Festival Programme
Book Fete
An old-fashioned lo-fi village fete that's all about books. We will be launching the first festival vintage clothes and book swap to encourage a greener approach to reading and living. Bring along your unworn and nearly new clothes and accessories, clean books, kids' books, DVDs, CDs and magazines from 9am-12pm on Saturday then come back from 12pm and swap them! The many publishers that we are working with on the festival have donated loads of books for the swap so come along early to bag new books by festival authors and many others donated by Transworld, Penguin, Granta, Faber and Macmillan among others. A host of vintage clothes sellers will also have stalls on the day from which you will be able to purchase unique items to wear.
Timetable
9.30am-11.30am: Bring clothes and books for the Swap. Make sure they are clean and of a good quality. (See below to read how the clothes swap works) We have a stack of books that have been donated from publishers we are working with on the festival this year, so make sure you're here for 12 if you want the pick of the pile.
12pm: Grand opening of the Fete by Tony Horne, Metro Radio’s breakfast presenter. A chance to see Tony in the flesh and to watch him cut a ribbon of some sort!
Swaps then open for business
During the afternoon, Durham Library Services will be providing a children's storytelling corner for younger children. Kids can also pick up some great Halloween tips for fun and games from Josie Curran's great new book Organised Fun. Josie's publishers Macmillan have generously provided Halloween themed game-sheets and booklets which you can pick up on the day.
Author readings at the Fete
We have a packed afternoon of authors to keep you entertained:
12.45pm: Victoria Moore, The Guardian’s wine correspondent gives a coffee-making and tasting demonstration. Find out how to tell your Kenyan from your Columbian and how to make a good cup of coffee.
1.15pm: Catherine Blyth on The Art of Conversation, her wonderful new book that puts the emphasis on good conversation.
2pm: Sheila Binks launches her new book, published by North East publisher Vane Women Press.
2.15pm: Tony Horne, in conversation about Hornes Down Under, his new comic travel memoir about traveling across Australia with his family.
3pm: Crime and thriller writers Valerie Laws and Nik Jones talk about their new books which feature in the 2009 Read Regional campaign.
3.30pm: Peter Mortimer launches his new book, Camp Shatila, A Writer’s Chronicle. Peter Mortimer lived for two months in Shatila Refugee Camp, Beirut, towards the end of 2008. During his time on camp he created a children's drama group at the Shatila school. Despite having only a basic grasp of the language, the children performed the play in English. Their production came to the North East this September to sell-out events at the Sage and The Customs House in South Shields. Peter has just won the arts section of the CIC 2009 Diversity Awards. Today he launches the book which chronicles his journey and experiences.
4pm: Charles Fernyhough presents Anti-Parenting for Dummies, his jargon-free guide to getting to know your child, adapted from his book, The Baby in the Mirror.
4.30pm: Poet and public artist (of County Durham’s Spennymoor Letters) Ira Lightman presents new poems inspired by today’s Scrabble Tournament.
Scrabble Tournament
A grand Scrabble tournament will take place between 2pm and 4.30pm, hosted by poet Kate Fox. Join in and see if you can win a prize! Play fellow bookheads and improve your wordplay with readers and writers.
Workshops
Try your hand at something new at the Fete
1pm-2pm: Flash fiction writing workshop
Come and learn how to write a story in 50-400 words with Valerie Laws, and then enter it for the Mslexia Flash 50 Competition on the day. Three winners will win £10 book tokens.
2pm-3pm: Making books with Chris and Chloe Morton
Makers of exquisite hand-made books, artists Chris and Chloe Morton will guide people through the process of making two different book structures. (Suitable for children and adults)
3pm-4pm: Love Bites: writing love letters
Vane Women writing co-operative will take love as a theme and give you the opportunity to write your own love letter on heart-shaped paper.
4pm-5pm: Making comic books
Members of the Paper Jam Comic Collective will help you draw, write and then put together a comic book. (Suitable for children and adults)
Knit a Book Cosy
Keep your books comfy and warm this winter. Our green theme continues with drop-in sessions on how to make a book cosy out of old plastic bags. Bring plastic bags and Coats Crafts will provide the needles. Friendly knitters will be on hand to help you through the process. With special thanks to Sue Chaplin.
Tickets
Tickets to the Fete itself are £5/£3 (concs) and £2 to Durham Students’ Union Members.
Book via the Gala Theatre on 0191 332 4041 or online at www.galadurham.co.uk.
There is no additional charge for workshops, but please book in advance by emailing catriona@newwritingnorth.com.
Saturday 24 October
Durham Students’ Union, 9am-5pm
Ticket (acts as day pass to event): £5/£3 (Concessions)/£2 (Durham Students’ Union members)
Durham Students’ Union
Dunelm House
New Elvet
Durham
DH1 3AN
Tel: 0191 334 1777
www.dsu.org.uk
Further info
Clothes Swapping with Daisy Green Events
How the clothes swap works
Bring your clothes to the venue, where the team will check and sort them for you. Please bring as many items that you can which are in great condition, to donate to the clothes swap and bring them on hangers where possible. You can also bring unlimited accessories. You will receive one passport for entry to the swap. The number of items you have donated will be recorded on your swapping passport and you can take the same amount of clothing and/or accessories home with you.
Trying swap items on
There will be a changing area for you to try your clothes on. You may only take them amount of clothes to try on that is shown on your swapping passport. If you wish to take more pieces home than you donated, please see a member of the team. Normally the cost will be £2 per item.
You must show your passport before leaving
Before leaving the clothes swap, your passport will be checked to ensure the number of items you’re taking home correspond to the items you brought with you. This is to ensure things are fair for everyone. All clothing left over at the end of the evening will be donated to charity.
Sponsors