Chapel FM’s Writing on Air is a unique literary festival, now in its 4th year. There are over 60 events to enjoy.
Around 200 international and Yorkshire based performers, poets, writers and local community groups will join together to create live performances for radio which celebrate the spoken word with radio dramas, intimate readings, panel discussions, outside broadcasts and more.
The theme for 2019 is Hearing the Voice: Who speaks for us? Whose voices are loudest? How do we find our own voice? Hearing voices – a mental illness?
Here is a cross-section of what’s to come:
Jo Berry talks to Mike Winter on 22 March from 7.15 p.m. until 8.15 – a live event and radio broadcast. Jo has been in contact with the ex-IRA person who planted the bomb which killed her father in Brighton.
Exploring how borders affect public, personal and political lives – Studio 12 spoken word performances from the Manifesto in Verse project. 23 March from 8.15 p.m. until 9 – a live event and radio broadcast.
Leeds Central Library hosts an outside broadcast, when Malika Booker, Khadijah Ibrahiim and Vahni Capildeo talk about Colonizin in Reverse, their poetic response to Windrush, Songs in a Strange Land; the recent British Library exhibition. Sat 23 March, radio broadcast and event 9 – 9.45 p.m.
Vickie Orton and guests present stories told through art, song and symbols, Unexpected Voices: How to find your voice when you have a disability. Sat 23 March, radio broadcast and live event, 4.30-5.30pm.
Peter Spafford, Director of Words at Chapel FM, has this to say:
“Writing on Air is unique for two reasons – it’s a broadcast literature festival, and all programmes are made by writers and readers themselves – some of whom are creating their own shows for the first time with our professional support. In addition to celebrating homegrown talent, we’re very proud of our international representation; this year with Caribbean writers in the UK and in the Caribbean itself. Chapel FM is a hub for creativity and Writing on Air brings writers and readers of all ages together to meet, talk and create. I can’t wait for it to begin.”
Chapel FM co-director Tony Macaluso says that he and fellow co-director and Chapel FM founder Adrian Sinclair are:
“Thrilled that Chapel FM is producing the fourth Writing on Air Festival around this fascinating theme of ‘hearing the voice.’ One of the of joys of Writing on Air is how it incorporates so many different strands of what Chapel FM does, from our deep roots in our immediate community, our education programmes, our unique radio broadcast format of East Leeds FM, and the ability to bring together networks of artists from further afield, including internationally. The Festival has a remarkable energy, whether witnessed live or via the radio, and we encourage people to experience what happens when hundreds of writers come together to share innovative ideas and stories, all linked together by a unique, shared theme and a sense of artistic adventure.”
Writing on Air previews with four events as part of inaugural Leeds Lit Fest. It then broadcasts on East Leeds FM and takes place as a series of free live arts events at Chapel FM from 21- 24 March. View the full Writing on Air festival programme and book tickets on www.chapelfm.co.uk.
Photographs provided by Amanda Trickett PR.
