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Home-grown talent to feature at Festival of Words

Home-grown talent to feature at Festival of Words

Sunday 02 September 2018

Home-grown talent to feature at Festival of Words

Sunday 02 September 2018


It might draw in internationally-acclaimed authors, but this year's Festival of Words will also be all about celebrating the talent we have closer to home.

The festival, which runs from Wednesday 26 to Sunday 30 September, will also aim to encourage up and coming Jersey writers.

Still engaged in a political career that includes a spell as the second (so far) longest-serving Constable of St. Helier, Simon Crowcroft is also an award-winning poet, playwright and writer of short stories.

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Pictured: St. Helier Constable Simon Crowcroft.

With a back catalogue of work often exploring political and religious themes, Mr Crowcroft will give a reading at the Opera House Studio at 15:30 on 29 September.

Paul Darroch, another published local writer, will be discussing his new collection of seafaring tales 'White Star, Blue Iceberg: Jersey Sea Stories' at Jersey Arts Centre. 

Jersey Library will host several Jersey author events including a talk on local mythology by Erren Michaels at 13:10 on 27 September, and a presentation by writer Tony Le Moignan on his latest novel on 29 September at 14:00. Entitled 'A Long Goodbye', his work is an exploration of the impact and effects of early-onset Alzheimer’s.

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Pictured: Anthony Le Moignon will give a presentation over the festival weekend.

Then there's a presentation from the Jersey Gilbert and Sullivan Society, who will celebrate the great lyricist - W.S. Gilbert - that inspired their group at the Opera House on 29 September at 17:30. They'll aim to discuss the works that go beyond the classic operatic collaborations with Arthur Sullivan, delving into his plays, fiction and comic verse.

This year marks the first Jersey Festival of Words Poetry Competition, which commemorates the inspirational Jersey poet and literature teacher Alan Jones, who died five years ago this September. The prizes for the competition will be presented by poetry superstar Lemn Sissay, laureate of the London Olympics, before his own Opera House performance.

Schools, meanwhile, will be battling it out in verse with the return of the popular Farrago Poetry Slam and poetry will also be on the menu at St. Helier’s newly opened Pizza Projekt.

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Pictured: The Jersey Song Project is led by Jèrriais expert and musician Kit Ashton, from Jèrriais band Badlabecques.

Aspiring lyricists are invited to enter the brand new Jersey Song Project, one of the current initiatives promoting the Island’s native language, Jèrriais.

There will also be expert advice on offer with workshops on Writing a Novel, with Richard Skinner, director of the fiction programme at the Faber Academy. Mr Skinner will be at the Opera House Studio on 29 September at 13:45.

Memoir writers will not bet left out with historian Duncan Barrett, author of the new collection of Occupation memories, Hitler’s British Isles, offering his best tips at the Arts Centre on 29 September at 13:00

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Pictured: Romance writer Laura Carter and blogger Emma Critchley.

Islander Emma Critchley, who runs the Island Living 365 blog, will explore blogging in the Arts Centre's Maria Ritchie Room on 29 September at 10:45. Laura Carter will follow at 12:30 to talk about her experience as a romance novelist and share tips with budding writers. 

Paul Bisson, festival vice-chairman, said: "We’re delighted to be offering fresh opportunities for island writing. As well as inspiring future writers it’s important to celebrate the Island’s tremendous literary talent. Jersey Festival of Words is delighted and honored to be able to do this both locally and on a national stage."

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