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Stars to appear at Swindon Festival of Literature (From Swindon Advertiser)
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Stars to appear at Swindon Festival of Literature
1:00pm Tuesday 3rd February 2009
THE sixteenth Swindon Festival of Literature promises to be the best yet – with more big names added to the line-up.
Television impressionist Alistair McGowan, ex-England cricket captain Marcus Trescothick, former Chancellor of the Exchequer Nigel Lawson and novelist Jake Chapman will be part of the event from May 4 to 16.
There will also be novelists Margaret Drabble and Josephine Hart, poet Simon Armitage and two great great grand-daughters of evolution theorist Charles Darwin, novelist Emma Darwin and poet Ruth Padel.
They join the most eagerly awaited Swindon festival in years along with national treasure Sir David Attenborough, Swindon boy made good Julian Clary, former Arsenal goalkeeper Bob Wilson, actress Maureen Lipman and funnyman Rory McGrath.
“The festival’s profile and reputation continues to grow,” said festival director Matt Holland.
“Each year it attracts new writers, terrific speakers and a larger following.
“It has become a fantastic celebration for Swindon of things well written and things well said.
“The festival is full of good ideas and writing, which is a hallmark of its success.
“It offers experiences that make life memorable. People of all ages and backgrounds have a very good time.
“We’re getting calls from people all over the country who want to come to Swindon for the festival. They are going crazy for tickets.
“People can get together, meet authors, join in lively talk, explore new ideas and have a laugh. It’s all very exciting.”
Apart from the big names there will also be a number of top-notch events.
During the 14 days of the festival, there will be a Swindon performance poetry slam competition, the schools’ youth slam and a green and bookish weekend for children and families.
A ‘poems, pints and music’ evening will be held, plus a wide range of literary talks, discussions, and readings at the main theatres, arts venues, libraries, schools, pubs, parks, and even in an ex-cowshed in Swindon.
The 2009 Swindon Festival of Literature is being part funded by Arts Council England in the South West.
The full-colour 32-page festival programme will be unveiled at Swindon’s new Central Library at noon on March 19.
Tickets for all events will be on sale from midday on that day and not before.
To go on the festival mailing list, please call 01793 771080 or email swindonlitfest@lowershawfarm.co.uk
More Leisure stories
- Reading Group: Selected Stories by Katherine Mansfield
- Reading Group: I Served the King of England by Bohmil Hrabal
- Reading Group: The Red and the Black by Stendhal
- The Siege of Krishnapur by J G Farrell
- Falling Man by Don DeLillo
- A Concise Chinese-English Dictionary for Lovers by Xiaolu Guo
- Pulsar evening features American poet
- Footsteps by Richard Holmes
- Live poetry evening planned - all welcome
- The Moon and Sixpence by W Somerset Maugham
Your Say YourSwindon
Chowmai, Swindon says...
1:45pm Tue 3 Feb 09
I hope the event has every success.
(Security word....warm-book!!!
)
FunkyPablo, Swindon says...
1:50pm Tue 3 Feb 09
Well done to all who organised this event, and long may it continue.
Jiver, Swindon says...
3:57pm Tue 3 Feb 09
Certain members of SBC did want to eliminate it though. As they do with anything of heritage or cultural value.
PixelWizard, Swindon, Stratton says...
4:17pm Tue 3 Feb 09
Good to hear that some things are seeing success though...
PeeveD, Swindon says...
10:04pm Tue 3 Feb 09
The festival is merely a good start... now lets see if it can be built on!
PixelWizard, Swindon, Stratton says...
12:46am Wed 4 Feb 09
PeeveD wrote:Did you know we have a Symphony Orchestra (http://www.swindono
Whilst I applaud the great line up for the festival I still cannot agree that this one event brings us out of the cultural desert. Where is the music,the theatre,the art? The festival is merely a good start... now lets see if it can be built on!
rchestra.org.uk). Next concert is at the end of March. Been running since 1989, and I can't recall ever getting any support from the Swindon authorities. Even trying to get an audience is very difficult these days (and it's a pretty decent band).
Jiver, Swindon says...
1:34am Wed 4 Feb 09
PeeveD wrote:Oh there you go again.
Whilst I applaud the great line up for the festival I still cannot agree that this one event brings us out of the cultural desert. Where is the music,the theatre,the art? The festival is merely a good start... now lets see if it can be built on!
More flats. You grey concrete junkie
PeeveD, Swindon says...
12:12pm Wed 4 Feb 09
PixelWizard wrote:Thanks Pixie... Who Knew?
PeeveD wrote: Whilst I applaud the great line up for the festival I still cannot agree that this one event brings us out of the cultural desert. Where is the music,the theatre,the art? The festival is merely a good start... now lets see if it can be built on!Did you know we have a Symphony Orchestra (http://www.swindono rchestra.org.uk). Next concert is at the end of March. Been running since 1989, and I can't recall ever getting any support from the Swindon authorities. Even trying to get an audience is very difficult these days (and it's a pretty decent band).
PeeveD, Swindon says...
12:15pm Wed 4 Feb 09
Jiver wrote:Hopefully when we get a few more thousand students in and around the Coate area culture in Swindon will be demanded. Then even you Jiver may have something to do other than making such ridiculous comments.
PeeveD wrote: Whilst I applaud the great line up for the festival I still cannot agree that this one event brings us out of the cultural desert. Where is the music,the theatre,the art? The festival is merely a good start... now lets see if it can be built on!Oh there you go again. More flats. You grey concrete junkie
I notice you use the word junkie!
Judging by the relevance of your posts is there something we should know?
Jiver, Swindon says...
2:31pm Wed 4 Feb 09
Ooops, sorry that'll be way over your head. It's got nothing to do with building more flats and "affordable" housing.
You concrete junkie.
I don't take any drugs, but even if I did, I wouldn't be illuded by a vibrant, buoyant, vision.
Little boxes on the hillside, that are all made out of ticky tacky, and they all look just the same.
Your sayYour Swindon
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flicky, swindon says...
1:06pm Tue 3 Feb 09