BAFTA Winners, Booker Stars and a Cornwall Premiere: What’s On at Penzance LitFest 2025?

Published On: 6 June 2025Last Updated: 6 June 2025By CornishStuff

Ruth Jones, Denise Mina, and more lined up for 1st–5th July literary celebration

Tickets are already selling out for this year’s Penzance LitFest, which returns from Tuesday 1st to Saturday 5th July 2025 with a packed programme of events. With appearances from award-winning authors, big-name broadcasters and celebrated local writers, the festival is shaping up to be one of the biggest yet.

Star Names Headline the Line-up

Among the headliners is Gavin & Stacey star and recent BAFTA winner Ruth Jones, who will be discussing her latest novel By Your Side in conversation with author and broadcaster Cathy Rentzenbrink.

Samantha Harvey, winner of the 2024 Booker Prize for Orbital, also features in the line-up. Her novel has been praised for its beauty and ambition and is expected to draw a crowd.

Kicking off the author events is Andrew Miller, known for his distinctive voice in contemporary fiction, who will be talking about his new book The Land in Winter.

Crime fans can look forward to a dramatic finale to the week as Scottish writer Denise Mina brings the festival to a close.

Workshops, Talks and Cornwall Stories

Claire Fuller, novelist and short story writer, will appear to talk about her book The Memory of Animals and will also be running a writing workshop during the festival.

Philip Marsden returns with Under a Metal Sky, exploring the impacts of humanity’s ongoing extraction of resources from the earth.

Festivalgoers can also expect a strong Cornish thread throughout the week. Radio 3 presenter Petroc Trelawny offers his take on Cornwall’s people and places, while Radio 1Xtra’s Fee Mak hosts a panel of fresh literary talent. Janey Lee Grace brings her personal story From Wham! to Woo to the stage, reflecting on her career in radio and beyond.

Music Premiere and Untold Histories

The festival includes the world premiere of Grace Will Lead Me Home, a musical performance inspired by the 300th birthday of John Newton, the former slave trader who wrote Amazing Grace. Bude-based folk artist Angeline Morrison will perform alongside Cohen Braithwaite-Kilcoyne and Jon Bickley, with narration from John Palmer.

Other highlights include historian Joel Griffett’s talk on Cornish inventor Richard Trevithick, Terry Stiastny’s look at British dark propaganda during World War Two, and Jon Stock’s exposé on a 1960s medical scandal.

‘The Best Yet’

Chair of LitFest Trustees Rachel Viney said: “We’re very proud indeed of this year’s Penzance LitFest lineup. It shows that you don’t have to leave west Cornwall to hear from some of the best-known names in the world of books – while also taking the opportunity to enjoy the cream of local writing talent.”

With 50 events including poetry, writing workshops, social stories and the Great Big LitFest Quiz, the 14th edition of Penzance LitFest promises something for everyone.

How to Get Tickets

Tickets can be purchased online at pzlitfest.co.uk, by phone on 01736 363545 or in person from the Acorn theatre box office in Parade Street, Penzance. Free printed programmes are available at libraries, bookshops, cafes and galleries throughout west Cornwall.