Michael Morpurgo OBE - Writer in Residence 2007

Michael Morpurgo has been named as The Savoy’s Writer in Residence for 2007. Michael will begin his appointment in January 2007 and his residency will last for three months.

During his tenure Michael Morpurgo will host three literary events in The Savoy, where members of the public are invited to meet Michael and a fellow speaker of his choice. The first dinner will take place on 31st January and joining Michael on that evening will be famous actor Jenny Agutter for an evening of words and music – The Pursuit of Happiness.

With Jenny Agutter and Michael will be, Jeremy Polmear playing oboe, cor anglais and alto sax, and Diana Ambache on the piano. Experiences of happiness are explored in words and in music. Jenny Agutter reads from Shakespeare, Emily Bronte, Roger McGough, William Blake, Oliver Postgate, Iain Banks and others. Jeremy Polmear and Diana Ambache play from Purcell, Bach and Mozart to Ravel, Cole Porter and George Gershwin.

Since making her name in the popular film The Railway Children, Jenny Agutter has never looked back. Her film credits include Walkabout, Logan’s Run and An American Werewolf in London and her television roles range from The Snow Goose, for which she won an Emmy award, to a recent role in the popular BBC spy drama Spooks.

The literary evenings, including a champagne and canapé reception, a three course dinner created by The Savoy’s Executive Chef Patrice Martineau, with specially selected wine, cost £95 per person.

In February Judith Kerr, author of The Tiger Who Came to Tea and creator of Mog the cat, will hold a children’s event and details of the March event will be announced shortly.

Michael Morpurgo is one of the country’s best-known children’s writers and author of more than 90 books, five of which have been made into films. His gift for magical storytelling has led to him receiving many awards including the Red House Children’s Book Award, the Carnegie Medal and the Whitebread Children’s Book Award.

In 2003 Michael Morpurgo became the third Children’s Laureate, a scheme he originally helped to set up with poet Ted Hughes. The Laureateship rewards a lifetime contribution to children’s literature and highlights the importance of the role of children’s books. In 2006 Michael received the OBE in recognition of his services to literature.

In addition to being an author, Michael is a noted broadcaster and recently presented on BBC Radio 4 a unique and ground-breaking history of the experiences of children in Britain over the last thousand years.

Michael Morpurgo’s appointment as Writer in Residence makes him the fourth author to accept this position. He follows Fay Weldon, who established the scheme, Kathy Lette and Frank McCourt. The scheme builds on the hotel’s literary past, which includes Emile Zola, Arnold Bennett (who based his novel Imperial Palace on The Savoy), Oscar Wilde, Noel Coward, Somerset Maugham and Mark Twain who all stayed at the hotel.

For reservations at the literary evening please telephone 020 7420 2669.