Shoreham Wordfest tickets set to go on sale

The annual festival, from September 20 to October 11, will feature 34 exciting events celebrating ‘all things wordy’.

New events this year include a link up with West Sussex Libraries, in which people are encouraged to read Alison MacLeod’s acclaimed novel, Unexploded.

The link-up culminates in a discussion with the author, Adur Reads – Unexploded at the Ropetackle Arts Centre on Friday, October 2, at 7.30pm.

Chairman Rosalind Turner said: “This is the first time we have worked with the library service to get as many people as possible to read one book and then to meet the author.”

The Wordfest programme includes lots of big names, as well as more local events. There are three children and family events, plus dinner with Julie Gearey, author of Cuffs, the BBC police series being filmed in Shoreham.

Mrs Turner said: “We have the world première of Roll Over Atlantic, a new show by Carribbean-British poet and performer John Agard, and a special talk, Simpson and I, by Oggy Boytchev about his time working with the BBC’s John Simpson in some of the most dangerous places on earth.

“The funky Catalyst Club moves from Brighton to Shoreham for Wordfest, with Dr David Bramwell taking the No9 Bus to Utopia and Richard Robinson, curator of Brighton Science Festival, engaging the audience with puns and wordplay.”

Playwright David Hare talks about his new memoir, The Blue Touch Paper, at his former school, Lancing College and controversial journalist Julie Burchill talks about her book, Unchosen, at Sussex Yacht Club.

Mrs Turners continued: “John Crace, of the Guardian’s Digested Reads, and Professor John Sutherland ask ‘can a book change your life’ and we have a talk on the Magna Carta, which was definitely influential as a foundation for political rights.

“David Courtney, the internationally-acclaimed songwriter and man behind the pop career of former Shoreham resident Leo Sayer and Roger Daltry, is celebrating his long career in music with a special show at Ropetackle, hosted by former DJ Mike Read.”

Carol Cleveland, star of Monty Python, gives a taste of her glamorous Hollywood lifestyle as a young woman.

Other highlights include Shoreham author Tom Cutler staging Pack up Your Troubles, a show featuring songs from both world wars, with the stories of the people who wrote and sang them, and a talk with Wordfest patron Simon Brett on how authors avoid writing.

Meet the Wordfest team and pick up a brochure at Shoreham Farmers’ Market, 9am to 1pm on Saturday, or visit the Ropetackle Arts Centre to book.

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