Manx Litfest boosted by grant from Manx Heritage Foundation Manx Litfest has received a major funding boost after being awarded a £5,000 grant from the Manx Heritage Foundation. The inaugural festival takes place in the Isle of Man from September 27-30 this year, drawing authors and poets from around the British Isles. The main Litfest hub will be the Villa Marina Complex, with other events held at venues around the Island . T he list so fa r o f au t ho r s and p o e ts ap p ear i ng at Manx L itfes t i nc lud es: R J E l l o r y – aut ho r o f n i ne nove ls , i nc lu d i ng A Simp le Act o f Vi o l ence, whi c h was name d t he T heaks t o ns Old Peculier Cr ime Novel o f t he Yea r at t he 2 01 0 Har ro gat e Cr i me Wr iting Fes tival, bea t i ng Ia n R a nk i n , Pe t e r Jame s and Mar k Billingham. Je re my Stro ng – p ro l i f i c c h i l d re n ’s w r i te r, w ith near ly 3 0 bo o ks to his na me – i nc lu d i ng T he Hu nd re d -M i l e -An-Hour Do g, Car to o n K i d a nd My B ro t he r ’s Famou s B o tto m. Jaspe r Ffo rde – c reato r o f t he T h u r sday Next d etective ser ies , the Nur ser y Cr i me s se r i e s and , fo r you ng e r read er s , The L as t Drago nslayer a nd se q u e l T he So ng o f the Quar k beas t. C hr is Ewa n – autho r o f the G o o d T h i e f ’s Gu id e cr ime novels , fea t ur i ng bu rgla r /mys te r y w r i te r Char l i e Howard . His f ir s t standalo ne novel , Safe Hou se, w i l l b e pub l ished in Augus t 2 0 1 2 . Coli n Dur iez – Wi th 2 0 1 2 mar k i ng the 75 t h a nniver sar y o f The Ho b b i t , a nd t he re l ease o f t he f i r s t o f Pe t e r Jackso n’s two Ho bbit movi es, we’ re del i g h te d t o have To l k i e n sc ho lar Co lin o n board . Con ference D i rec to r fo r the an n u al Fe s tival in the Shire, he’s also wri t t en b o o ks o n CS Lew is and Har r y Po tte r. Trevo r No r to n – P ro fe s so r o f Mar i ne B i o l o gy at the Univer s ity of Liver po o l a nd fo r me r Di re c t o r o f Po r t E r i n Mar ine L abo r ato r y, Trevo r has au t ho re d mo re t han 1 5 0 sc i e n ti f i c publicatio ns and boo ks, i nc lud i ng Re f l e c ti o ns o n a Su mme r Sea and Smo k ing E ar s a nd Sc rea m ing Te e t h , and is an au t ho r i ty o n the his to r y o f sci ent i fi c d ivi ng. T here a re ma ny i n fo r mal g rou p s , who me e t in member s ’ ho mes or i n pub s, a nd o t he r, mo re fo r mal c lub s that meet at libr ar ies and a r t s cent res. I f you are a me mb e r o f a b oo k club and would li ke a visi t fro m o ne o f ou r team , please dro p u s a l i ne at ma nx li t fest @g mai l . co m wi t h da t es a nd ve n u e s o f you r for t hco m i ng mee t i ngs . Boo k fa ns ca n fi nd ou t mo re by visi t i ng www.ma nxl i tfe s t. co m Foll ow us o n Tw i t ter (w ww.t wi t t er.co m /manxl i t fe s t) Foll ow us o n Faceb o o k (www.facebook.com/manxlitfest).
Art & Culture Events February... EAC Piano Series – Mohamed Shams Friday 3rd 2000 // £10 // Erin Arts Centre, Port Erin // 832662 // erinartscentre.com Supported by the Isle of Man Arts Council, Mohamed Shams performs, by kind permission of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, a selection of pieces including works by Bach, Chopin, Lizst and Ravel. MADF One Act Plays Festival Thursday 9th to Saturday 11th 1930 nightly // £8 (£1 under 18) // Erin Arts Centre, Port Erin // 832662 // erinartscentre.com Including pieces by the Rushen Players, Stage One Youth Group, Loose Cannons, Vera’s Youth Group and the Service Players. Music to Watch Shoppers Buy Saturday 11th 1400 onwards // Strand Shopping Centre A Sheean Prash concert in aid of Alzheimer’s Society Isle of Man. The talented brass quintet will perform as part of an appeal by Headteacher Adrian Shorthouse to raise at least £3,000 for the local charity by running his first London Marathon. Featuring favourites by The Beatles, Mancini and Gershwin. Soundcheck Friday 16th 1900 // £3 // Promenade Suite, Villa Marina // 14+ only DEC Young Bands’ Project, organised by the Isle of Man Department of Education & Children – this event showcases the best in young local musical talent. Friends of Garretts Gallery Exhibition Throughout February 1000-1800 Tue,Wed,Sat // Free // Garretts Gallery, Kirby Farm Ind Est // garrettsgallery.webs. com Featured Artists include Jeriel Bacani; Faye Christian; Gill Dyer; Natasha Kinrade; Sarah Quayle-Smith; and Judi Rivlin Curating the TT Races Friday 17th 2:30 & 19:30//£18+//Gaiety Theatre//600555 Curator of Social History Matthew Richardson reflects on MNH’s motorcycle racing exhibitions of the past five years, selecting and discussing some of the most interesting aspects, and talking about how the exhibitions came together. Manx Museum // Douglas //Tickets £5 from the Manx Museum Shop.
Joh n Q uir k , Fest ival Di re c to r Tel : 0 762 4 4 64 63 4
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