Page 25 - link magazine

FESTIVAL OF LITERATURE

4th - 16th May

The excitement mounts!

Big names coming from the world of books, radio, television, comedy, politics, poetry, and sport include
David Attenborough, Margaret Drabble, Nigel Lawson, Michael Morpurgo, Julian Clary, Colin
Dexter, Alistair McGowan, Rory McGrath, Simon Armitage, Marcus Trescothick and Bob Wilson.
Dexter, Alistair McGowan, Rory McGrath, Simon Armitage, Marcus Trescothick
Tickets for a number of these, including David Attenborough and Michael
Morpurgo, have already sold out, and others are going fast. To avoid
disappointment, Festival followers in Swindon are urged to get their tickets
without delay.

But it’s not just the big names that catch the eye. For example, on
Monday 11th May at the Arts Centre, a fascinating evening all
about music is rightly attracting attention. This two-part event,
titled the Triumph of Music and Utter : Jazz, looks at the
role of music in recent history, the making of musical stars and
celebrities; and then celebrates music with a fabulous performance
by jazz singer Ruthie Culver and her band.

Two other events dealing with momentous matters in human
history take place on 6th and 7th May. Deborah Moggach
will talk about her adaptation of Anne Frank’s Diary for BBC1
television; and Leslie Wilson will discuss her book that looks at
how, in times of hatred and war, love can conquer almost all.

For anyone who would like to see what insights and entertainment
is offered by the world of poetry, there are lots of events from
which to choose. For instance, on 9th May the Youth Slam
and the Swindon Slam are two hugely entertaining poetry
performance competitions, with performers of all ages strutting
their stuff on stage. These promise to be both thought-provoking
and laughter-making events.

On a more serious but nevertheless highly engaging note, two
of the country’s top poets appear on a double bill on 13th May.
Simon Armitage is poetry’s Mr Cool with his tight hot-topic verse;
and Ruth Padel, great-great-granddaughter of Charles Darwin, is tipped
as a future Poet Laureate.

And if you want a pint with your poem, in a bar or cabaret setting, there’s
a choice of events and venues, at the Town Hall, the Victoria, and the
12Bar. If you are new to poetry, all these performances will give you
a great introduction and be a real treat.

For the young and young at heart, there’s a whole day not to be missed.
The ever-popular Children and Families Day at Lower Shaw Farm
on Sunday 10th May is full of good things. These include a stunning
and dramatic alfresco performance of Precious Bane, a story of truth and
beauty; a workshop on how to make story boards; an evening of campfi re
storytelling; and an introduction to the life of the hedgehog in A Prickly Affair!

Full festival programmes are available from libraries, information
and leisure centres, or by telephoning 466454 or 771080.

www.swindonfestivalofl iterature.co.uk

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