There’s less than a week to go before Liverpool celebrates the written, spoken and sung word as part of its biggest ever literary festival.
In Other Words kicks off in bestselling author style on Tuesday 23 April as Liverpool hosts the national flagship events for World Book Night at St George’s Hall.
Six world renowned authors – Philippa Gregory, Jasper Fforde, Jeanette Winterson, Patrick Ness, Jackie Kay and Frank Cottrell-Boyce – are taking part in packed readings and Q&A sessions. There are a very limited number of tickets for these free events available.
Local author Frank will also host a special session called Books at the Olympics. A small number of places are still available to hear him talk about the opening ceremony – which he wrote and conceived in partnership with Danny Boyle – and describe how much of its inspiration came from literature.
Anyone who wants to be part of the World Book Night events – the first time it has been held outside of London – there are also a limited number of FREE tickets for the following sessions at St George’s Hall:
• Crime in the Civil Courtroom – Where better to shine a spotlight on some of the best crime writing than from the dock of a genuine courtroom? Come and hear specially chosen readings from a lawyer, policeman, High Sheriff and an ex offender during a whistlestop literary tour through crime with the people who are part of the story.
• Period Drama in the Reid Room – Liverpool based theatre company, Impropriety, will be bringing their own brand of drama to a range of classic texts. Mixing readings from some of the most famous works in literature from Pride and Prejudice to Wuthering Heights with some world class improvisation, these sessions are not to be missed.
Liverpool City Council’s Cabinet Member for culture and tourism, Councillor Wendy Simon said: “It is a huge coup for the city to host World Book Night and is the perfect way to kick-start the In Other Words festival.
“It’ll be fascinating to hear these internationally renowned authors talk about their work, inspiration and maybe even give some top tips to the many budding writers who will be taking part.
“And it’s great to know that this evening is just the first of 350 events taking place across the city which will culminate in the eagerly anticipated re-opening of Central Library.”
World Book Night CEO, Julia Kingsford said: “From the smallest communities in the Highlands to those in our largest metropolitan centres like Liverpool, World Book Night has an incredible power to unite people from across society. It is amazing to see the passion of the people who come together to share in World Book Night and spread their love of reading.”
Jackie Kay, who will be performing in Liverpool, comments: “World Book night strips everything away to the bare essential: the good hearted feeling of a book in your hand, a companion by your side, the best of friends on your road through life.”
For full details of the programme, which includes World Book Night events, and to book tickets visit www.itsliverpool.com/culture.
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In Other Words is curated in partnership with Writing on the Wall, with the aim to make it a literary festival with a difference, appealing to established and budding writers and literary lovers alike. There is an emphasis on bringing events not only to high profile city buildings, but also to venues in various communities.
The festival will run from Tuesday 23 April until Sunday 19 May
The reopening of the library on Friday 17 May coincides with LightNight which unlocks the doors of Liverpool’s world class museums, galleries and heritage sites offering spectacular light projections, interactive street theatre, a big samba party, thought-provoking exhibitions, open studios, a free running workshop, violin concerts, a late night food and drink festival, a candle-lit labyrinth, craft bombing, Chinese arts showcase, architecture tours, a late night Ceilidh, Lindy Hop, Jive, Rock and Roll and much more! Running from 4pm to late, more than 130 free events are open to the public.
World Book Night is an annual event which aims to introduce books and reading to people who don’t often read, or don’t have regular access to books. On 23 April, 400,000 copies of 20 specially chosen books will be handed out by 20,000 volunteers across the country, to people in the hardest to reach communities. Another 100,000 will be distributed to homeless shelters, prisons, hospitals and care-homes.
World Book Night is partnered with the BBC. The BBC creates partnerships with the arts sector that go beyond broadcast, from sharing expertise to widening public engagement in UK arts.
World Book Night Titles 2013:
1. The Secret Scripture by Sebastian Barry (Faber)
2. Noughts and Crosses by Malorie Blackman (RHCB)
3. Girl with a Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier (HarperCollins)
4. The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde (Hodder)
5. Casino Royale by Ian Fleming (Vintage)
6. A Little History of the World by E. H. Gombrich (Yale)
7. The White Queen by Philippa Gregory (Simon & Schuster)
8. Little Face by Sophie Hannah (Hodder)
9. Damage by Josephine Hart (Virago)
10. The Island by Victoria Hislop (Headline)
11. Red Dust Road by Jackie Kay (Picador)
12. Last Night Another Soldier⦠by Andy McNab (Transworld)
13. Me Before You by JojoMoyes (Penguin)
14. The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness (Walker)
15. The Reader by Bernhard Schlink (Orion)
16. No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith (Little, Brown)
17. Treasure Island by R. L. Stevenson (Penguin)
18. The Road Home by Rose Tremain (Vintage)
19. Judge Dredd: The Dark Judges by John Wagner (Rebellion)
20. Why be Happy When You Could be Normal? by Jeanette Winterson (Vintage)
Now in its third year, World Book Night is a celebration of generosity, passion, participation and inclusion, known as the ‘World Book Night Experience’. Many experiences will unfold simultaneously across the UK, the USA and Ireland on 23 April. For more information on countrywide events go to www.worldbooknight.org
