The Going West Books and Writers Festival celebrates 20
years with a line-up of outstanding home-grown authors, playwrights and
songwriters in a packed programme of events this September.
Featuring enthralling new non-fiction by David Slack, Roger
Horrocks, and Geoff Chapple; new novels from Greg McGee, Stephanie Johnson and
Anna Smaill and poetry by Harry Ricketts and Leilani Tamu, audiences will also
be treated to an appearance from Rachel Barrowman talking about her
just-published biography on Maurice Gee and biographer Lucy Treep offers a
tantalising insight into the life of Maurice Shadbolt.
Festival founder and director Murray Gray says this year’s
writers will become part of the considerable legacy of conversations built up
over two decades.
Going West Festival audiences have been treated over the
years to extraordinary events featuring such literary luminaries as Allen
Curnow, Michael King, Nigel Cox, Ian Wedde, Anne Salmond, Lauris Edmond,
Maurice Gee and Maurice Shadbolt.
The
festival is named after its Patron, Maurice Gee’s novel Going West.
“I've been to many writing festivals but none as relaxed and friendly as the
Going West...Long may it continue,” says Gee.
“I am delighted to say the Going West Trust, in
association with the Waitakere Ranges Local Board, will be offering a new
creative residency from 2017, in Maurice Shadbolt’s home of some 40 years,
here in Titirangi.
“The house has plenty of material for writers to draw on.
Shadbolt loved a party, and there were many in his home. He had a colourful
personality and lived here through four marriages. We are so pleased the
Waitakere Ranges Local Board has entrusted us with the lease of this culturally
valuable property,” says Gray.
The Festival also announces a partnership with
Auckland’s new home for Māori theatre, Te Pou who will be
holding a Koanga (Spring) Festival offering a range of performances,
writing workshops and readings and culminating in a community Whānau Day of
storytelling on Saturday 12 September at the theatre’s home 44A Portage Road,
New Lynn.
Te Pou will present a development season of The Great
American Scream by award-winning playwright Albert Belz in the Going West
Festival from 17-19 September.
Going West Festival welcomes lauded theatre work, Sister
Anzac, by Geoff Allen, which runs from 3-6 September at Te Pou Theatre in
New Lynn.
Stand-up poets have time to sharpen their acts before the Going
West Poetry Slam takes place on 12 September. Directed by Doug Poole, this
will be a fun, fast-paced evening featuring some of the country’s best known
bards. Handsome cash prizes to be won.
Stephanie Johnson, who made her first festival appearance,
with an early novel at the first Going West Festival in 1996, will be the
Sir Graeme Douglas Orator this year. This will be part of the festival
weekend’s opening night celebrations on Friday 11 September.
The full Going West Books and Writers Festival programme
will be online at www.goingwestfest.co.nz
from July 9. For tickets go to: www.iticket.co.nz
The Festival is grateful for support from the Waitakere
Ranges Local Board, Creative New Zealand, The Trusts Community Foundation,
Foundation North and the Douglas family Trust.
Key dates:
9
July
Going West Books and Writers Festival LAUNCH
TICKETS ON SALE
11- 13
September Going
West Books and Writers Literary Weekend. Titirangi War Memorial Hall, 500 south
Titirangi Rd, Titirangi
12
September
Going West Poetry Slam. Titirangi War Memorial Hall, 500 south Titirangi Rd,
Titirangi
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