey Hall Hotel, £10
Come along to The Fowey Hall Hotel for an informal reading group discussion of du Maurier’s surprising second novel, I’ll Never Be Young Again (1932), with Dr Laura Varnam from University College, Oxford. Laura is a du Maurier expert, researcher, and regular contributor to the Festival. The reading group will be a relaxed and informal opportunity to discuss and share ideas about this lesser known du Maurier novel, which was very different in style and content to her first book, The Loving Spirit. Please can participants have read the novel; no further preparation is necessary. Just bring yourself, your copy of the book, and your enthusiasm for du Maurier!
This event is sponsored by Jamaica Inn
Thursday 16th May.
DR LAURA VARNAM Celebrating The House on the Strand and The Parasites du Maurier Anniversary Talk 2pm – 3pm, Fowey Town Hall, £10
This year sees two of Daphne du Maurier’s novels celebrate significant anniversaries. The House on the Strand (1969), one of Daphne’s best-loved Cornish novels, is 50 and The Parasites (1949), a lesser-known novel based on the theatrical background of the du Maurier family, is 70. In this talk, du Maurier expert Dr Laura Varnam will discuss the importance of both novels within Daphne’s works, why The House on the Strand has stood the test of time, and why The Parasites should be better known. Laura will bring her own background as a medievalist to bear upon the time-travel story of The House on the Strand and shine a light on The Parasites’ unusual style and comic techniques. There will be an opportunity for the audience to contribute their own thoughts and reflections on both novels.
This event is sponsored by Jamaica Inn
Friday 17th May.
THE FESTIVAL FILM: FRENCHMAN’S CREEK (1944)
8pm – 10pm, Fowey Town Hall, £10
This year we are showing the 1944 adaptation of one of du Maurier’s most popular novels, Frenchman’s Creek, in which the aristocratic lady, Dona St Columb, is swept away by a handsome pirate in this swashbuckling, romantic adventure. In glorious Technicolor, the adaptation stars Joan Fontaine as Dona, just four years after she played the second Mrs de Winter in Hitchcock’s Rebecca. The adaptation also stars Arturo de Cordova as the pirate and Basil Rathbone, a favourite actor of Daphne’s, as the dastardly Lord Rockingham. This enchanting and indulgent adaptation, which is rarely screened, will be introduced by du Maurier expert Dr Laura Varnam. Wine and soft drinks available.
This event is sponsored by Jamaica Inn
Saturday 18th May.
DU MAURIER, BREXIT AND A CORNISH REBELLION
Ella Westland with Bert Biscoe 4pm – 5pm, Fowey Town Hall, £8
Daphne du Maurier’s last novel, Rule Britannia, prefigures Brexit. Britain votes to leave the Common Market, the government enters a US/UK alliance with the States, and American naval ships arrive in St Austell Bay. But in the clay area, local resistance quickly mounts. When du Maurier came to live in pre-war Cornwall, she had been drawn above all by the landscape. But The King’s General shows her growing awareness of Cornish history, and by 1969 she was ready to join Mebyon Kernow. What did she really think of the Cornish? What did they think of her? Dr Ella Westland, author of Reading Daphne, traces the novelist’s changing portrayal of the Cornish and will be in conversation with Cornishman Bert Bisco. Together, they are ready for a lively conversation with the audience. If you are a Cornish reader/lover with rebellion in your heart, come and share your views.
There are other talks that will certainly touch on Daphne du Maurier and her influence on other authors writing. These include the talks by Diane Setterfield (Sunday 12th at 11am), Ruth Ware (Sunday 12th at 4pm) and Sue Kittow and Steph Haxton (Wednesday 15th at 11am). For more information on these check out the programme.
Last, but not least there are interesting du Maurier related walks that you can go on, for details refer to the Guided Walks and Tours pages 50 – 51 in the programme.
To all of you who can make it to Fowey for this year’s Festival we look forward to seeing you.