Roger McGough and Dan Cruickshank to headline Frodsham literature festival

Poet Roger McGough and TV historian Dan Cruickshank headline a packed schedule for an annual celebration of words in Frodsham.

Actor Gerald Dickens will also be performing stories by his great great grandfather Charles Dickens at the Weaver Words Literature Festival in April.

Former Canal Poet Laureate Jo Bell will be reading her waterway-inspired poetry on a special cruise along the River Weaver.

Weaver Words chairwoman Professor Sue Zlosnik said: “We are proud to have assembled a tremendous line-up for Frodsham’s third literature festival.

“We are expecting Roger McGough, Dan Cruickshank and Gerald Dickens will be very popular as well as some of the more unusual events like sailing along the river being entertained by a Canal Poet Laureate.”

Happiness and wellbeing the theme

Events will be held at Frodsham Community Centre and Castle Park from April 6-10.

The theme for this year’s festival is Happiness and Wellbeing, which has inspired a range of workshops on cartoons, comedy writing and words for wellbeing.

Dan Cruickshank will be delivering his talk The History of Architecture in 100 Buildings, while Roger McGough CBE will perform his As Far As I Know show with poems from his new book of the same name.

A great event

Writer Katharine Norbury will also lead a creative writing session built around a nature ramble.

Frodsham councillor Lynn Riley said: "We are obviously all looking forward to the festival, it's a great event for the people of the town and also brings lots of visitors in too.

"There's lots of things which put Frodsham on the cultural map and Weaver Words is starting to become one."

On opening night, wordsmiths Andrew Rudd and Gill McEvoy will join violinist Daniel Axworthy for an evening of music and poetry.

Frodsham-born playwright Tim Firth, currently showcasing his musical The Girls at The Lowry in Manchester, will judge the Great Weaver Words Story Prize for children in Weaver Vale.

A flash fiction competition is also being held for stories under 300 words long, with a £500 prize on offer.

Prof Zlosnik said: “We are very keen to engage with younger readers too.

“There is a special pre-school story and activity session for very young children and a cartoon workshop for older children to set their creative juices flowing during the Easter holidays.

Volunteers needed

“We are grateful to all our sponsors for their kind support. We are still looking for more volunteers to join us so if you could spare a few hours to help out during the festival, do get in touch.”

Competition winners will be announced at a celebration evening to close the festival on Sunday, April 10, with performances from Jaywalkers, comedy actor John Gorman and Frodsham writer Lynn Pegler.

Weaver Words tickets are available from February 8 and can be purchased online, through the box office 0845 557 7469 or at Frodsham Community Centre or Dandelion Gifts.

For more details or to volunteer see the festival website www.weaverwords.org.uk or pm@weaverwords.org.uk.

What do you think of the Weaver Words festival lineup? Will you be attending? Let us know in the comments below.