DURHAM LITERATURE FESTIVAL 2000
FESTIVAL DIARY.....
Sunday 4 June
And it's still raining! Flooding is so bad that Bishop Auckland makes the national news. We can't help but worry that our audience for today's reading will heed the police's advice only to make essential journey's. Does a poetry reading count as an essential journey?
Imtiaz Dharker is travelling from London. Much to her consternation at York everyone is asked to leave the train. After about ten minutes everyone is told to get back on.
Just over 30 people attend the reading. Both poets are gentle, and perceptive and are warmly received.
The poets, Gillian Alnutt (centre) and Imtiaz Dharker (far right) chat with the audience after the reading and sign copies of their books.
Monday 5 June
Jonathan Tullock, author of Season Ticket, is visiting a local factory, Mono-Containers, which for the last three years has given financial support to the literature festival.
He's due to give a reading in the staff canteen but before-hand he's given a tour of the factory. Mono-Containers make yoghurt pots and the factory is spotlessly clean - hence the stylish blue overalls and hair net. The earplugs are an optional extra that we happily accept - the noise is deafening. It turns out that Jonathan used to work in a yoghurt making factory - his life has come full circle!
Jonathan Tullock on the left listens to a description of the pot-making process.
The reading is brilliant. Jonathan was also an actor at some point in his previous career as well as a teacher. he knows how to grab your attention and his characterisation of the boys in his novel is spot on - as are the accents, naturally.
In the evening the winners of the Northern Writers Awrds read extracts from their current work at Durham City Library. It's a satisfyingly diverse selection and again the writers are happy to talk to the public and expand on their experiences
Margaret Wilkinson and Andrew Waterhouse
Roger Cornwell, another Guardian Angel, demonstrates original fashion flair.
Derek English, District Librarian and an essential supporter of the Word4Word
Tuesday 6 June
Lemn Sissay and Sarah Maguire are challenging, moving and thoroughly entertaining. Lemn insists the audience CLAP if they enjoy his poetry - none of this polite waiting until the half time break. We are relieved to be released from this straight-jacket and enthusiastically clap after every poem.
