Programme
Download the Festival Programme
Announcing the 4th Oswestry Festival of the WORD programme. Just click to download this A4 Programme (in PDF format).
All booking details are on there – if in doubt, call our BOOKA BOX OFFICE on 01691 662244.
There is truly something for everyone.
Come along and see what you fancy going along too. Bring a friend, hey, bring two friends. 
All in all, have a fabulous time.
SOLD OUT
BULLETS & DAFFODILS
Friday, 8th March at 7.30pm at Oswestry Cricket ClubTickets: £6 BOOK: 01691 662244 or email mail@bookabookshop.co.uk
BULLETS AND DAFFODILS is a musical drama based on the life and poetry of Wilfred Owen. Music and lyrics by Dean Johnson.
As the 100th anniversary of the start of World War One approaches, Wilfred Owen’s poetry remains a gigantic legacy. Myths of pacifism and hidden longings, which have left his personal life shrouded in mystery, and his undoubted courage, compassion and an instinct for razor sharp verse, combine to illustrate this musical tale of the handsome boy from the Shropshire hills and the backstreets of Birkenhead.
In this performance, Dean Johnson weaves narrative songs from Owen’s greatest verses.
SOLD OUT
MICHAEL MORPURGO LIVE AT THE MARCHES
Sunday, 10th March at 3pm at The Marches School
See Michael Morpurgo, bestselling author of War Horse, live in Oswestry.
The headline event at this year’s Oswestry Lit Fest:
After the world-wide success of Warhorse, and best-selling books, Private Peaceful and the new First World War novel A Medal for Leroy, Michael will be at the Marches School, to talk about his life and work, and read his favourite poetry from Where My Wellies Take Me, the anthology he wrote with his wife Clare.
TICKETS: Adults £10, Children £5.
BOOK at Booka Bookshop.
Call 01691 662244
Or email: mail@bookabookshoop.co.uk
SOLD OUT
THE BOOKSHOP BAND LIVE AT BOOKA!
Monday, 11th March at 7pm at The Marches School
The Bookshop Band write songs inspired by books, and will be playing them in independent bookshops, literary festivals and libraries in the UK and Europe all over 2013.
Yep, word quickly spread about The Bookshop Band and they were picked up by radio DJ Tom Robinson who played them on his national Introducing show on BBC 6Music. More recently the band had a 10 minute feature on Kirsty Lang’s culture show, BBC Radio 4’s Front Row, and a feature on The Today Program. The band appeared on BBC 1 as part of a news feature on Britain’s independent bookshops.
Tickets: just £5
from Booka Bookshop
Call: 01691 662244
Email: mail@bookabookshop.co.uk
SHROPSHIRE’S LITERARY HEROES
A TIME TO LISTEN SPECIAL/FREE – BOOKING REQD
Tuesday 12th March from 2pm to 3pm
Shropshire’s famous writers will be in the spotlight during a special ‘Time To Listen’ session for adults at Oswestry Library on Tuesday 12th March from 2pm to 3pm.
Library staff will read fiction extracts and poems from the pens of county authors and poets such as Ellis Peters, Wilfred Owen and Barbara Pym. Special guest, David Armstrong, will also read from his crime novels with a Shropshire setting.
This is a FREE event but booking is advised. For more information, contact the library on 01691-677388 or email oswestry.library@shropshire.gov.uk
The Poets’ Howl
featuring Oswestry Writing Lab
Tues 12th March, 7.00pm at The Ironworks, FREE entry
This is an open mic event and a chance for Oswestrians and festival visitors to perform their own poems in front of an enthusiastic and supportive audience of poetry lovers.
RESERVE YOUR SPOT: info@oswestrylitfest.co.uk to bag your spot. (All)
For more info, on this writing group, click Oswestry Writing Lab
LAST REMAINING TICKETS
How To Get Published & Creative Writing Workshop
with Alison Baverstock
Wednesday 13th March, 2-5pm at The Walls
Experienced writer, journalist with The Independent and author of best-seller, The Naked Author, Alison takes you step by step through art of getting publishing and creative writing.
Workshop tickets: £25 (includes signed book “The Naked Author”)
SOLD OUT
The Story of Beatrice Cadbury
with Fiona Joseph
Wednesday 13th March, 7-8:30pm
Learn about the Cadbury Heiress who gave away her fortune!
Meet author Fiona Joseph and hear the full and facinating story of Beatrice.
