Writer Jamie DeWolf is the great-grandson of Scientology founder and sci-fi author L Ron Hubbard. But the award-winning poet and film-maker is one of the religious movement’s most outspoken critics and will be delivering a headline lecture on the subject at next month’s Huddersfield Literature Festival.
Jamie, who is flying in from the US, is making his UK literary debut at the festival (March 5 - 15), which has the theme Into the Future, and his appearances on March 12 and 14 will be among the highlights of the 10-day event. As well as speaking on The Author as God, he will teach a Poetry Slam Workshop and host a Slam Poetry Evening. (Slam poetry often expresses personal stories or struggles and is performed in a competitive setting).
Festival Director Michelle Hodgson says Jamie’s lecture will be “controversial and fascinating.”
Huddersfield’s literary festival began back in 2006 with a small, low-key event, but by 2008 Michael Stewart from the university had taken it over and it had grown to a two-week festival. Michelle became director in 2013 and Michael is appearing in this year’s festival to launch his new book, Cafe Assassin.
Best-selling and internationally-renowned Yorkshire author Joanne Harris, who lives in Almondbury, is a champion of the festival and this year will present a Storytime event, an evening of storytelling and music, at the Lawrence Batley Theatre’s Syngenta Cellar.
Michelle is keen to see the festival grow into an international attraction but also wants it to draw audiences from the local area. She explained: “The festival is not just authors talking about their books, although that’s still an essential ingredient. It’s also about performance, storytelling, poetry and workshops. We are taking the festival into areas of the town where you might not expect to see it, to get a new audience.”
For example, one of the last events will be a storytelling adaptation to be performed at the North Huddersfield Trust School; and Huddersfield Golf Club at Fixby is playing host to a literary afternoon tea with comedian Helen Lederer and TV writer and novelist David Nobbs.
Among the festival’s most successful annual events is the Manga and Anime Convention, this year named Majikkon, which is a huge draw for comic book enthusiasts from all over the North.
“The first year 500 people turned out for it,” says Michelle, “but last year there were closer to 1,000. We have to keep moving it to larger venues and I strongly advise anyone who wants to go to book in advance.” This year’s Majikkon will be in the sports hall at Huddersfield University on Saturday, March 7.
From the humorous to serious, futuristic to campaigning there are events about and with writers of every persuasion, including a celebration of the life and work of Dr Maya Angelou, one of the world’s most important and influential writers and activists.
Author, poet, memoirist, playwright and civil rights’ activist, her work includes the bestselling memoir, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. The festival will also host a talk by MR Carey, comic book writer and author of The Girl With All the Gifts – the bestselling thriller set in the near future.
The festival aims to provide a literary feast for everyone and last year invited Polari, a showcase for lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans-gender novelists, short story writers and poets, to take part.
It was the first time Polari had ventured North from its base at London’s South Bank Centre. Making a return to the literary festival this year, Polari Up North will be hosted by journalist and writer Paul Burston.
Another event offering something completely different will be The Utterly Awful Catastrophe - a collaboration between local inventor Wilf Lunn and novelist David Barnett, who are imagining a post-apocalyptic future. As Michelle says: “Expect the unexpected from this one.”`
The 2015 festival has 40 talks, workshops, readings and performances, including a number of National Libraries Day events (tomorrow) and a free Family Day (February 28) in the Packhorse Centre with a theme of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, celebrating the 150th anniversary of the iconic novel.
Last year the festival hosted 30 events, attended by more than 3,500 people, and cost around £23,000 to run - “a real bargain”, says Michelle. It is 50% funded by the Arts Council, with contributions from Huddersfield University, Kirklees Council’s Arts in the Neighbourhood scheme, sponsorship and ticket sales.
For all details of events visit www.litfest.org.uk and www.majikkon.com Bookings can be made at the Lawrence Batley Theatre, www.thelbt.org or 01484 430528. Many events are free or under £5.
