Kent


<p><a href="https://www.twlf.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tunbridge Wells Literary Festival</a> (TWLF) is rocking up for another year to take over the town for 10 days and honour the very best of the written word from <strong>Fri 1 &#8211; Sun 10 May</strong>. </p>



<p>The festival kicks off with a gala opening at <a href="https://trinitytheatre.net/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Trinity Theatre</a> on 1 May. Then over the May bank holiday weekend a festival village will be located in the stunning surroundings of Calverley Grounds.</p>



<p>Whether you&#8217;re a seasoned bibliophile or simply think-I-saw-her-on-social-media-once curious, this fun and friendly literary festival is for everyone. More than just a meeting of authors and readers, this is a celebration of creativity and community. Here&#8217;s our 5 highlights &#8211; including local legend Davina McCall.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-writing-workshop-thinking-like-a-mountain-a-writing-workshop-with-monique-roffey-the-pump-room-sun-3-may">WRITING WORKSHOP: <a href="https://twlf.ssboxoffice.com/events/thinking-like-a-mountain-a-writing-workshop-with-monique-roffey/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Thinking Like a Mountain – a writing workshop</a> with Monique Roffey, The Pump Room, Sun 3 May</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="994" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/monique-roffey.jpeg" alt="monique roffey" class="wp-image-122000" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/monique-roffey.jpeg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/monique-roffey-800x530.jpeg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/monique-roffey-1000x663.jpeg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/monique-roffey-400x265.jpeg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/monique-roffey-768x509.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>Calling aspiring writers! Tunbridge Wells Literary Festival is offering an opportunity to work with award-winning novelist <a href="https://www.instagram.com/moniqueroffey/?hl=en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Monique Roffey</a> to read, discuss, think and write about how we need new heroes and new stories for our times. Indeed, how we need to think magically, maybe even think like a mountain. <br><br>Roffey is a writer, lecturer and environmental activist who has been writing for over twenty years. In this time, she&#8217;s published eight books, (a memoir and seven novels), some short fiction and teaches on the MA in creative writing at Manchester Metropolitan University.&nbsp;Bring yourself, something to write on and be ready to dive in. (Time: 2pm; Duration: 3 hrs; Price: £35).</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-poetry-amp-discussion-donna-ashworth-and-davina-mccall-assembly-hall-theatre-mon-4-may">POETRY &amp; DISCUSSION: <a href="https://twlf.ssboxoffice.com/events/donna-ashworth-and-davina-mccall/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Donna Ashworth and Davina McCall</a>, Assembly Hall Theatre, Mon 4 May</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="844" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/donna-ashworth-and-davina.jpg" alt="donna and davina" class="wp-image-122002" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/donna-ashworth-and-davina.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/donna-ashworth-and-davina-800x450.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/donna-ashworth-and-davina-1000x563.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/donna-ashworth-and-davina-400x225.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/donna-ashworth-and-davina-768x432.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>Join Sunday Times No.1 bestselling poet <a href="https://www.instagram.com/donnaashworthwords/?hl=en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Donna Ashworth</a> and journalist and presenter <a href="https://www.instagram.com/davinamccall/?hl=en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Davina McCall</a> MBE for an uplifting and deeply personal evening.&nbsp;<br>Following the phenomenal success of her breakout bestseller <em>Wild Hope</em>, Donna’s words have become daily companions for millions, allowing us to find calm in the chaos and enjoy embracing the unexpected moments.&nbsp;</p>



<p>While she&#8217;s amassed 517k Followers on Instagram, it was only a few years ago, when Donna was in her mid-forties that she started writing words for women and poetry. That in itself makes her story inspiring, as well as the relatable, life-affirming message of her words. This intimate evening will include readings from Donna, an audience meditation, and space for questions. (Time: 5.30pm; Duration: 1 hr; Price: £28.50).</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-poetry-an-evening-with-georgie-jones-the-forum-tunbridge-wells-tues-5-may">POETRY: <a href="https://twlf.ssboxoffice.com/events/an-evening-with-georgie-jones/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">An evening with Georgie Jones</a>, The Forum, Tunbridge Wells, Tues 5 May</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1500" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/george-jones-author.jpg" alt="georgie jones" class="wp-image-122004" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/george-jones-author.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/george-jones-author-800x800.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/george-jones-author-1000x1000.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/george-jones-author-400x400.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/george-jones-author-768x768.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/george-jones-author-500x500.jpg 500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/george-jones-author-1100x1100.jpg 1100w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>Have you discovered Georgie Jones yet? She&#8217;s a writer and performer known for her humour and heart &#8211; <a href="https://www.instagram.com/georgie_jonez/?hl=en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">follow her on Instagram</a> and we defy you not to fall in love with her witty, warm style. Her work has been shared by author Malorie Blackman and British pop-rock band <em>Bastille</em>&nbsp;love her &#8211; and so does everyone in between.</p>



