Event details
Saturday 19 September
£50 per person - tickets on sale at 10am on 15 April
Gates open at 6.45pm | Garden Stage, Festival Hub
Lee Child on Crime, Creativity, and the Transformative Power of Books, with special guests
This special one-night-only event brings literary glamour to the festival stage as global thriller phenomenon Lee Child reflects on the extraordinary reach of storytelling, from bestselling novels to life-changing literacy work inside prisons.
In conversation with special guests, Child explores the twin strands of his career: creating one of the world’s most iconic fictional heroes while championing access to books and reading programmes for those living behind bars.
The discussion will move from the creative process behind gripping crime fiction to the real-world impact of reading on confidence, rehabilitation, and hope.
This evening performance, held in the Garden Stage inside the Festival Hub at Chatsworth, promises to be a celebratory, thought-provoking night about the power of stories to entertain, transform, and restore.
Timings
Gates open: 6.45pm
Performance starts: 7pm
Performance ends: 8.30pm
Important Information
Parking
One complimentary parking space is included in each booking. Additional car parking spaces can be added to your booking at £10 each. Alternatively, consider making separate bookings to take advantage of the complimentary parking offer.
Festival Pass Holders
You do not need a festival pass to attend this special event.
If you are attending the festival during the day on 19 September, you are welcome to stay in the Festival Hub until the event begins. Please note that other areas of the garden will close at 5pm.
Food and Drink
Outlets in the Catering Village will remain open until the start of the talk, 7pm. The Orangery Gift Shop and Flora's Temple Tearoom will also close at 7pm.
The Cavendish Restaurant at the Stables will remain open until 7pm. Advance booking is strongly recommended. Learn more.
Accessibility
This event is staged in the Garden Stage in the Festival Hub on the South Lawn.
The venue is step-free and can be accessed along the Broad Walk, a wide and flat path from the bottom garden entry gate. There is an incline from the Broad Walk to the South Lawn. Please alert a member of Chatsworth Staff if you require assistance.
Essential Carer
Visitors with disabilities may bring one accompanying carer free of charge when paying for a full price ticket. Supporting documents are required at the entrance.
Full details are available on our accessibility page.
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Add an elegant afternoon tea in the Old Duke's Glasshouse in the Chatsworth Garden to your Festival experience.
Lee Child and Special Guests
19 September 2026
From Reacher to Rehabilitation: Writing, Reading and Second Chances
Bestselling author Lee Child is joined by special guests to discuss the transformational power of literature and storytelling.
Stay With Us
With miles of walks on the estate and in the national park, as well as centuries of heritage, art and design to explore, Chatsworth and the Peak District are a dream destination for an unforgettable escape. Find a stay with us in a hotel, inn, cottage, or shepherd’s hut here.
Please note: Please be aware that for technical, operational or safety reasons, some facilities may be removed or closed, or entertainment and event timetables cancelled and/or altered at any time, including at short notice. Chatsworth reserves the right to change the programme of attractions and entertainment if, at any time, it is deemed necessary or appropriate to do so, this may also include closing attractions or areas of the estate. We apologise in advance for any disappointment caused should this need arise.
