News: New Literary Festival for Norwich

The Unlit Festival is a live celebration of the written word 10-12 November

The UnLit Festival is a new literary festival for Norwich with a difference. A live celebration of the written word in all its forms it takes in prose, poetry, performance and music. Over 3 nights from Thursday 10 to Saturday 12 November the festival will bring together some of the most exciting new and established writers and performers. It is sponsored by Norwich’s dynamic independent publisher Unthank Books and supported by Norwich Arts Centre and The Book Hive.

The opening night’s event, at The Unthank Arms, is the launch of Unthology No. 2, this year’s follow-up to last year’s bold and impactful Unthology No. 1, a collection of stories that celebrates the untamed and the downright odd. Readers on the night include Norwich writer Ashley Stokes whose first novel Touching the Starfish was published by Unthank Books in 2010, London based musician, editor and writer Nick Sweeney and poet and fiction writer Melissa Mann. Melissa’s work has been short-listed and highly commended in the Harpers & Queen/Orange Prize for Fiction, The Asham Award (twice) and the London Arts New Writing competition. Others include Norwich based Lander Hawes, Tessa West and Joshua Allen.

Friday 11 November, the 11th of the 11th of 2011 finds the festival presenting the 11/11/11 Cabaret. 11 acts will be performing short cabaret sets of around 11 minutes at The York Tavern. Compere for the night is Beccles poet and raconteur Yanny Mac who will be appearing onstage 11 times. Performers include poet Molly Naylor whose hit Edinburgh show ‘Whenever I Get Blown Up I Think of You’ was recently broadcast as a play by BBC Radio 4 and poetic character comedians The TinaMarinas. Norwich poets Helen Ivory and Martin Figura will both be reading a selection of their work and there will be an exclusive performance from lyrical alt/folk band My Dead Aunt. Also appearing are Edinburgh Fringe First winner Hannah Jane Walker, Aisle16 founder Ross Sutherland, poet Tom Warner and singer/songwriter/poet and fiction writer Lora Stimson. Interludes of recorded music will be provided by that master of the shellac disc, DJ78.

‘It Means Nothing’ is the festival finale on Saturday 12th at Norwich Arts Centre. Headliners are Norwich’s knowing nihilists Scumbag Philosopher performing their powerful songs with laced with spikey lyrics and famously fiery tunes. The Neutrinos make a special guest reading and singing from their forthcoming book and album The Butcher of Common Sense. Uncategorisably brilliant and uncompromisingly direct Mancunian poet Thick Richard and London’s intriguing Rachel Pantechnicon (described as ‘the love child Eddie Izzard and Pam Ayres never told us about’) complete the bill.

For full details and updates visit www.unlitfestival.com