CLACKSWRITE WRITERS FESTIVAL 2010
In my role as Writer In Residence to Clackmannanshire I recently organised a writers festival. Below are details of how it all turned out.
Yours truly introducing Alasdair Gray at Alloa Library.
| The second Clackswrite Writers’ Festival proved to be an outstanding success. Headlined by one of Scotland’s leading literary figures Alasdair Gray it attracted audiences and writers from all over Clackmannanshire and beyond. Expanded from one day to events held over a weekend the festival got off to the perfect start on the Friday evening with a packed Alloa Library enthralled by a reading from Alasdair Gray. The buzz of expectation before the event was evident. Whether it was poetry or short stories Alasdair Gray lived up to the expectation in both the originality of the writing and the entertaining performance of his work. The Question and Answer session which followed was just as fascinating and entertaining. Questions ranged from how ideas develop into stories, to art in the twentieth century. An evening that will live long in the memory. Saturday saw a whole range of events with the area buzzing with creative activity. In the morning prize winning poet Janet Paisley gave a very thought provoking and entertaining poetry workshop in Alloa Library. As one participant commented ‘ you learned through doing and laughter.’ Later in the afternoon, again in Alloa Library, there was wide ranging debate on the future of publishing. This was chaired by Clackmannanshire Writer in Residence Tom Murray, with guest speakers publisher Sally Evans, and Stuart Kelly literary editor of the Scotland on Sunday. Publishing is in a state of change at the moment and those changes were debated with knowledge and vigour between guests and audience. Again an event that gave you much food for thought. All that would seem like a festival in itself but there was more to come on Saturday and Sunday evening with performances of Clax Youth Theatre’s new production ‘Tangents.’ Clax Youth Theatre, with members from all over Clackmannanshire, decided to do something a little bit different with their latest production. Over the previous few months they had developed a series of stories set in café and decided the best place to perform such a play was of course…a café. A real working café. So Saturday night saw the first performance of their play to a sellout audience in D’nisi café in Alloa. Writer in Residence Tom Murray, who co wrote the script with Director Elizabeth Fuller, said. ‘It was good to see all the young actors hard work come together. We had marvelous support, and feedback from the audience. We aim to take the feedback on board in further developing the play. ’ Director Elizabeth Fuller added. ‘We were aiming for a different theatrical experience from the norm. One of the audience commented that it was like ‘earie wigging in a real café.’ Another that ‘it was just like Pulp Fiction—all the different story lines.’ That was exactly the effect we were looking for.’ The story doesn’t end there though. Clax Youth Theatre plan to take ‘Tangents’ to the Edinburgh Fringe later this year. It will be an ideal opportunity to showcase the talent and enthusiasm of the Wee County’s young people. Watch this space. Tom Murray Clackmannanshire Writer In Residence who put together the festival programme said ‘ it was so good to see so many people coming out and supporting the festival. Thanks go to them all.’ Thanks also to staff at Alloa Library, D’nisi Café, The Make Room, Bowmar Centre and the Click Centre. For further information about the Writers in Residence please visit www.clackswrite.org for news of upcoming events including ‘Tangents’ at the Edinburgh Fringe. The residency is supported by the Council's Cultural and Community Services.  Alasdair Gray at Alloa Library
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CLACKSWRITE WRITERS' FESTIVAL 19TH--21ST MARCH 2010
FRIDAY 19TH MARCH
Alasdair Gray Reading/Q&A
Alloa Library
Alloa.
7.30pm.
Free Event.
SATURDAY 20TH Janet Paisley.
Poetry Workshop
Alloa Library
Alloa
11am--1pm
Free Event.
Places limited for this event-- Please book via Alloa Library either in person or by phone. 01259 722262
SATURDAY 20TH Publishing: The future for writers and Readers.
Open Forum-- discussion between guest speakers and audience.
Alloa Library
Alloa
2pm.
Free Event.
SATURDAY 2OTH 'Tangents'
& SUNDAY 21ST. Clax Youth Theatre
D'Nisi Coffee House
Alloa
7.30pm
Tkts: £3 (Limited availability) Booking\enquiries: Email Alison alisonyoung@clacks.gov.uk
or phone 01259 763940
NOTE:
Youth Theatre: Please note there will limited ticket availability for both performances.
You do not have to book for Alasdair Gray, or the Publishing Forum. It would be helpful though if you could give me an indication if you are planning to attend either, or both, events.
WRITERS.
ALASDAIR GRAY
Alasdair Gray is a writer and artist whose books are translated into many languages, while being studied in Scottish and foreign schools and Universities. Later this year shows of his paintings will be hung in the Talbot Rice Edinburgh University Gallery, and in the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art. He is delighted that Clackmannanshire's main library in Alloa has commissioned from Sioban Healey his stained glass panel about Scotland's international links and foundation, and will be happy to read there
JANET PAISLEY
Janet Paisley is an award winning poet, playwright and fiction writer. She also writes non-fiction and screenplays. She writes in Scots and English. She is the author of poetry collections Reading The Bones and Ye Cannae Win. Her latest work is the novel Warrior Daughter. Her work has been translated into many languages. This workshop will focus on Poetry, and is suitable for the beginner and the more experienced writer.
STUART KELLY
Stuart Kelly is Literary editor for the Scotland on Sunday. He regularly reviews books and publishes articles on the contemporary writing in newspapers which include amongst others The Scotsman and The Daily Telegraph. He is the author of the highly original The Book Of Lost Books—an account of all the books that have been lost to posterity. He is well qualified to comment on the future of publishing and how it might effect the reader and the writer.
SALLY EVANS
Sally Evans is well respected publisher and widely published poet. She runs Diehard Press and publishes and edits the broadsheet Poetry Scotland. She organises the highly successful annual Callander Poetry Weekend which attracts poets and visitors from all over the world. As a publisher, and a poet, she deals with the realities of publishing everyday and is well positioned to discuss where publishing might be heading.
YOUTH THEATRE PLAY
Set in a fictional cafe 'Tangents.' A series of interwoven stories that reflect the comings and goings of staff and young people in the cafe. Stories that can connect with each other or stand alone. Stories both serious and comic.
