City gets ready to read and write
Opening today, the festival, now in its fourth year, includes poetry readings from National Poet of Wales Gillian Clarke and an exploration of what it means to be Yorkshire by Barnsley bard Ian Mcmillan.
Historian and festival patron Michael Wood will take people back in time to explore the achievements of King Alfred and the Anglo Saxon, and Zodwa Nyoni will showcase her new play ‘Nine lives’, a poignant look at the reality of being an asylum seeker in modern Britain.
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Hide AdLynn Hill will talk about her new book ‘A Year of Cake’ and stand-up comedian Kate Fox will perform and also run a spoken word workshop.
Children and young people are invited to get creative in the festival’s first ever dedicated weekend for youngsters from September 25 to 27.
There will be bed time stories, workshops including the chance to write a chart stopping song, and a special apperrance from Nick Arnold, best known for his ‘Horrible Science’ children’s book series.
Year five pupils across the district will also have chance to take part in a children’s writing challenge, supported by Wakefield Grammar School Foundation and poet Andy Craven-Griffiths.
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Hide AdFran Smith, co-director of Beam which plans the festival, said: “We are inspired by the passionate enthusiasm of all our festival partners and volunteers who are joining us to celebrate the written and spoken word. We hope the people of Wakefield can join us too.”
Lit Fest runs until September 27.
Friday
- Beehive Poets present Voices of Yorkshire
-An evening with Gillian Clarke
Saturday
- creative writing workshop
- Helen Burke poetry readings
- literary quiz
Sunday
- songwriter Ali Bullivent
- the drawings of Hepworth
- women’s writes anthology launch
For a full programme of events and activities, visit www.wakefieldlitfest.org.uk