12 - 25 May

FESTIVAL 2018

www.theworduk.org/write

Programme timetable

Saturday 12 May

Doctor Who monsters, crafts and costumes, 10am – 4pm

Screenwriting workshop, 1pm

Writing other worlds – Cuckoo Young Writers, 2pm

Stuart Maconie: Jarrow, Road to Deep South (at The Customs House), 7.30pm

Sunday 13 May

How to illustrate and publish children’s books, 10.30am

An introduction to self-publishing, 1.30pm

Silent book disco, 2pm

An afternoon of radio comedy with Ed Waugh, 2pm

Monday 14 May

Researching your historical novel with Nancy Revell, 9.45amRomantic story exchange, 10amChoc Lit - Readers evening, 6pm

Tuesday 15 May Meet Sarah Dunnakey, 6.30pm

Wednesday 16 May

An audience with Cath Staincliffe (at Jarrow Library), 1.30pmAll at Sea, 2pmAn evening with Norman Kirtlan – Forensic Artist, 6.30pm

Friday 18 May

Write your life, 10.30am

History Wardrobe presents… Bad Girls and Bonnets, 7pm

Saturday 19 May

Tom Kelly’s residency presentation, 11am

Poetry slam workshop with Jenni Pascoe, 11am

An audience with LJ Ross, 1.30pm

‘An austentatious murder’ – A night of murder mystery, 6.30pm

Sunday 20 May Inpress Day

Publishing demystified, 10.30am

Author journeys, 12pm

Getting your voice heard, 1.30pm

The big question, 3pm

Monday 21 May

How to edit your writing with Celia Bryce, 9.30amNew writing read through performances, 2pmCounty Durham folk tales with Adam Bushnell, 6.30pm

Tuesday 22 May Meet Jenn Ashworth, 6.30pm

Wednesday 23 May Monsters of the mind with Niel Bushnell, 5.30pm

Thursday 24 May

New writing read through performances (at The Customs House), 7pmPoetry slam (at The Stags Head), 7.30pm

Friday 25 May

Romantic story exchange, 10.30amAn audience with Kevin Maguire, 7pm

For more information and to book your tickets, visit:

www.theworduk.org/write

‘WRITE’ across South Tyneside As part of the festival’s expansion, this year we are working with venues across South Tyneside to hold events. We are also working with schools to give everyone the opportunity to get involved with WRITE Festival.

The Customs HouseWe’re thrilled to be working with The Customs House to grow the festival. Writer and broadcaster, Stuart Maconie, will give a special performance about his retracing of the Jarrow Crusade at the venue on the opening day of the festival.We are also working with The Customs House to seek submissions for new writing, which will ultimately be selected and go forward to be produced as a play at next year’s festival. Find out more about this by visiting www.theworduk.org/write

“It’s really exciting to be part of the WRITE Festival and work in partnership with The Word. We’re looking to discover and produce new writing talent.”Ray Spencer, The Customs House Executive Director

The Stags Head Our poetry slam will be held at local pub The Stags Head which will provide a fun and relaxed atmosphere ready for an evening of fast-paced poetry from our poet in residence, Jenni Pascoe, and a group of amateur poets.

South Tyneside LibrariesEvents will also be taking place across local libraries (Jarrow, Hebburn and Cleadon Park) which will include working with schools as well as a visit from bestselling novelist, Cath Staincliffe who will be at Jarrow Library talking about her career as an author, radio playwright and creator of hit TV series Blue Murder.

www.theworduk.org/write

WelcomeWe are thrilled to be welcoming WRITE Festival back to The Word between 12–25 May 2018 with a whole host of unmissable events!

After a fantastic first year, WRITE Festival has evolved and grown for its second year and boasts an even bigger programme of events for people of all ages to enjoy! Whether you’re an aspiring writer, someone with a keen interest in the written word or you enjoy engaging performances, we have something for everyone.

The popularity of last year’s festival has led us to expand the programme of events which will now span over two weeks.

The diverse programming includes everything from poetry writing workshops and poetry slam, a murder mystery night, workshops on how to get published, comedy performances, family-fun events including some Doctor Who monsters, two Writers in Residence and top - class authors and writers including Kevin Maguire, LJ Ross, Adam Bushnell, Jenn Ashworth and more.

We are also pleased to be expanding the festival across South Tyneside, which will see events taking place at The Customs House, The Stags Head and South Tyneside Libraries.

