SIMON Armitage headlines a new literature festival in Wakefield next month.
Huddersfield’s superstar poet will give a reading and a talk at the inaugural Wakefield Lit Fest.
The festival aims to promote reading and writing for people of all ages.
It will run at The Orangery, a Grade II* listed building in the heart of the city, which is owned and programmed by Beam, an arts, architecture and learning company working throughout the Yorkshire region.
Festival events run from September 22-30 and will include readings from nationally acclaimed writers, workshops with schoolchildren and young people, master classes for local writers, readers events, a book swap and a ‘Poetry Party’
event.
Simon will be at the festival on September 28. The line-up also includes other nationally acclaimed Yorkshire-based writers Ian McMillan and Ian Clayton, as well as a rehearsed reading of a new play by John Godber.
Yew Tree Youth Theatre will provide workshops for young people working in partnership with local schools.
Their work will culminate in a processional performance on September 29. There will also be a screening of the film, We Are Poets, to be followed by a young people’s ‘open mic’ session.
Bookworms will have the chance to take part in a Reader’s Day at The Orangery, bringing together all those who love reading to discuss their passion with authors Martyn Bedford, Sarah Connor and Alison Taft.
There will also be a chance to take part in a bookswap run by the Travelling Suitcase Library, as well as a literary pub quiz.
Both experienced and new writers will have the opportunity to hone their skills with expert writing workshops by Sheffield-based The Poetry Business and writer Ian Clayton.
James Nash is the festival’s Writer-in-Residence and he will be on hand throughout the festival – creating his own work, promoting festival events, and sharing his thoughts on writing.
The Lit Fest also features collaborations with the Black Horse Poets, Neat, the Red Shed Readings and the Writing Squad, as well as a visual arts exhibition, Text and the City, showcasing a range of artworks on the theme of reading and writing in a contemporary city centre.
Robert Powell Creative Director of Beam and The Orangery said: “We’re absolutely delighted to have put together such a rich and varied Lit Fest programme, with investment from the Arts Council and advice and support from many others. We hope the festival offers something for everyone and shows that literature doesn’t stand apart from everyday life, but is vibrant and relevant.
“It also connects in fascinating ways to other artforms – film, theatre, visual art. We also hope that this first festival helps promote existing writing and reading activity and lays the groundwork for more activity in the future – including another festival!”
Full festival details at www.wakefieldlitfest.org.uk or by calling 01924 215
550.
