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Word is out on
literary festival
JAMES Herbert, Melvyn
Bragg, Janet Street-Porter, Roger McGough and Brian Patten are just
some of the top names leading Liverpool's biggest ever literary
festival.
In Other Words is a City-wide month-long celebration of the written
and spoken word, and also marks the re-opening of Liverpool's
Central Library on Friday, 17 May 2013, which has undergone more than two
years of intensive restoration.
Events will run every day from Tuesday, 23 April 2013 (World Book Night)
until Sunday, 19 May 2013, with more than 350 taking place, and nearly 200
of them specifically organised for the new festival.
Programme highlights include:-
Terror in the Tunnels (25 April) - The undisputed master of
fear, James Herbert, comes to Liverpool for a rare public
appearance. The author who wrote The Rats, The Fog and Ash, selling
more than 54 million copies, will take part in a special talk in
Williamson Tunnels where he will talk about his craft, his
inspirations and the paranormal.
A Rebel Rant - A Class Act (3 May) – Media personality,
journalist and broadcaster Janet Street Porter takes part in the
latest acclaimed Rebel Rant series, and doesn't hold back on voicing
her opinions on the rich, public school elite, and discusses why
class still matters today.
On the 11 May broadcaster and author Melvyn Bragg introduces his
touching new novel Grace and Mary at the Museum of Liverpool.
The Beat Goes On (26 April) – Renowned Merseyside poets Roger
McGough and Brian Patten take part in a rare double bill in the
beautiful surroundings of St George's Hall. The 2 shot to fame,
alongside the late Adrian Henri, with one of the bestselling poetry
anthologies of all time – The Mersey Sound (1967). Both will chat
about their work, and the event will be introduced and chaired by
Henri's widow, Catherine Marcangeli.
Afternoon tea at the Town Hall
(28 April) – Winner of the BBC's Great British Bake Off John Whaite will head to Liverpool Town Hall to talk about his brand new
recipe book. Guests can enjoy high tea as part of the event.
Liverpool City Council's Cabinet Member for culture and tourism,
Councillor Wendy Simon, said:- "Liverpool is a City renowned
for its connection with words, but the reaction to In Other Words
has surpassed all our expectations. We knew a literary
festival was the perfect way to celebrate the re-opening of Central
Library, but we have been overwhelmed with the response we've had.
We have been inundated with internationally acclaimed authors,
literary agents, businesses and community groups contacting us and
asking to be involved in this inaugural event, with everyone
recognising that Liverpool is a City strongly connected with words –
whether it's written, spoken or sung. The full, diverse programme is
that of an established festival, and real credit has to be given to
our partners Writing on the Wall, as thanks to their expertise we
can expect to attract a wide-ranging audience from all over the
country and beyond."
The festival is being curated in partnership with Writing on the
Wall, with the aim of making it a literary festival with a
difference, appealing to established and budding writers and
literary lovers alike. There is an emphasis on bringing events not
only to high profile City buildings, but also to venues in various
communities.
Festival Director Writing on the Wall Madeline Heneghan, said:-
"At Writing on the Wall we were thrilled to be invited to curate
the In Other Words festival alongside Culture Liverpool. The
Festival programme really is spectacular, showcasing Liverpool's
writing talent, our rich literary heritage and drawing big name
writers, performers and commentators to the City for the region's
biggest celebration of writing and spoken word art."
Poet Brian Patten said:- "Liverpool has always embraced
creativity open-heartedly and the new festival certainly lives up to
this great tradition. It's exciting, wide-ranging and inclusive and
I'm really proud to be part of it."
The full programme of events can be found at:-
itsliverpool.com/culture. Some events are
ticketed (a mixture of free and paid-for events) due to capaCity
limits so early booking is advised.
Other activities which make up the exciting
programme include:-
Here Come the Girls (24 April) - A nod to all things
chick-lit as best-selling author of 6 novels Jane Costello, launches
her new book The Wish List and is joined by multi-award winning
romance novelist Erica James. The event is hosted by Liverpool
author Amanda Brooke.
Murder on the Docks (2 May) – British writer Kevin Sampson
will take part in a panel discussion along with crime writer Graham
Johnson and author Denise Mina. They will discuss the deadly
connection between port cities and crime writing.
