By Jo Green
The eighth annual Belfast Book Festival, June 6-16, has just announced its new programme with a rich selection of literary events in store and appearances from a variety of authors including former Downing Street press secretary Alastair Campbell, comedian Francesca Martinez and television presenter Steve Parrish. Adventurer and environmentalist Huw Kingston, medicinal chef Dale Punnock and Sky Sports journalist Guillem Balague will also take part. There will be a Roald Dahl inspired family fun day, Belfast’s first Lit Crawl including a poetry jukebox tour, creative writing workshops and a night at the Strand Arts Centre exploring the music and myths of Van Morrison.
Keith Acheson, director of the Belfast Book Festival, said: “The programme is filled with events and activities that will appeal to everyone. From the avid book reader to the odd time dabbler there is something to suit everyone’s interests and tastes. This year we are looking forward to our first Lit Crawl, which will open up Queen’s Quarter to unusual and interesting literary events. We are very thankful for the support of the Arts Council of Northern Ireland in making the festival happen as well as the support of Belfast City Council, who support our Family Fun Day, which this year is inspired by the works of Roald Dahl. We look forward to welcoming new and existing visitors and hope that everyone enjoys what’s on offer.”
Damian Smyth, head of literature and drama at the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, said: “The Belfast Book Festival opens up the incredible worlds of literature and the imagination by allowing the best international and local writers to present their work to audiences in the most intimate and personable of settings. The Arts Council is proud to support this important festival through National Lottery funding and would encourage everyone to go along and enjoy.”
The festival takes place across 11 days at venues including the Crescent Arts Centre with events exploring a range of interests and themes. Here is a round-up of some of the festival highlights.
1) International authors
Appearing at the festival this year will be acclaimed journalist, broadcaster and former Downing Street Press Secretary and now prolific novelist Alastair Campbell at Windsor Park; award winning comedian, writer and actress Francesca Martinez at the Crescent; champion motorcyclist, truck racer and television presenter Steve Parrish at Malone Lodge Hotel; and adventurer, environmentalist, and writer Huw Kingston.
Best-selling author on the subjects of nutrition and health, the medicinal chef Dale Pinnock will be at Hillmount Garden Centre ;Guillem Balagué, Sky Sports journalist and author of best-selling biographies on Pep Guardiola, Christiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi will be attheBlack Box; and internationally renowned mathematician, scientist and philosopher John Lennox will be at Fisherwick Presbyterian Church.
2) Roald Dahl inspired Family Fun Day
On Saturday June 16 from 12-4pm Lower Crescent Park will come alive with the wonderful characters and stories of much-loved children’s author Roald Dahl. Supported by Belfast City Council, children of all ages and abilities can enjoy arts and crafts, face painting, interactive storytelling, children’s author readings, entertainment and a book fair. The event is free to attend.
3) Belfast’s first Lit Crawl
For one night only on Saturday June 16 the area known as the Queen’s Quarter will welcome Belfast’s first Lit Crawl.The night is divided into three sessions, each lasting 45 minutes, to make a fast-paced evening of pop-up events and quirky literary happenings in unusual venues across the area. Take a dander to No Alibis and visit the Book Doctors, pick up an MP3 player at Botanic Gardens (bring your own headphones) and take a poetry jukebox tour, or sit back and relax in the festival marquee at Lower Crescent Park and have a bite to eat, then head over to Friar’s Bush to visit Belfast’s Books of the Dead. There’s lots to choose from and it’s all free to enjoy.
4) Workshops
Get creative at this year’s festival as authors and poets share their knowledge, wisdom and know-how with a superb programme of workshops and classes for anyone and everyone with a writing itch to scratch. Workshops take place across a range of festival venues.
5) Music and words
Donal Scullion leads a special guest band at the Strand Arts Centre for Astral Weeks: The Music And The Myths Of Van Morrison featuring a set in tribute to the album that blessed us with such tracks as Cyprus Avenue and Sweet Thing. Meanwhile poet and novelist Jan Carson and singer/songwriter Anthony Toner will be your travel guides at the Crescent as they lead you on an adventure through some exceptional pieces of writing and songs which explore our obsession with the open road. Join storytelling duo Jane Talbot and Noel Harron at the Crescent for a rambunctious evening of story and song. The stories in the show are original, dark fairy tales or quirky, radical re-tellings, and they’re all set locally (on the north coast and Donegal). Dr Lucy Collins (UCD) and poets Maria McManus and Nessa O’Mahony are joined by HIVE Choir (SARC) at the Crescent for a unique collaboration exploring women’s representation in literature and sound, from the suffrage movement to the present day.
6) More for the familyBring along your little one for Chamber Babies featuring pianist Nadene Fiorentini, who will be performing The Mother Goose Suite at the Crescent, while Northern Ireland Opera will offer an interactive afternoon which is designed specifically for children of primary school age – let their imaginations flourish and explore ideas about a new fairytale world with mysterious creatures, magical landscapes and exotic sounds. Direct from London’s West End, the Grand Opera House, in association with the Belfast Book Festival welcomes The Kite Runner – the critically acclaimed stage adaptation of the best-selling novel by Khaled Hosseini.The Kite Runner is a haunting tale of friendship which spans cultures and continents, following one man’s journey to confront his past and find redemption (suitable for ages 14+).
7) Literary lunches
Throughout the festival enjoy a range of literary events at lunchtime. Join Sir Robert Salisbury and his wife Rosemary in the beautiful setting of the Botanic Gardens Palm House to learn of the inspiring story of how they transformed an unloved rural wasteland into a thriving, renowned wildlife garden. Catch Diana Oxlade at Ulster Museum as she gives an illustrated talk about her often funny and surreal experience of producing her unique book A Tropical Glen and see Frances Green at Ulster Museum forFlowers at the Frontline, which considers the role of women and the part they and fresh flowers played in boosting morale at home and overseas. Belfast Book Festival has also teamed up with Linen Hall Library to bring you a host of literary events for you to enjoy during your lunch hour.
8) Poetry Juke Box
Poetry JukeBox is an audio installation of contemporary poetry which is located permanently in the grounds of the Crescent and the Festival has partnered with the Poetry JukeBox to celebrate the works of Mairtín Crawford and Heather Newcombe. Join James Harpur, Mark Roper and John F Deane for an evening of readings from three poets at the Crescent. Poetry NI also proudly presents the Belfast Book Festival Poetry Slam. Open to all poets, you are invited to take the mic and enter the annual poetry slam competition at the Crescent. Share your work in front of a lively and appreciative audience, with new readers always welcome.
To view the full festival programme visit www.belfastbookfestival.com
.