A celebration of Words: written, spoken and sung. 30 varied events around this lovely historic town by the River Adur and on the Sea. Celebrating and generating local creativity, literary heritage and bringing authors to a new audience. Author talks and discussions.
Exciting events are planned for the fifth Shoreham Wordfest from the end of September to October 11th, 2015 , featuring local luminaries, national authors and international performers, all with the theme of Moments of Change
When? Generally end of September - October. 2016 TBC
Where? Various venues, Shoreham by Sea, West Sussex
Who? 2016 TBA
Website? Shoreham Wordfest
Twitter? @Wordfest_by_Sea
Facebook? Yes
Celebrated playwright, David Hare, talks about his new memoir, The Blue Touch Paper, at his former school, Lancing College. Journalist and commentator, Julie Burchill will be talking about her book, Unchosen, at Sussex Yacht Club. Attila the Stockbroker is launching his autobiography, Arguments Yard, at the Ropetackle Centre.
There is the world premiere of Roll Over Atlantic, a new show by Carribbean-British poet and performer John Agard, and a special talk, Simpson and I by Oggy Boytchev about his time working with the BBC’s John Simpson in some of the most dangerous places on earth.
Julie Gearey, author of Cuffs, the new police TV series set in Brighton but filmed in Shoreham earlier this year, will reveal all about the background to the show, at the annual Wordfest dinner at Sussex Yacht Club on Thursday October 1st.
As a new venture this year, Wordfest is promoting “Adur Reads”, featuring Unexploded by Brighton based author Alison MacLeod, in partnership with West Sussex Libraries. We are encouraging as many people as possible to read this thrilling novel about Brighton during the Second World War, before meeting Alison on Friday 2 October.
The funky Catalyst Club moves from Brighton to Shoreham for Wordfest hosted by Dr David Bramwell who will be taking the No.9 Bus to Utopia, and Richard Robinson, curator of Brighton Science Festival, engaging the audience with puns and wordplay.
John Crace, of the Guardian’s Digested Reads, and Professor John Sutherland ask “Can a book change your life,” and there is a talk on the Magna Carta, which was definitely influential as a foundation for political rights. Wordfest also has two events discussing how events of the 1984-85 Miners’ Strike are now featuring in recent novels.
Carol Cleveland, star of the Monty Python show, performs Pom Poms Up! giving us a humorous insight into the trials and tribulations of maintaining a glamorous lifestyle. Vesta Tilley is a theatrical show about a very different woman who was a world-famous star of the Music Hall era, performing as a man and an early leader of female emancipation.
Author Tom Cutler is staging “Pack up Your Troubles”, a show featuring songs performed by Patricia Hammond from both World Wars, with the stories of the people who wrote and sang them. Tom is also talking over lunch with Wordfest patron, playwright and author Simon Brett on “How to avoid Writing.”
There are children and family events, including Theatre Riotto puppet show and workshop, Leaping Frog, poet Roger Stevens What Grandad did Next, and Sue Hendra with Superhero Veggies!
There are walks, talks and workshops with many more shows all featured in the programme, with full details on
For further information contact Shoreham Wordfest on 07522 957691 or Wordfest Director Rosalind Turner on 07974-443796
Past Festivals?
See event details 2014 Shoreham Wordfest
Alexander McCall, Smith Peter Gutteridge, Mark Peterson
In 2013 - Sara Sheriden, Sue Walker, Simon Brett, Ivor Baddiel, Meike Ziervogel. Utter Jazz celebration of Benjamin Britten songs of W.H.Auden's poetry read by Simon Russell Beale (tbc), Carol Cleveland, Sue Eckstein, Robert Dickinson, Nina de la Mer, Polly Tyrer. Mike O'Leary, Atilla the Stockbroker, Hannah Eaton, Nye Wright, Julia Lee, Guy Parker-Rees Neil Jenkins Chorale: 20th Century Poetry in Song Tales and Songs by the Riverbank on the Verda Houseboat.
If you are involved in this festival you can update or change details via the organisers page . Authors can list here.