We would like to thank all of our partners, sponsors and Arts Council England, who are supporting this year’s festival.

Tania Robinson Head of Marketing and Culture, The Word, National Centre for the Written Word.

Working with schoolsAn important part of the WRITE Festival is working with primary and secondary schools to get children and young people involved in the written word. Over the fortnight our OpenZone team alongside South Tyneside Libraries will deliver a range of digital and technology focused sessions to pupils in our dedicated classrooms. Some schools will join bestselling author Niel Bushnell using video conferencing technology as he explores how stories affect us all and where story ideas come from. Other school children will learn to create their own interactive adventure games on the computer. Two local schools will also get the opportunity to join Niel to create their own mythical monsters and creepy creatures using just their imagination and sinister sounds - taking their inspiration from our latest exhibition, Monsters! The Good, The Bad and The Cuddly. Children will explore the world of augmented reality and make their own augmented stories.

Comprehensive schools will be invited to South Tyneside Libraries to mark the 200th anniversary of Mary Shelley’s immortal ‘Frankenstein’ - the first of the truly great ‘gothic novels’. They will learn about Mary herself and her remarkable background and then, get a minor chill down their spine with some lively re-enactments of key passages, film clips, period costumes and effects.

Saturday 12 May Opening day

Doctor Who monsters, crafts and costumes Saturday 12 May, 10am-4pm, FREE A full day of family fun with visits from Doctor Who monsters, a range of fun crafts and a fancy dress competition for you all to get involved with. Hyde Fundraisers join us with an out-of-this-world assortment of creatures led by Davros, creator of the evil Daleks as well as an Ood and a Cybershade. Meet the creatures and grab a photo.Get involved in our monster fancy dress competition, judged by Davros, at 1.30pm in the Atrium.Free drop-in sessions to make your own monster mask or sonic screwdriver will be on between 10.30am-12.30pm or 1.30-3.30pm (whilst stock lasts).

www.theworduk.org/write

www.theworduk.org/write

Saturday 12 May Opening day (continued)

Screenwriting workshopSaturday 12 May, 1-4pmJoin Northern Film + Media for an interactive workshop about screenwriting. This event is a must for any budding screenwriter and promises to be entertaining, insightful and lively.

Writing other worlds - Cuckoo Young WritersSaturday 12 May, 11am-1pm, FREE. Suitable for 12-19 year oldsCome along to our Cuckoo Young Writers group for a special sci-fi writing session. Led by a professional writer and supported by group leader, Lisa Burns, the group will take pen to paper to write about other worlds, create a parallel universe and explore the extra-terrestrial.

Stuart Maconie: Jarrow, Road to the Deep South (at The Customs House)Saturday 12 May, 7.30pm, from £16. To buy tickets please visit The Customs House website.In October 2016, writer and broadcaster Stuart Maconie walked 300 miles from Jarrow to London, retracing the famous Jarrow Crusade 80 years on, through a divided, complex country that echoes 1936 in many ways. Stuart will reflect on Britain now and then at a special performance at The Customs House. Tickets available at: www.customshouse.co.uk or 0191 454 1234.

Sunday 13 May

Publishing workshops with Sixth Element

Join Sixth Element Publishing for friendly and informal workshops focusing on publishing!

These relaxed introductory workshops are suitable for all writers who’d like to know more about the whole process of publishing.

How to illustrate and publish children’s books Sunday 13 May, 10.30am-12.30pm, £3.50 per personAuthor of the Thieves’ Guild sci-fi series, Gillie Hatton, will cover topics including how to write children’s books for all ages including young children, early readers, middle grade and young adults. She will also discuss styles of illustration including how to create print-ready artwork as well as typesetting, proofreading, print, distribution, sales and marketing.

An introduction to self-publishingSunday 13 May, 1.30-3.30pm, £3.50 per personGraeme Wilkinson, author, artist, musician and graphic designer, will cover topics including how to write, self-edit and revise your final manuscript, the production process of typesetting, proofreading and print, as well as the all-important issues of distribution, sales and marketing.

Silent book disco Sunday 13 May, 2-3pm, FREEPerfect for everyone aged 5 years+, this very special book-themed party is one for the whole family.Brought to you by our friends Forum Books Corbridge, this is your chance to put on a pair of headphones, read, bop and dance to a playlist of songs inspired by some favourite children’s books. There will also be a children’s story treasure trail matching each track on the playlist to its book … can you find them all?

