The Festival in a Factory is a literature festival, held at Emma Bridgewater Factory in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent. This festival which started in 2014 takes place across three days whereby award-winning authors, renowned experts, artists and entertainers visit the canal-side factory for talks, panel discussions and workshops. Live performances of poetry and music take place in the courtyard. You can also purchase the authors’/speakers’ books at the event and thereafter head to the Factory Cafe to enjoy some delicious refreshments as you unwind with a good book. I was thrilled at the opportunity to be able to attend this Festival and to head to Viv Groskop’s session titled How to Own The Room.
Here’s the festival programme for the 3-days
THURSDAY 6th JUNE |
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| TIME | GUEST | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11am | Lauren Child | |||
| 12.30pm | Mary Portas | |||
| 2pm | A.N. Wilson – Victoria: a life | |||
| 3.30pm | Rachel Reeves: Women of Westminster | |||
| 3.30pm | V&A Meet the Curator: Frida Kahlo | |||
| 5pm | V&A Meet the Curator: Christian Dior | |||
| 5pm | Tom Baldwin – Control, Alt, Delete | |||
| 6.30pm | Nadine Dorries | |||
| 6.30pm | William McCallum: How to Give Up Plastic | |||
| 8pm | Viv Groskop: How to Own the Room | |||
FRIDAY 7th JUNE |
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| 12.30pm | Andrew Roberts: Churchill | |||
| 2pm | For the Love of Trees poetry event | |||
| 2pm | National Trust – Nino Strachey: Bloomsbury Group | |||
| 3.30pm | Jenny Uglow: Mr Lear | |||
| 5pm | Mel Sherratt | |||
| 7pm | Elizabeth Day: How to Fail | |||
SATURDAY 8th JUNE |
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| 11am | Barbara Mitchellhill | |||
| 12.30pm | Clive Mantle – The Treasure at the Top of the World | |||
| 2pm | Kamal Ahmed: The Life & Times of a Very British man | |||
| 2pm | Clover Stroud | |||
| 3.30pm | Tom Holland: Æthelflæd | |||
| 3.30pm | Matthew Rice | |||
| 5pm | Ben McIntyre: The Spy & the Traitor | |||
| 7pm | Deborah Moggach and Celia Imrie in conversation | |||
The talk by Viv took place on Thursday at 8pm and despite the thunder and lightning, many people arrived early for her session which was titled ‘How to own the room’. I was thrilled to sit down with a hot drink as the Tea Station offered all participants free hot drinks throughout the three days. The event began with Emma Bridgewater briefly introducing Viv Groskop, who had made her first visit to Stoke-on-Trent for this year’s Festival. Emma told us that Viv is a writer, TV and radio presenter who became a stand-up comedian later in life.
Viv soon came on stage where she spoke about how she’d come to work as a stand-up comedian as well as how at one time she committed to 100 gigs in 100 days to see if she could succeed. She also touched on why she eventually wanted to help others learn how to own their rooms, hence she started writing her book ‘How to own the room: women and the art of brilliant speaking’ in the session.
In a brilliantly engaging format, Viv took questions from the audience during her session and incorporated the answers along the way. She even invited a member of the audience onto the stage to demonstrate some of the tips and tactics which the book suggests. This was really inspiring for the rest of us to watch as seeing this nervous speaker come to understand how she already possessed everything necessary to ‘own the room’.
Viv’s delivery was fast-paced as she packed in loads of information and advice, despite the speed, she remained clear, succinct and completely relatable. At a time when visual imagery and music seem to be key to getting noticed, Viv suggested following the footsteps of modern-day example such as Michelle Obama- using honesty, integrity and passion and to make this the core of brilliant speaking.
Viv also asked the audience to look at issues including us as our own inner critic, as well as, the constant judgements we all make of one another and how speakers from various groups are likely to be treated by audiences. I loved how Viv addressed these serious subject with a light and humorous touch. She then finished the session by encouraging us to ‘smash the room’. As far as I am concerned, she certainly smashed it – and made each one of us feel like we all could too.
How much did the Festival in a Factory tickets cost?
The tickets for each event cost £8.00
How long is the Festival on for and what are the event timings?
The Festival runs between Thursday 6th and Saturday 8th June 2019. Event start times range from 11am to 8pm.
How do I book tickets for the Festival in a Factory
You can either buy the tickets online or in person at New Vic Theatre Box Office or by calling them at 01782 381381.
Where is the Emma Bridgewater Factory, where the Festival takes place?
Emma Bridgewater Factory
Lichfield Street, Hanley
Stoke-on-Trent
ST1 3EJ
Tips / Information
- Ample, free parking is provided to the rear of the factory.
- The Festival takes place within the factory grounds, some areas of which are cobbled. Footwear suitable for these conditions is advised.
- Seating is largely folding chairs. A cushion may be advisable if you are likely to find this type of seating uncomfortable. Also, the venue rooms can be very warm. Several audience members used folding fans throughout the event.
About Viv Groskop
Viv Groskop is a writer, stand-up comedian and TV and radio presenter. A late-in-life starter in stand-up comedy and broadcasting, she has transitioned from journalism to live work by studying successful women speakers and performers with the beady eye of a life-long professional critic. She is the veteran of three sold-out five star Edinburgh Fringe shows. As an executive performance coach, she works with women across business, media and advertising, helping them to hone their authority, presence and leadership.
Emma Bridgewater began in 1985, after Emma tried and failed to find a birthday present for her mum. That was her eureka moment when she realised there was a gap in the market for pottery that was beautiful and practical – pottery for a relaxed, colourful, mismatched life. Today the company is run by Emma and her husband Matthew Rice, and their designs come from both of them. Most of the signature spongeware patterns, and the shape designs, are Emma’s, while Matthew is responsible for our timeless and much-loved Black Toast print, the cheerfully idiosyncratic Year in the Country range, and their Birds, Dogs and Animals mugs. All their pottery is made in Stoke-on-Trent, the traditional home of British pottery, and they are proud to be one of the largest employers of potters in the area. There are around 230 people who work at the Emma Bridgewater Factory on Lichfield Street in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, a site first opened by the Meakin brothers in 1883.All Emma Bridgewater pottery is made in the factory, from cream-coloured earthenware. The factory produces 1.7 million pieces of pottery each year and each piece is touched by 30 pairs of hands before it reaches a customer. Did you know that in 2017, 64,000 personalised mugs were made in the factory?
By Sharon Corbally
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18 comments
I had no idea this type of festival existed. I would be definitely interested in visiting next year, sounds great
This happens every year, hope you get the chance to go see it next year
This sounds like such a great festival, definitely right up my street!
Glad to hear that
This sounds like an amazing festival – I love that literature festivals seem to be becoming such a big thing! I would definitely love to visit this one.
Yes it is, and this event happens once a year. Hope you get a chance to head to one
This looks a great festival, right up my street and the ticket price is super reasonable too. Mich x
Yes its a great festival and I had a chance to learn so much from it as well
Oh wow this sounds like a fantastic festival and a great price too! It sounds like there is so much on offer too!
Yes lots to get involved in, it was a fantastic event
What a fab line up, I wish I lived closer!
You would have enjoyed it, there is always next year!
What a lovely sounding festival and I love where it’s held, what an inspiring place.
Emma Bridgewater is such a lovely and inspiring place, so perfect location indeed!
I haven’t heard of this festival before. It sounds really interesting. It’s great that literature festivals are becoming something big,
Absolutely and in Stoke too, we are so proud of it as its been growing larger by the year
This is interesting! I would like to attend this festival soon.
Hope you get the chance to Lauretta