ABERDEEN: Wordfringe 2009

1st – 31st May 2009
Festival of New Writing in Aberdeen
and North-East Scotland
www.wordfringe.co.uk

Wordfringe 2009 presents poets, fiction writers, dramatists, storytellers, comedians, translators, musicians, composers and sound artists, from North-East Scotland and beyond, in the innovative festival exploring the spoken and written word in performance. Events take place in venues in Aberdeen and many towns and villages throughout Aberdeenshire.

This year Wordfringe forms a part of Homecoming Scotland, the year-long celebration of Scottish culture, with a vibrant mix of the best of local, national and international talent. As you browse through the Event Calendar you will find writers and performers from Scotland, England, Ireland, Wales, Netherlands, France, Sweden, Germany, Greece, Texas, Indiana, Oregon, Nepal and New Zealand. Some are visiting the North-East specially, some have made their home here, and some are returning after time away.

Among the many highlights of this year's festival is a series of events exploring the variety of relationships between words and music, presented in conjunction with the Sound festival, including the Pennan premiere of Richard Ingham's From Pennan to Penang and the world premiere of Fredrik Sixten's Requiem in a new English version by John Hearne.

Look out too for some big names in performance poetry including John Hegley and Attila the Stockbroker, a weekend of events at North Coast venues and a weekend at Woodend Barn including visits from Esther Woolfson and Laura Hird. Then there's drama from Philip Knight's Prometheus and Charles Barron's Guts, and some highly innovative poetry events presented by Spring Tides at Peacock Visual Arts, including a visit from Shetland poet Jen Hadfield, winner of the 2008 T. S. Eliot prize.

Add into the mix children's poetry events in Aberdeen and Fraserburgh, workshops for the writers among us to develop our skills, several book and magazine launches, events featuring local writers' groups, and an intimate open poetry evening where anyone can read, and you have one of the most varied, entertaining, challenging and stimulating ways of spending a month that you could imagine.

Most events are modestly priced — some are free — and no events clash so you can come to as many as you choose. Browse the Programme Strands and the full Event Calendar at the website, be adventurous, visit venues you have never been to before, and find out why those who have discovered Wordfringe keep coming back for more.