An afternoon of radio comedy with Ed WaughSunday 13 May, 2-4pm, £6 per person Join Ed and cast for two radio style, live on stage performances that will make you laugh out loud. Including Where Did I Go Wrong? - a tale of an arena-style comedian superstar who is commissioned to write his autobiography. The problem is the drink, drugs and a near-fatal car accident which means he can’t remember what he did back then. Followed by Stand Up For Middle Age - a story of Herbert Nutter, a father of two and recently made redundant, who has turned 40 and is determined to write the book everyone has inside them. Unfortunately he has writers’ block before he writes a single word.

www.theworduk.org/write

Monday 14 May

Researching your historical novel with Nancy RevellMonday 14 May, 9.45-10.45am, £3.50 per personAuthor of The Shipyard Girls series, Nancy Revell, will lead an informal and interactive session on undertaking research for your historical novel as well as providing an insight into her former life as a tabloid journalist.

Romance story exchangeMonday 14 & Friday 25 May, 10am-12noon, FREECome along to Carol Cooke’s drop-in sessions for writers, storytellers and anyone with a romantic tale. All you need to do is bring your story, and tell it! Then, you’ll get to exchange your story for another.

Choc Lit - Readers eveningMonday 14 May, 6-8pm, £5 per personCalling all book lovers and budding authors! Join women’s fiction publisher Choc Lit for an evening of fun!There’ll be a chance to meet local authors and hear about their writing journeys, quizzes and games (with prizes!), new and exciting books to discover, a goody bag, and - if you’re an aspiring author - there’ll be the opportunity to pitch your manuscript to a Choc Lit editor.

Tuesday 15 May

Meet Sarah DunnakeyTuesday 15 May, 6.30-7.30pm, £2 per person Author Sarah Dunnakey will read from her debut novel ‘The Companion’, a mystery set in Yorkshire in the 1930s, as well as discuss the inspiration behind it, her journey to publication and her experience as a debut author.

Sarah is a question setter and verifier on a variety of TV quiz shows including Mastermind, University Challenge and Pointless. After her talk she will host a specially devised literary quiz that promises to be fun and illuminating.

Wednesday 16 May

An audience with Cath Staincliffe (at Jarrow Library)Wednesday 16 May, 1.30pm, £1 per personCath Staincliffe,

bestselling, award-winning novelist, radio playwright and the creator of ITV’s hit series Blue Murder, will be at Jarrow Library talking about her career. Gain an insight into her world and take the opportunity to ask any questions you may have.

All at SeaWednesday 16 May, 2-3pm£3.50 child, £2.50 adult, £1 children under 1 and £10.50 for a family of 4. Suitable for families with children aged 2-7 yearsJoin illustrator Faye Hanson for an interactive workshop to celebrate the release of her new picture book, All at Sea: There’s a New Baby in the Family. Written by Gerry Byrne, All at Sea is a warm, sensitive and reassuring book about the arrival of a new baby in the family.

An evening with Norman Kirtlan - Forensic ArtistWednesday 16 May, 6.30-7.30pm, £2 per personNorman Kirtlan - a Forensic Artist will talk about his book Death From… which looks at the role of a coroner and some of the strange and tragic County Durham cases from the Victorian era. If you’re a fan of crime dramas such as C.S.I or interested in forensic investigation, this event is not to be missed.

www.theworduk.org/write

Friday 18 May

Write your lifeFriday 18 May, 10.30am-12.30pm, £2 suggested donationWriter Carol Cooke will lead a session on writing from your own experiences - drawing upon your family stories, scandals, half-heard mysteries and romance. Bring along your own story, poem, idea or experience and work on it together.

History Wardrobe presents… Bad Girls and BonnetsFriday 18 May, 7-8.30pm, £6.50 per personA bold, brash and beautiful celebration of Jane Austen’s wicked women, and a truly revelatory look at clothes and crime in the 18th century - an era when stocking-theft or silk-smuggling carried serious consequences.Bad Girls and Bonnets features fabulous original costume items, criminal history and readings from the outrageous Miss Austen herself.

