DURHAM LITERATURE FESTIVAL 2000
FESTIVAL DIARY.....
Thursday 8 June
The next three events are in the ornate surrounding of the Council Chamber in Durham's Town Hall. This splendid building is in the Market Place, the heart of the City .
Imogene Cloet has again provide us with a quirky stage design which helps focus attention on the writers and contrasts boldly with the opulant hall.
Tonight its THREE POETS , namely Jo Shapcott, Helen Dunmore and UA Fanthorpe. All are excellent and the audience love them.
It is true to say however, and with ith no disrespect intended to either Jo Shapcott or Helen Dunmore, that the double act of Ursula Fanthorpe and her companion Rosie, stole the show. A member of the audience described them afterwards as being in the best tradition of English eccentrics and UA Fanthorpe as a bloody good poet to boot!
There were problems with the sound system which marred the second half of the evening somewhat - you had to strain to catch the questions asked by the audience. But the audience (and the hall was packed) was extremely understanding - possibly because the poets were so generous with their time at the signing sesion.
All three poets signed books after the show, UA Fanthorpe in a a colourful brocade waistcoat.
Time to go home.
Three poets hit the road.
Friday 9 June
We meet the day with some trepidation. Andrew Motion should have been sharing the platform with Simon Armitage, but for personal reasons has been forced to withdraw and at short notice. We haven't been able to secure a replacement which means that Simon Armitage has to hold the stage alone. He's obvously well able to do this - though this isn't quite what he signed up for. We have already lost some of our audience, those people who particularly wanted to hear the poet Laureate or who were particularly attracted to the double bill. Will they feel short-changed with only one poet on the night?
Richard Orr, the technician has worked on the sound system and we feel confident that it will be an improvement on yesterday.
Lucy, a volunteer two year's in a row now , distributes questionaires to the gathering audience.
The evening is a brilliant success. The audience are entranced by Simon Armitage and we have virtually a full house.
Ali Lister, Festival Co-ordinator attempts to decapitate Beatrice, another exploited volunteer.
Saturday 10 June
A unique double bill. At 6.30pm we have Geoff Dyer, Jake Arnott and Toby Litt then at 8.30pm we have Will Self. Will's train doesn't get in until 7.45pm so we're cutting it a bit fine.
There isn't a huge audience for the first show, about 45, but the three 'new contemporaries' wowed them. Much laughter, much applause and lots of books sold (Waterstones have supplied a bookstall for all events).
Will Self arrives on time and attracts an large, enthusiastic and vocal audience. He is as sharp and witty as his reputation and again spends a considerable amount of time signing books and talking to the audience after the show. A star!
