OUTRIGHT HEAD-ONISM! 

The speakers’ villages hosted by Secret Forum, Idler Academy and Natures, plus workshops and roaming activities all come together to form Talks, Debates & Literary Arts’ - the ideas and enlightenment pillar of the festival 

“The most cerebral festival I have ever been to” – New Scientist 

The award winning Wilderness Festival hosted at Cornbury Park on 10-12th August, has today announced details of the ‘Talks, Debates & Literary Arts’ line-up - a mind-stretching program of speakers bringing together a host of fascinating topics and sessions across the weekend. 

Talks, Debates & Literary Arts, will be split over three tents hosted by The Secret Garden Party’s Secret Forum, Tom Hodgkinson’s Idler Academy and Natures, which will explore new ways of imagining the world. These will boast panel debates, lectures, symposiums, screenings, Q&A’s, readings, declamations and plenty more theatrical and literary happenings.   

Speakers and workshop hosts will include Jamie Catto - Founder of Faithless and One Giant Leap producer, Aleks Krotoski - broadcaster & Guardian tech columnist and Dale Templar – BBC, Human Planet & Bear Grylls’ Wild Weekend producer. Robin Ince will also beon-site to provide comedy, and QI director of information John Mitchinson will be giving an insight into William Morris. 

Intelligence Squared, The Royal Observatory, Earth Watch Institute and Guerilla Science are just a few of the partners involved. 

The School of Life will be hosting a Sunday Sermon, as well as facilitating a menu of conversation for the festivals banquets; Friday night will be led by speaker Roman Krznaric. 

Secret Forum

Secret Forum will be facilitating classes on everything from how to stay sane to den building, workshops on happiness, creativity and storytelling, along side readings and performances on lakes and up trees, plus late-night ghost stories deep in the woods. There will be debates from Intelligence Squared, a live-link to the Curiosity Rover on the surface of Mars, and stargazing with the Royal Observatory along with late-night cabaret, comedy, poetry slams and exclusive film screenings. 

Idler Academy

The Idler Academy of Philosophy, Husbandry & Merriment’ was established by Tom Hodgkinson and Victoria Hull in order to bring high quality education to the people. The Idler invites people along to their tent to 'skill yourself up' with a weekend of inspiration and learning.

Natures

Other ways of imagining the world are dawning. New meanings are being created. Natures exists to bring these fringe flutterings into the mainstream. Natures explores the philosophy of science and sustainability. Through a diverse programme, it probes numerous ways we relate to and see nature, be they high tech or shamanic.  

Natures is the thinking and feeling home for Wilderness audiences taking a psychedelic turn and those daring enough to envision other ways. You will find nothing like it this summer.  

Weekend Tickets Available HERE from £129

Weekend Young Person (11-17 years) Tickets available for £54

Family Ticket available from £287

Deposit Ticket Scheme available

Children under 10 go free 

Music:

RODRIGO Y GABRIELA performing with C.U.B.A, WILCO, SPIRITUALIZED, SHARON JONES AND THE DAP-KINGS STORNOWAY, LIANNE LA HAVAS, LONDON FOLK GUILD, CLOUD CONTROL, GIANT GIANT SAND, GRANT LEE BUFFALO, JENNY O, FIELD MUSIC, FATOUMATA DIAWARA, MILAGRES, TO KILL A KING, CRYSTAL FIGHTERS, JAKE BUGG. 

Food:

YOTAM OTTOLENGHI, FERGUS HENDERSON + ST JOHN, VALENTINE WARNER, MORO SOUK TENT with SAM & SAM CLARK, THYME FOOD SCHOOL 

Talks, Debates and Well-being:

INTELLIGENCE SQUARED, THE ROYAL OBSERVATORY, THE SCHOOL OF LIFE, THE IDLER ACADEMY, THE LAKESIDE SPA, THE HEALING GARDEN 

Late night parties:

THE OLD VIC TUNNELS MASKED BALL