Meet our residencies

Jenni PascoePoet in ResidenceJenni Pascoe will be our Poet in Residence from mid-March working with various groups to develop their poetry skills.Jenni will be hosting four workshops for aspiring amateur poets to build upon their poetry slam skills, performance techniques and get them ready to compete in their very own poetry slam. The amateur slammers will take to the stage at The Stags Head, South Shields, to show off their skills and one will ultimately be crowned the winner through an audience vote. Jenni will host this exciting slam event and also show off her own skills. The poetry slam workshops with Jenni Pascoe will take place on Saturday 17 March, 7 April, 28 April and 19 May, between 11am-12.30pm. £3.50 per session.The final poetry slam will take place at The Stags Head on Thursday 24 May, 7.30-9.30pm. £3 per person. Please note: these events are suitable for ages 18+.

Tom KellyWriter in ResidenceTom Kelly will be in residency at The Word from March 2018 until WRITE Festival, where he will culminate his residency at a special presentation event. Tom will work with young people from South Tyneside to write a series of short stories inspired by ‘Our Town’, which he will showcase as part of his presentation. He will also launch his own short story collection ‘Behind The Wall’ which features 12 stories set in North East England with titles including The Running Boy, Mother Teresa of Jarrow and Elsie Rides Again. Tom will also be joined by Ian Ravenscroft and Ted Cuskin as part of his final presentation, as Men of the Tyne returns to The Word where they’ll be singing songs about ‘our’ river and the men who built the ships on the Tyne. Tom Kelly’s residency presentation will take place on Saturday 19 May, 11am-1pm. FREE

www.theworduk.org/write

Saturday 19 May

An audience with LJ RossSaturday 19 May, 1.30-3.30pm, £3 per personLJ Ross, author of the international bestselling series of DCI Ryan mystery novels, will be discussing her writing, her journey as an author, the character and setting for DCI Ryan as well as doing some readings.

After her debut novel, Holy Island, reached number one in the Amazon Kindle UK Bestsellers Chart, its sequels then continued on this success. Now having released the seventh DCI Ryan novel, LJ Ross continues to gain following and popularity.

‘An austentatious murder’ - A night of murder mysterySat 19 May, 6.30-8.30pm, £8.50 per person. Suitable for over 18’s.Whether you are a first-class detective or first-time crime solver, you are guaranteed an unforgettable night of fun, frivolities and fatalities! Highly Suspect brings a brand new, fun, highly interactive murder mystery night featuring a range of eccentric characters who are likely to be the most suspicious suspects you’ll ever meet!Acknowledging Jane Austen as one of mankind’s most gifted writers on the subject of love and the human condition, tech developers have created the ‘Austen Algorithm’ - the key to finding the perfect partner! The new app Dating Mr Darcy is due to be launched at an Austen themed gala celebration… But moments before the app goes live, its creator is found dead - someone has quite literally broken her heart!Which of the Austen aficionados is a potential killer? What clues to the crime can be found within the works of the author, and just who will end up dating Mr Darcy?

Sunday 20 MayInpress Day

Inpress presents… Tricks of the Trade: A guide to the world of publishingJoin us for a day of events all about the world of publishing.

Publishing demystifiedSunday 20 May, 10.30-11.30am, £2 per personThis session offers a practical overview of the publishing process from conception to print, giving budding authors, publishers and anyone interested in learning about the book trade an insight into how that one flash of inspiration makes its way onto the bookshelves.

Author journeysSunday 20 May, 12-1pm, £2 per personStories from the ‘other’ side! This session will give you an insight into the personal journeys of a panel of authors - who will discuss how they ended up getting published.

Getting your voice heardSunday 20 May, 1.30-2.30pm, £2 personThis session explores the increasingly diverse number of ways to get our voices heard, both through utilising new technology and grass-roots print movements. From self-publishing zines to submitting poems to anthologies, there has never been more creative ways to get your work out there and start on the track to publishing success.

The big questionSunday 20 May, 3-4pm, £2 per personThe question we all want to know the answer to - “how do I get my book published?” In this session you will talk to an author, a publisher and a literary agent to discuss what it takes to see your book in print. With a mixture of practical advice and good old fashioned encouragement, there will be an opportunity to ask questions and find out more.

www.theworduk.org/write

Monday 21 May

How to edit your writing with Celia Bryce Monday 21 May, 9.30am-12.30pm, £3.50 per personEditing - love it or hate it, there’s no getting away from the fact that most writers can’t produce a perfect first draft. There will need to be a second and a third. Possibly more...Whatever your thoughts on it, wherever you are with your writing, it’s good to edit your work especially if you want to send it in to a competition, an agent, a publisher or to a literary consultant.In this session, Celia will explore ways of checking and improving your writing with a series of practical exercises using sample texts.

