Top Authors, Poets and Performers Revealed for Oswestry LitFest
Michael Morpurgo, author of the world-wide best-selling children’s book, War Horse, which became a global phenomenon when it transferred to the London stage and later a hit movie directed by Stephen Spielberg, is to headline the Oswestry Festival of the Word in March.
The fourth Festival of the Word takes place over ten performance-packed days from Saturday 9th – Tuesday 19th March 2013.
This year’s star-studded line up is topped and tailed by two exceptional literary figures. Michael Morpurgo formally opens the Festival on Mothering Sunday 10th March, whilst former English Poet Laureate, Andrew Motion, will close the literary feast with a poetry performance alongside the Endellion String Quartet at Holy Trinity Church on Tuesday 19th March - part of the Oswestry School Recital Series.
The full Litfest programme will be revealed at the 2013 Oswestry Festival of the Word launch party on Wednesday 16th January, 6pm-8pm, at The Walls restaurant. The event will be attended by award-winning actress, radio playwright and 2012 Booker Long-Listed author, Rachel Joyce.
Joyce’s poignantly funny best-selling debut novel, The Unexpected Pilgrimage of Harold Fry, was one of the smash hit novels of 2012, gaining the former stage actress turned author instant critical acclaim for her seamless transfer from radio to print.
Tickets for the launch event featuring readings from Rachel Joyce can be purchased from Festival Partner, Booka Bookshop or by calling Booka Bookshop on Tel: 01691 662244. Tickets cost £8.00 inclusive of a complimentary glass of Prosecco and nibbles, a discount redeemable against Fry’s paperback novel on the night and an early bird discount on the Festival’s signature events . Reserved tickets must be paid in full by Friday 4th January.
Oswestry LitFest Director, John Waine, from The Best of Oswestry website, declared: “We have another exceptional array of new and established literary, performance and theatrical talent lined up this year.
“It’s an eclectic programme covering literature, film, adult and children’s drama, poetry, song, journalism, creative writing workshops, school events, town events, fairly priced and free events, morning, noon and night events. We hope we’ve got something for everyone, appealing to all age ranges and budgets.”
OsLitFest, as it is now affectionately known, is a unique collaboration between the town’s leading arts & literature promoters – The Best of Oswestry website, Booka Bookshop, Oswestry School and Oswestry Library - and is supported by the Shropshire Council Libraries Team.
This year’s festival is sponsored once again by boutique PR & Corporate Comms firm, The Jools Payne Partnership. Competitively priced hospitality packages for sponsorship of the Festival’s signature events are now available from Jools Payne on 01691 712755 or by emailing jools@thejoolspaynepartnership.com
