sporting stories before bedtime
Starring Brian Blessed, Stephen Fry and Eddie Izzard.
Friday 10 August. 10.30pm.
Brian Blessed read an extract from WE Bowman’s mountaineering exploits in
The Ascent of Rum Doodle
Brian Blessed is one of this country’s best known and most highly respected actors.
Blessed climbed Mont Blanc at the age of seventeen and he has remained an active mountaineer throughout his life. He attempted to climb Mount Everest on three separate occasions, but never reached the summit. During his attempt on his birthday on 9th October in 1993, the then 57 year old became the oldest man to reach 28400 feet without oxygen, which was a world record……the height record was broken by Sir Ranulph Fiennes in 2009 but he used oxygen. Blessed has successfully climbed Aconcagua in Argentina as well as Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. He also holds the record for being the oldest man to trek on foot to the magnetic North Pole, and has undertaken an expedition deep into the jungles of Venezuela.
Stephen Fry read Clicking of Cuthbert by PG Wodehouse
Stephen Fry is a celebrated author, as well as being an accomplished actor, presenter, and director. His work includes best-selling novels, an autobiography, as well as a book on poetry form, The Ode Less Travelled. He is well known amongst a younger generation as the reader of the audio book versions J. K. Rowling’s Harry Potter novels.
Eddie Izzard read an extract from Tim Moore's French Revolutions
Award-winning stand-up comedian and actor Eddie Izzard completed 43 marathons in 51 days for Comic Relief for which received a special award at BBC Sports Personality of the Year in 2009 for his achievements.
Tickets: £15 - £35
In partnership with Vintage Classics and The Reader Organisation.