BBC Writersroom (3 May) – This exciting seminar is a call-out
to budding writers of any age and experience with an original voice
and great stories to tell. Henry Swindell, New Writing Manager for
BBC Writersroom North will provide invaluable tips and answer any
burning questions about screenwriting. Henry R Swindell works across
Film, TV and Radio to find and develop writers for the BBC. As a TV
producer he's worked for the BBC, ITV and Channel Four on shows
including Casualty, Hollyoaks and Coronation Street.
Against Modern Football? (10 May) – Mirror columnist Brian
Reade hosts a debate around whether protest movements can make a
difference. He'll be joined by singer Peter Hooton, Guardian writer
David Conn and Hillsborough campaigner Shelia Coleman.
Afternoon tea with Maureen Lee (15 May) - Maureen Lee, famous
for her short stories and dramatic historical romance novels, will
read from her latest collection of stories, Flora and Grace at The
Atrium Bar in the Empire Theatre.
Palace of Curiosities (19 May) - Rosie Garland launches her
debut novel The Palace of Curiosities, hailed by Sarah Waters as 'a
jewel-box of a novel', and will be joined in St George's Hall by a
circus troupe who will dazzle and amaze!
The Last Word (19 May) – The final event of the festival
takes place in Central Library and will showcase the City's finest
spoken word artists and poets. Hosted by performer Curtis Watt, it
will include a performance by Levi Tafari. |
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Clean Car?
ONE secret, which does not
wish to be a secret, is Waves, in the Southport Tesco Car Park. What
is Waves you may be asking? The answer is that it is a hand, car
wash business. It is a very thorough and sensibly priced operation
with one small problem. That problem is the fact that it is well
away from where the majority of cars park, thus it is not very
easily spotted unless one drives round the car park over to the rear
of the petrol filling station. There are three grades of cleaning,
as well as one for the interior, clearly listing what you get done
at what cost. The washing team are extremely pain-staking and proud
of their standards. After wiping down the outside they opened the
car doors and boot to dry round the sills; even the windscreen does
not end up with smearing when it later gets wet! Have a look, and
give it a try, for the Waves team will even do your car while you
shop. Just imagine, arrive with a dirty car, do your shopping in
Tesco and return to your now clean car for your journey home.
...Advertorial...
SHOTS FIRED IN
MAGHULL
MERSEYSIDE Police
Detectives are investigating an incident in Parkbourn Square,
Maghull, in which shots were fired at a property in the early hours
of Monday, 11 March 2013.
Emergency Services were called at around 12.15am to reports that
shots had been fired at an address and damaged caused to a window of
the property. There are no reports of any injuries.
Officers believe the offenders drove up to the house in a dark
coloured Jaguar, which was found burnt out a short time later on
Pilling Lane. The car has been recovered and will be forensically
examined.
Detectives believe the car was stolen from Orchard Hey, between 2pm
and 10pm on Sunday and would urge anyone who saw a Black S-type
Jaguar (which could appear to be dark blue) in the Maghull area in
the run up to the incident at 12.15pm, or afterwards, to get in
contact.
Sefton Area Commander, Chief Supt Nikki Holland said:-
"Discharging a weapon in public like this is extremely reckless and
whilst no-one was injured, the community will be understandably
concerned. I would like to reassure Maghull residents that my
officers are working with the specialist Matrix Team to investigate
what has happened here. When residents see extra Police on the
streets it is to reassure them and if they have any information or
concerns, please do share it with them. I would appeal for anyone
who saw any suspicious activity in this area on Sunday night, or
anyone who saw the Jaguar S-type car in the area, who has yet to
speak to Police to please come forward and help us with our
enquiries so that people who use firearms illegally can be brought
to justice."
At this early stage of the investigation, the motive for the
incident is unknown but officers believe the address was targeted
and are working to piece together the full circumstances.
CCTV from the area is being examined and house-to-house enquiries
are on-going.
Officers would urge anyone with any information about this incident,
or anyone who saw the car being dumped in Pilling Lane, to contact
the Matrix team on:- 0151 777 5686 or Crimestoppers anonymously on:-
0800 555 111.
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