A lively discussion with some of South London's brightest young writers, exploring their craft and how the local area shapes their work.
Free to attend. BOOK VIA EVENTBRITE HERE.
Join us for an inspiring conversation with four of South London’s most exciting writers. Journalist and cultural commentator Natty Kasambala chairs this lively discussion featuring Caleb Azumah Nelson, award-winning novelist whose work has been optioned for television, Nathan Bryon, celebrated children’s author and screenwriter, and BAFTA-nomianted writer and playwright Yolanda Mercy. Together, they’ll explore how their craft intersects and how South London has influenced their stories.
Please note an online recording of this event will be made available for 1 month after the event. Tickets for the streamed recording are available here.
Access information:
- All of our in-person events Friday-Sunday, including this one, will be BSL Interpreted for audiences that require it. For workshops, you will be asked when booking your free ticket if you require the services of a BSL interpreter. For all workshops where one or more attendees require BSL interpretation, we will arrange for an interpreter to be there.
- This event is wheelchair accessible, with accessible toilets.
- Deptford Lounge has Changing Place facilities, an induction loop and assistance dogs are welcome. For more information: deptfordlounge.org.uk/access
- A quiet space is available during the day at Deptford Lounge, in the Music Room, on the first floor.
- If you require additional access provision in order to attend or take part in the Festival, for example, larger print handouts at workshops, or a scribe, please get in touch before the Festival day at: [email protected]
- If you require assistance on the Festival day itself, please come to the Festival Hub in the foyer of Deptford Lounge where we will be happy to help you.
For more information about the access provision available, please visit: spreadtheword.org.uk/access-at-deptford-literature-festival
About the artists
Caleb Azumah Nelson
Festival artist
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Caleb Azumah Nelson is a British-Ghanaian writer and photographer living in South East London. His first novel, Open Water, won the Costa First Novel Award and Debut of the Year at the British Book Awards, and was a number-one Times bestseller. It was also shortlisted for the Dylan Thomas Prize, the Sunday Times Young Writer of the Year Award, Waterstones Book of the Year, and longlisted for the Gordon Burn Prize and the Desmond Elliott Prize. He was selected as a National Book Foundation '5 under 35' honoree by Brit Bennett. His second novel, Small Worlds, was published in 2024 and won the Dylan Thomas Prize.
Yolanda Mercy
Festival artist
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Yolanda Mercy is an Award Winning British Nigerian writer and performer from London. Her TV writing work has been has nominated for a BAFTA, WGGB and Broadcast Award. She also won the Edinburgh TV festival/New Voices Award "Debut TV Writer award". Yolanda originally began creating work within theatre, and has expanded her practice to TV, film and Audio. Her passion and talent in crafting stories has led Yolanda to be invited into writers rooms, as well as book adaptations. She is currently developing her debut feature film which was originally commissioned by Netflix, alongside original projects for TV, theatre and dance. In 2024 Yolanda returned to Edinburgh fringe with her new solo show FAILURE PROJECT, which won the prestigious BESTIE award for “Solo award”, received glowing reviews from the Guardian and Scotsman, had sold out performances, plus will be transferring to London in Spring 2025 ahead of its national and international tour. Failure project is published by Nick Hern Books.
Nathan Bryon
Festival artist
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Nathan Bryon is an actor, a BAFTA nominated writer and a Sunday Time Best Selling Author. Nathan's first book Look Up! (2019) was no.1 picture book from a debut author and illustrator in 2019, on the Sunday Times Bestseller list, and Won the Waterstones Children’s book prize in 2020. He has since published Clean UP! (2020) and SPEAK UP (2023). Nathan’s debut feature film RYE LANE (2023) received 16 BIFA nominations, more than any other film. Nathan is developing a middle grade book and numerous projects for film and TV.
Natty Kasambala
Festival artist
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Natty Kasambala is a London-based writer, director and strategist, curious about all things arts, culture and human. Previously Music Editor At-Large at Dazed, her work has appeared in titles including Vogue, i-D, The Face, The Guardian and Evening Standard and published by Harper Collins and Hachette.