Litfest

Our spring events season brochure is out, looking very springy and fresh, but more importantly is the info contained – the nectar, if you’re wanting to take the metaphor a little further. No? Well, Let’s drop it.

And cut to the chase of the highlights – for me at least. I’d be interested to hear what catches your eye.

So, needless to say I’m very much looking forward to the launch of Vanishing Act – the latest Flax anthology. Not just for the content of that, but for the fun we plan to have around presenting it. We’ve come up with some different ways for the audience to hear  the work, playing with how we receive the spoken word through different senses. And sorry, but I’m not sure how much more than that I want to give away. It’ll be good. Trust me. I’m the editor …

Also anticipating You Are Here, which looks like a stella poetry idea – threading together top class poets on a single theme – Daljit Nagra, Colette Bryce and Jo Shapcott reading work  around identity. I have no idea how it’ll be stitched together, but the producer, Julia Bird talks about it on Eyewear.  I understand the underlining premise is to create a dramatic performance out of poetry that was initially written for the page.

And in the novel corner, it has to bethe spooky night starring  Tom  Fletcher (last seen in Before the Rain) and Nick Royle who is a wonderfully erudite reader of his work, engaging performer and all-round funnyman – well, maybe not all round, but certainly he’s got a sharp eye, both for wit and for the wierd. They were introduced by a Flax mentoring scheme a few years ago, so should bring an informal camaraderie to the night.

That’s just three out of the twelve events running from March to June. And of course these are specific to my tastes. More on other people’s tastes here and elsewhere … keep your eyes peeled.