Feature: HOLLOWAY ARTS FESTIVAL - Grayson Perry, Anthony Horrowitz, John Hegley - who's there, and where...

Published: 24 June 2010
by JOSH LOEB

TWO of Britain’s great talents – artist Grayson Perry and writer Anthony Horowitz – will sit on the psychoanalyst’s couch in front of an audience at a prestigious arts festival in Islington next week. 

Both men are expected to reveal that a miserable childhood may not be a necessary requirement for future fame and possible fortune – but it helps. 

Highbury-based Turner-Prize winner Perry, famous for dressing as a girl, and Horowitz, who lives in Clerkenwell, well known for the popular wartime drama Foyle’s War, will be interviewed in Connecting Conver­sations, a series of discussions on the creative process, as part of  the Holloway Arts Festival. 

Perry, whose parents split when he was young, will talk about how he likes to “outrage” by dressing as “Claire”. 

Horowitz, whose new book is Crocodile Tears (Walker Books, £6.99), will describe an often “miserable and unhappy” childhood when he was considered very overweight. 

The festival, produced by Rowan Arts, is an 11-day programme of events.   Its flagship free outdoor festival day, the Big Day Out, takes place on Sunday, July 4 at Whitting­ton Park in Archway. 

Connecting Conversations dates include: 

• Wendy Cope Saturday June 26, Archway Methodist Church, Archway Close, N19. 5.30-7pm. 

• Grayson Perry Sunday June 27, Assembly Hall, Islington Town Hall, 7-8.30pm. 

• Anthony Horowitz: Wednesday June 30, British Library, Euston 6.30-8pm. 

Other events: 

• Author Candy Gourlay, Monday June 28, North Library, and Archway, 4-5pm, free. 

• Nicky Singer: children’s author, Tuesday June 29, Lauderdale House, 4.30-6pm, free. 

• John Hegley: Tragedy, Poetry and Vinyl with Aoife Mannix and Janie Armour, Malika Booker,
Rachel Pantech­nicon and DJ Tim Wells, Wednesday June 30, Boston Arms, Tufnell Park 8-10.30pm. 

• Luke Wright: World  Cup Slam Poetry Competition, Friday July 2, The Woodstore, Holloway, 7pm-late. 

For more information visit www.connectingconversations.org and www.hollowayartsfestival.co.uk