<p>Catch her one-woman show which will combine the spoken word, stand up and storytelling in her own unique and uplifting way. We&#8217;ll already got our tickets to this one. (Time: 8pm; Duration: 1 hr; Price: £7.50).</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-family-friendly-somewhere-a-boy-and-a-bear-happy-birthday-to-winnie-the-pooh-with-gyles-brandreth-calverley-pavillion-mon-4-may">FAMILY-FRIENDLY: <a href="https://twlf.ssboxoffice.com/events/somewhere-a-boy-and-a-bear-happy-birthday-to-winnie-the-pooh-with-gyles-brandreth/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Somewhere a Boy and a Bear – Happy Birthday to Winnie the Pooh</a> – with Gyles Brandreth, Calverley Pavillion, Mon 4 May</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1500" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/gyles-brandreth.jpeg" alt="gyles brandreth" class="wp-image-122006" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/gyles-brandreth.jpeg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/gyles-brandreth-800x800.jpeg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/gyles-brandreth-1000x1000.jpeg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/gyles-brandreth-400x400.jpeg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/gyles-brandreth-768x768.jpeg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/gyles-brandreth-500x500.jpeg 500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/gyles-brandreth-1100x1100.jpeg 1100w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>Celebrate the hundredth birthday of Winnie the Pooh &#8211; one of our most beloved bears when TV personality and author <a href="https://www.instagram.com/gylesbrandreth/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Gyles Brandreth</a> brings the remarkable life of A.A. Milne and the bear who captured millions of hearts to life. </p>



<p>When Winnie-the-Pooh first appeared in print on Christmas Eve 1925, his creator had no idea that this bear, and the fellow inhabitants of the Hundred Acre Wood (inspired by our very own Ashdown Forest), would go on to capture the imaginations of people of all ages all over the world for the next hundred years. In this new biography Gyles Brandreth tells the remarkable story of A A Milne – and of the ‘bear of very little brain’ who went on to become a global phenomenon. (Time: 2.30pm; Duration: 1 hr; Price: £8 / PWYW).</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-poetry-brian-bilston-how-to-lay-an-egg-with-a-horse-inside-an-alternative-guide-to-writing-and-enjoying-poetry-trinity-theatre-fri-1-may">POETRY: Brian Bilston – <a href="https://twlf.ssboxoffice.com/events/brian-bilston-how-to-lay-an-egg-with-a-horse-inside-an-alternative-guide-to-writing-and-enjoying-poetry/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">How to lay an egg with a horse inside – an alternative guide to writing and enjoying poetry</a>, Trinity Theatre, Fri 1 May</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/brian-bilston.jpg" alt="brian bilston" class="wp-image-122009" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/brian-bilston.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/brian-bilston-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/brian-bilston-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/brian-bilston-400x267.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/brian-bilston-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>Get ready for an evening of comedy and laughter, as the Banksy of poetry (because he first published his work anonymously online) takes us through the how’s, whys and what’s of reading, writing and enjoying poetry every day.&nbsp;</p>



<p>With over 500,000 followers on social media and a host of sell-out shows across the country, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/brian_bilston/?hl=en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Brian Bilston</a> is one of the UKs most popular poets. He has published several bestselling collections of poetry, including <em>You Took the Last Bus Home</em>, <em>Alexa, what is there to know about love?</em> and <em>Days Like These</em>. If you love poetry &#8211; you&#8217;ve got to see this. (Time: 7.30pm; Duration: 1 hr; Price: £15).</p>



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