Tickets just £4 (includes refreshments)
TO BOOK: Call 01691 677388 or pop in to Oswestry Library.
Footie Tales from the Touchline
Thursday 14th March, 7.30-9pm
A fascinating evening in store with The Independent’s Northern Footbal Correspondent, Ian Herbert with BBC Radio Shropshire’s James Bond.
Tickets: just £4 including a beer from the fabulous STONEHOUSE BREWERY.
TO BOOK: Call 01691 677388 or pop in to the library.
LAST REMAINING TICKETS
The Wind in the Willows at Oswestry Lit Fest
Saturday 16th March, 2:30pm till 3:30pm
THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS by Kenneth Grahame A Participation Musical for Everyone Over 5 years Old! Presented by Image Musical Theatre from London.
THIS IS FAMILY THEATRE AT IT’S VERY BEST!
This incredibly popular, vibrant musical production tells the tales of the River Bank, the Open Road and the Wild Wood with the exuberant Mr Toad, Mole, Ratty and Badger!
During the first act, half hour rehearsal, some children are chosen and rehearsed into their parts while the rest of the audience is taught the choruses of four songs.
TICKETS: Adults £8, Children £4.
BOOK at Booka Bookshop. Call 01691 662244
LAST REMAINING TICKETS
Yikes! Dalek in the Library!
Sunday 17th March, 2pm till 4pm
To celebrate Dr Who’s 50th Anniversary and come face to face with a Dalek!
It’s not often you see a Dalek in the flesh. Adults will be provided sofas to hide behind.
Tickets: just £2
TO BOOK: Call 01691 677388 or pop in to the library.
SOLD OUT
Award-winning Movie, THE LIFE OF PI
Saturday, 16th March at 7.30 in Attfield Theatre
Shown in association with Borderlines Film Festival and Kinokulture, this a
ward-winning film will no doubt be a sell-out. Please book early to get your ticket!
Tickets: £5/£3
TO BOOK: Call 0845 2500517 or email info@kinokulture.org.uk
SOLD OUT
WILFRED OWEN: LIFE & LETTERS
Monday 18th March 2013 7.00pm to 9.30pm at Booka
The poetry of Wilfred Owen has been part of our country’s history for almost 100 years. Many of us will know the titles of some of his work even if we aren’t able to recall them entirely.
However, alongside his poetry writing, Owen was a prolific letter writer and it is these letters that provide an insight into the man, his friends and the day to day happenings of his all too short life.
18th March 2013 marks the 120th anniversary of Wilfred Owen. Join us for an evening of letters and poetry read by members of Oswestry Speakers Corner in which we chart Owen’s journey from Oswestry to France, his relationship with Siegfried Sassoon and his unique relationship with this mother, evidenced by his letters. We seek out just what it is that makes Owen one of the most memorable war poets of all time.
SOLD OUT
In Conversation with Kate Atkinson
Friday, 22nd March at 7pm for 7.30 at The Wynnstay Hotel
Join us for an evening with bestselling author Kate Atkinson as she talks about her new novel, Life After Life.
Life After Life follows Ursula Todd as she lives through the turbulent events of the last century again and again. With wit and compassion, Kate finds warmth even in life’s bleakest moments, and shows an extraordinary ability to evoke the past. Here she is at her most profound and inventive, in a novel that celebrates the best and worst of ourselves.
Tickets £15 (redeemable against the purchase of Life After Life on the night) Refreshments provided.
Please book in advance – for tickets, call in at the shop, give us a call or send us an email (01691 662244)
If you can’t make the event, but would like to pre-order a signed, dedicated copy of Life After Life, please contact us.
SOLD OUT – 2013 FESTIVAL LAUNCH with RACHEL JOYCE
Join the 2012 Man Booker long-listed author, Rachel Joyce, for the official launch of the 4th Oswestry Festival of the Word at The Walls Restaurant on Wednesday 16th January.Rachel Joyce is an established writer in radio and has written over 20 original plays for Radio 4. Her debut novel The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry is a tender, comic and very British coming of (old) age story. It was Long-listed for the Man Booker Prize 2012 and is published in paperback in January 2013.
this March.
Tickets £8 (includes a signed copy of The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry, plus refreshments).
Please book in advance – for tickets, call in at the shop, give us a call or send us an email.We look forward to welcoming you to Oswestry in March 2013.
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