Words Weekend is coming to Salford: three days of literary speakers and events will unfold at The Lowry (Fri 27 – Sun 29 March), featuring an extremely impressive list of writers, performers and workshops. There are over 60 events on the programme, including record breaking explorer Ranulph Fiennes’ personal account of his journey through life, Margaret Atwood: Live in Cinemas and workshops on how to write for radio and soaps, led by industry professionals. It’s well worth the time to sift through the whole line-up, 25% of which will be free – but to get you going, we’ve put together a list of our top five events from the weekend below.
Max Porter is the author of the multi award-winning Grief Is the Thing with Feathers and Booker longlisted Lanny. Here, he reads extracts from both of his novels, along with specially-written pieces for Words Weekend, to responsive accompaniment from Sam Genders of folktronica band TUUNG. Commissioned exclusively for Words Weekend, this is a one-off event.
Since joining the groundbreaking Virago Press in 1978, Lennie Goodings has worked with writers who’ve shaped the course of literary history, including Margaret Atwood, Maya Angelou, Marilynne Robinson, Sarah Waters and Naomi Wolf. She is, then, brilliantly placed to reflect on important moments in feminist publishing; this illuminating event not only showcases the career of a remarkable woman, it also highlights the work still to be done to achieve proper representation in publishing.
Bury-born writer Emma Jane Unsworth is the author of the acclaimed novel Animals, her screenplay of which won the Debut Screenwriter category at the British Independent Film Awards, and the newly published novel Adults. It is this latest work that this event is based on; for Words Weekend, Unsworth dives into an exploration of how social media will affect the adults of the future with influencer, broadcaster and chair of the Portico Prize Simon Savidge
Featuring writing by 28 acclaimed women – including writers, artists, scientists and entrepreneurs – Europa28 is an urgent and incisive anthology that examines Europe from a variety of perspectives as it continues to evolve. This event is a special conversation between Europa28 contributors on the rise of nationalism and isolationism, disenfranchisement from Europe, social cohesion and where we go from here. The full list of speakers has yet to be announced, but each will be luminaries in their field.
Fri 27 Mar - Sun 29 Mar, The Lowry, Pier 8, The Quays, Salford, M50 3AZ, Tel: 0343 208 6000
www.wordsweekend.com
- Words:
- Polly Checkland Harding
- Published on:
- Sun 1 Mar 2020
Multi award-winning playwright, comedian, poet, theatre-maker and activist Jackie Hagan brings an abridged version of her ‘politically urgent’ (The Stage) and ‘very funny’ (The Guardian) show to Words Weekend. An angry, thoughtful response to the representation of disabled and working class people on the TV and at the theatre, This is not a Safe Space is based on interviews with 80 people on disability benefits, features inspired, furious poetry and includes an opportunity to win a Fray Bentos pie. Don’t miss it.