Bristol Festival of Literature 2013

Starting from tomorrow 19th October until the 27th October Bristol is hosting the Festival of Literature, where 60 writters will perform in 28 different venues. It is a 'themed celebration of the creative word', as they say in the official website. As they say, 'it is a non-for-profit venture, currently unfunded by any public money, but grateful for the support of local firms and the people of Bristol'.

I summarized most of the events happening in the Festival of Literature. However, check the programme in the official website to check ticket prices and times, just to make sure they are the correct. I like the secrecy when describing the events, when you read the descriptions you don't really get the idea of what the events are about. 

There is one event that caught my eye: I would like to highlight a very interesting project called Citywide Tentacle. It is an event divided into 3 parts, and each of them will be host in different venues in Bristol. The ideas is to create a part of a story in each session (beginning, middle and end) involving different people and picking the story up from what it has been done in the previous session(s). It will be interesting to see the outcome story!

PROGRAMME

Saturday 19th October: Learn about InterAct, a charity that uses literature for healing at The Parlour between 2-3pm, or if you prefer, explore the relationship between Roman Fact and Roman Fiction in Bristol Museum for free between 2-4pm (booking required). The Bristol Short Story Prize Award Ceremony, which will also be for free (email boxoffice@unputdownable.org to book a ticket), will take place in Arnolfini. 

Sunday 20th October: There are three events going on Sunday. The first one is an even suitable for kids called  Forage! Ashton Trails, Tales & Tipples in Ashton Court Visitors Centre between 2-4pm; the second event is called Pink Mist: drama in the caves, and it will be hosted in the Redcliffe Caves between 7-8pm where Owen Sheers will perform (5 pounds, 2.5 students). The third event, Fear: tales in the caves, will start right after (8.30pm) and will cost the same.

Monday 21th October: At 7pm, Henleaze Library will held Citywide Tentacle, Part 1, a free event where Edson Burton and you will design a start of a story as a group of survivors in the apocalypse. It will come together at the second part on 26th October, to which contributors are invited for free (5/2.5 stud). Another even will be held at 7pm Redcliffe Caves called Crime in the caves! (5/2.5).

Tuesday 22nd October: Citywide Tentacle, Part 2 will be in Junction 3 Library, and will design the middle part of the story picking up from on the first chapter from Henleaze. The Rum Reading will be happening in The Parlour, where Jasper Gibson will perform, and there will be free Venezuelan rum tasting.

Wednesday 23rd October: The Central Library will host Unchained at 7pm, celebrating library's 400th anniversary. Survive & Thrive in Self-Publishing will be held in The Parlour at 6pm with Helen Hart and Mike Manson. There will also be another event happening at the same location at 8pm called  Thriller Time @ Word of Mouth where Chris Ewan will read some narratives from his newest publish. 

Thursday 24th October: Bristol's Writers' Conference will take place on Thursday in 3 parts in Spike Island starting from 6pm until 9.15pm. One ticket for each part will cost 5 pounds (2.5 students) but you can get a single ticket to attend to all of them for 12 pounds. There will also be another event in Stanfords called On the Road, Off the Page at 6pm with Tom Phillips, Tom Sykes and Mike Manson.

Friday 25th October: The Citywide Tentacle continues with its third part in the Central Library at 6pm to design the end of the story. The Parlour will host Art + Power at 2pm and Word Karaoke at 8pm. 

Saturday 26th October: Saturday is full of events. Saturday Sport at Hooper House Cafe at noon and Launch Pad at 1.30pm, The Unputdownable Speakeasy 2013 at Left Bank at 7.30pm, The Best Port of Trade in Britain at the MShed (2pm), Andy MacNab...! in Hamilton House at 6pm...

Sunday 27th October: the only event going on this day is Miles Chambers, lyrical minded: Radio stories and verse in Ujima 98FM.

I would say half of the events are for free, check the programme in the official website. Nevertheless, it is just 5 pounds (2.5 for students) for any ticket for the rest of the events, so not much. Besides, there are discounts applicable if you buy more than one ticket.

Just choose your favourites and enjoy the Festival of Literature!

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