1. Claire Mackintosh: It Won’t Always Hurt Like This
Author of bestselling books I Let You Go, I See You and Hostage, Claire Mackintosh takes to the LitFest stage on 1 February to talk about a topic very close to her heart - the death of her five-week-old son. Nobody can prepare you for the loss of a child and in conversation with our very own Natasha Hatherall-Shawe, Mackintosh will take the audience on her own personal journey of grief, self-understanding, healing and hope.
2. Alison Steadman: Out of Character
One of the UK’s best loved actors and an icon of the entertainment industry for over six decades, Alison Steadman certainly has a few stories to tell around her roles in popular TV productions including Abigail’s Party, Pride and Prejudice, and Gavin and Stacey. Enjoy a rare chance to see Steadman in conversation with Fiona Lindsay at this year’s Litfest, touching on everything from growing up in post-war working-class Liverpool to family life and fame. We can’t wait, Pamelaaaaa.
3. Blame it on Mum
Delve into the emotive topic of being a mother with writers Haneen Al Sayegh, author of Women's Charter, and Rasha Samir, author of Girls in Tales, as they dissect the modern and historic image of motherhood. Looking at its impact on identity and human relationships, the dynamic duo will be on hand to answer your questions and share their thoughts on why mums always get the blame.
4. Media and the Middle East
The media and current affairs lovers amongst us are in for a treat with this lively panel discussion featuring editor-in chief of The National Mina Al-Oraibi and Emmy-award winning journalist Hala Gorani (But You Don’t Look Arab). Join the two industry stalwarts as they sit down with Mustafa Alrawi to discuss their careers reporting in and around the Middle East, the evolving role of media in shaping narratives across the region, and the real stories behind the headlines.
5. The Authority of AI
Artificial Intelligence isn’t going to steal our jobs, but those who know their way around it probably will. Here’s your sign to learn more about what the future is going to look like. Join science journalist Anil Ananthaswamy (Why Machines Learn) and neuroscientist Kelly Clancy (Playing with Reality) in conversation with Amandeep Bhangu as they debate the practical and ethical ramifications of machine-learning.
6. The Debutants
Three debut novelists take to the stage with Veronica Sullivan to dive into the themes of identity, belonging, relationships, and resilience, as well as their portrayals of characters navigating both personal and external challenges in a search for meaning and connection. Join Emily Dunlay, author of Teddy, Juli Min author of Shanghailanders, and Sara Hamdan author of What Will People Think? as they share their own stories of making their first foray into the world of becoming published authors.
…Best of the rest
Helen Farmer’s My Family’s Secret Superpowers session might be sold out, but a little birdy tells us Helen will be signing books at 1.30pm on 1 February – so pop along if you can!
There are plenty of kid-friendly sessions so you can make this a family affair. Check out Children Take Over LitFest on 30 January to be inspired by some of Dubai’s youngest and brightest authors. Register now: Arabic session | English session.
Visit emirateslitfest.com for the full schedule and to book your tickets.
// Sarah Hewitt
Comentários