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³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Radio 3 is bringing Free Thinking, its festival of ideas, to the North East of England for the first time.

This is the fourth year Radio 3 has presented its weekend of free cultural events, including specially-commissioned radio drama, panel debates, interviews discussions, talks and workshops.

Previously resident in Liverpool, this year's festival (23–25 October 2009) will bring a host of renowned public figures to The Sage Gateshead. The festival offers audiences the opportunity to come face-to-face with leading artists, scientists, thinkers and writers and engage with them in a weekend of discussion and debate.

The leading theme of this year's Free Thinking festival is The 21st Century Family and speakers will include Professor Tanya Byron who will deliver the opening Free Thinking lecture.

Also speaking on a range of topics are the former Mayor of London Ken Livingstone, Consultant Psychiatrist at Broadmoor Gwen Adshead, former England cricket captain and psychoanalyst Mike Brearley and Newcastle University fellow Tom Shakespeare.

The festival's opening lecture will be broadcast on Radio 3 on Friday 23 October, beginning the on-air coverage of the weekend, and a special programme on Sunday 25 October will come live from The Sage Gateshead. Most of the festival will be broadcast as part of Radio 3's arts and ideas programme, Night Waves (week beginning Monday 26 October).

Other events include a debate on the future of the family with Camila Batmanghelidjh, founder of Kids Company.

Participatory events include a joint event with Newcastle's Cafe Culturel called Theory Slam! (a fast paced talk-off against the clock where ideas have to be communicated in under three minutes), and Free Thinking's Speed Dating With A Thinker event, led by Ian McMillan.

The Books At Breakfast events make a welcome return, this year in association with New Writing North.

Radio 3's Free Thinking is produced in collaboration with ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Newcastle.

Further details of the festival themes and line-up will be announced in due course.

Notes to Editors

The first Free Thinking festival was held in Liverpool in November 2006.

Previous contributors include Rev Ian Paisley, Will Self, Brian Eno, Phil Redmond, AS Byatt, Howard Jacobson, Linda Grant, Mike Figgis, Mark Ravenhill, Alan Bleasdale, Anne Owers and Gwilym Simcock.

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