Richard Armitage
The Lowry, Salford

Award-winning actor, Richard Armitage, star of Spooks, The Hobbit, Captain America and Oceans 8, joins Manchester Literature Festival to discuss his page-turning debut thriller, Geneva, and his journey from performing characters on stage and screen to writing them.

Geneva has already won plaudits from top crime writers including Harlan Coben who described it as "an outstanding debut - ingenious, fast-paced and unpredictable".

In it, Nobel Prize-winning scientist Sarah Collier is showing the same signs of Alzheimer’s disease as her father. Invited to Geneva to endorse a controversial piece of new technology which could have the power to save her life, Sarah finds herself in the middle of a web of secrets, lies and controversy.

Who can she trust and will she make it out alive?

Heute hat nun auch Richard selbst den Clip geteilt:



https://twitter.com/RCArmitage/status/1709208563552248102

Manchester Literature Festival@McrLitFest

And here we are! @RCArmitage with host @AlexClark3 at @The_Lowry today

Manchester Literature Festival@McrLitFest

Richard’s writing originated from wanting to get in character, to fill in the gaps and imagine backstories to bring them better to life. Alex and Richard go into detail of the characters in Geneva, and how they came about.

Manchester Literature Festival@McrLitFest

Richard’s writing originated from wanting to get in character, to fill in the gaps and imagine backstories to bring them better to life. Alex and Richard go into detail of the characters in Geneva, and how they came about.

Manchester Literature Festival@McrLitFest

Alex had been up until 3am reading the book, and listening to the process of Richard’s writing, it’s not hard to know why. It’s masterfully crafted with lots of intentional editing, where he walked through the story, placing Easter eggs here and there, before putting it on paper.

Manchester Literature Festival@McrLitFest

Richard is also a seasoned professional in the world of audiobooks. He walks us through the ins-and-outs of his process, including the small quirks and funny stories from his experience.

Manchester Literature Festival@McrLitFest

When did he know he wanted to be an actor? It was actually when he came to the end of Lord Of The Rings (the books), when he sat with the emotions that came with the realisation that there was no next book. His acting career was always intertwined with his love of stories.

Manchester Literature Festival@McrLitFest

Some brilliant audience Qs: was it a difficult transition from actor to writer? Not at all, says Richard, and it was actually harder for his editor because he described everything in detail. He brought his habit of envisaging the life of his character outside of the script.

Manchester Literature Festival@McrLitFest

Any genres he’d like to explore? He keeps getting into psychological drama, and for now, he loves the world of thriller. He would love to get into science fiction or fantasy, whether it’s in literature or in film.

Manchester Literature Festival@McrLitFest

Thank you for the evening @RCArmitage!

Manchester Literature Festival@McrLitFest

@RCArmitage

Ankica Andrijanic@AnkicaAndrijan3

@RCArmitage in @McrLitFest whit #Alex Clark

Ankica Andrijanic@AnkicaAndrijan3

11. Okt.
@RCArmitage and Me he is will so wonderful and this evning was so funy and he was so relaxed like never befor I hope Book will be Besseller in UK and olso in World .His Book have potenziell. @RCArmitage go and have fun in rest Book Tour. Thank You I have joy every Book Tour.

R. J. Lingard@RJLingard

11. Okt.

Fantastic evening with the one and only @RCArmitage

TheSneakySnuffler@sneaky_snuffler

Just spent the evening with Richard Armitage and even got to talk about Sound City & the art of analogue production with him.

Incredible night. Lovely human. Inspiring conversations & just a wonderful connection over diversifying career portfolios & possibilities. Exciting!