EVENTS

Brighton Festival: novelists Beryl Bainbridge, Rohinton Mistry and John Banville in conversation (Mon 5, 7.30pm, pounds 5); Nicci Gerrard and Sean French talk about their thriller The Memory Game (Tue 6, 8pm, pounds 5); Ted Hughes and Seamus Heaney read from The School Bag at the Clarendon Centre, New England St (Thur 8, 7.30pm, pounds 7.50); Jean Baudrillard talks to Bryan Appleyard (Sat 10, 2pm, pounds 5); critic Tom Paulin talks about Milton, Hazlitt, Keats and Paine (Sat 10, 6pm, pounds 5). Pavilion Theatre, New Rd, except where stated. 01273 709709

BIRMINGHAM: Readers and Writers Festival: Jonathan Coe reads at the Rotunda, New St (Fri 9, 7pm, free); Jane Rogers and Ian Duhig talk to Alberto Manguel at mac (Sat 10, 4.30pm, pounds 4.50/pounds 3.50); Les Murray talks at mac (Sat 10, 6pm, free). 0121 440 3838

NEWCASTLE: Louis de Bernieres, Githa Hariharan, Rohinton Mistry read; Arts Centre, 55-57 Westgate Rd; Fri 9, 7.30pm, pounds 3/pounds 2.50. 0191 261 5618