County Durham folk tales with Adam Bushnell Monday 21 May, 6.30-7.30pm, £2 per personJoin author and storyteller, Adam Bushnell, as he brings together stories from the rugged coastlines, limestone cliffs, remote moorland, pastoral dales and settled coalfields of County Durham. In this treasure trove of tales you will meet the evil fairies of Weardale, the shape-changing witch from Easington, the Bishop Auckland boar, the Dun Cow of Durham City and many other characters - all as fantastical and powerful as the landscape they inhabit.Retold in an engaging style, and richly illustrated with unique line drawings, these humorous, clever and enchanting folk tales are sure to be enjoyed and shared time and again.

New writing read through performances Monday 21 May, 2-4pm, FREE (Over 25’s category)Following a competition to find new writing talent by The Customs House, shortlisted writers will have their plays performed by professional actors at this rehearsed reading at The Word.

Tuesday 22 May

Meet Jenn Ashworth Tuesday 22 May, 6.30-7.30pm, £2 per personJoin Jenn Ashworth as she reads from her critically acclaimed novel Fell - set in the 1960s on the edge of Morecambe Bay and telling a story of hope, loss and miracles. Jenn will be speaking about location and the sense of place in her work - all her novels are set in the North of England - as well as the challenges of researching a novel set before she was born.

Wednesday 23 May

Monsters of the mind with Niel BushnellWednesday 23 May, 5.30-6.30pm, FREE. Suitable for 8-12 year oldsAward-winning children’s author Niel Bushnell will help you create your own mythical monsters and creepy creatures using just your imagination and sinister sounds. Inspired by his work as an animator for shows including Doctor Who and The Dumping Ground, Niel will challenge you to imagine your own scary monsters, draw them and help you to write your own monster-packed adventures!

Thursday 24 May

Poetry slam (at The Stags Head) Thursday 24 May, 7.30-9.30pm, £3 per person. Suitable for over 18’s. Join Jenni Pascoe and a group of amateur ‘slammers’ at The Stags Head in South Shields for a fun and fast-paced poetry slam! If you’ve never been to a poetry slam, you’re in for a treat! You’ll see some amateur poets as well as Jenni Pascoe, showcasing their slam skills with a range of brilliant, angry, funny, ranting and passionate poems.

New writing read through performances (at The Customs House) Thursday 24 May, 7-9pm, FREE (Under 25’s category)Following a competition to find new writing talent by The Customs House, shortlisted writers will have their plays performed by professional actors at this rehearsed reading at The Customs House.

www.theworduk.org/write

Romance story exchangeMonday 14 & Friday 25 May, 10am-12noon, FREECome along to Carol Cooke’s drop-in sessions for writers, storytellers and anyone with a romantic tale. All you need to do is bring your story, and tell it! Then, you’ll get to exchange your story for another.

An audience with Kevin MaguireFriday 25 May, 7-8.30pm, £5 per personKevin Maguire is one of the country’s best known journalists. He is The Daily Mirror’s associate editor and is on TV and radio almost daily - appearing on Have I Got News for You and Question Time. He pens a weekly column in the New Statesman magazine and before the Mirror worked at The Guardian and Daily Telegraph. Still calling South Shields ‘home’, Kevin will be back for WRITE Festival 2018! You will be in for an evening of entertainment as Kevin will talk about his outstanding career so far telling personal stories and giving an insight into his life.

Get your tickets today!Don’t miss out on your chance to attend these fantastic events. Most events require booking in advance. Tickets are on sale now and will sell quickly.

You can visit www.theworduk.org/write to find out further details and book your tickets, or alternatively you can visit Shop @ The Word where you will be able to purchase your tickets in person. (Please note: booking terms and conditions apply)

You can also keep up-to-date with everything that is happening during WRITE Festival and throughout the year at The Word by following:

/worduk

@theword_uk

Get involved in the conversation by using our hashtag:

#WRITEFestival

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For more information about events, performances, workshops, talks and creative sessions:

www.theworduk.org/worduk @theword_uk 0191 427 1818

PlEASE NoTE: All event details are correct at the time of going to print. You are advised to check the website or speak to a member of staff. Booking terms and conditions apply.

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