WayWORD Festival Returns with A Literary Extravaganza
The youth-led literary festival at the University of Aberdeen showcases headliners like Liz Lochhead, Grace Nichols, and Ben Aaronovitch.
The fantastic WayWORD Festival is back from the 21st to the 29th of September. This year the festival features an amazing line-up of performers. You'll see former Scots Makar Liz Lochhead, Caribbean-British poet Grace Nichols, and novelists like Ben Aaronovitch, Zoe Strachan, and Louise Welsh. Even James Lovegrove, writer of the Sherlock Holmes series, and Horrible Histories’ comic songwriter Richie Webb will be there.
As fans of the festival know, WayWORD is a youth-led, literary cross-arts festival. Now in its fifth year, it’s a highlight of Aberdeen’s cultural calendar, created by young people with the University of Aberdeen WORD Centre for Creative Writing. WayWORD celebrates unconventional forms of artistic expression.
Liz Lochhead, Grace Nichols, Ben Aaronovitch, Louise Welsh, James Lovegrove
There's a particularly diverse series of events this year. You can join workshops like Clowning with Jessica Hernandez and New Theatre-Makers with Annabel Lunney. Explore psych-geography and post-colonial walking tours in Old Aberdeen. You can also drop in for sketching and doodling sessions inspired by items from the university’s library collections.
The festival offers a great online programme if you can't attend in person. This includes Scottish Canadian novelist Margot Livesey and a Neurodiversity & Writing event with Elle McNicoll and Sarinah O’Donoghue. Don't forget to check out the Women of Colour on Nature panel, continuing the legacy of writer and poet Nan Shepherd.
We are very excited for WayWORD 2024 – our line-up is bursting with innovative, insightful and diverse performers from across a range of mediums: music, poetry, literature, comedy, theatre, dance, and more!
We have a new Youth Committee for 2024 who have brought such fresh ideas into the mix, creating opportunities for people in the North East to experience new and interesting events. And best of all, we have kept all of our tickets free meaning everyone can enjoy what WayWORD 2024 has to offer!
Kirsty Lawie - WayWORD Festival Assistant Director
This year the festival’s themes include a Languages Day, featuring Chinese, Spanish, Gaelic, Farsi, Polish, and British Sign Language. You can explore Music & Migration and enjoy dance traditions from Balkan and Scottish Country to Tango. Other highlights include the Climate & Environment Day and a Day of Scots Poetry and Drama with Len Pennie, Shane Strachan, Danielle Jam and Morna Young at Cowdray Hall.
Jacob Sam-La Rose, Mae Diansangu, Morna Young, Danielle Jam
WayWORD has a great selection of musical events this year. You can enjoy Jazz Folk duo Roo Geddes & Neil Sutcliffe, classical music with violist Fiona Winning and performance poet Jacob Sam-La Rose, and the return of the Syrian trio ‘Shamband’. WayWORD 2024 will premiere new music and dance collaborations from young Spectrum and CityMoves Fusion Dance composers. ‘WayWORD at The Lampie’ showcases local talent Sheena Blackhall, Noon Salah Eldin, and more.
The festival mentors its Youth Committee in arts organisation, marketing, stage management, and event chairing. This hands-on experience leads to future employment in the creative industries. There are fantastic opportunities to volunteer at the festival.
Join the WayWORD team and guests for a week of creativity and inspiration! The full programme is now live at www.waywordfestival.com. Tickets are free but booking is essential. As always, BSL interpretation is provided.
