Poet Laureate in curtain-raiser for literary festival

LITERARY stars, authors and the Poet Laureate will appear in Oldham Council’s annual Bookmark Festival this month.

The week-long event (Apl 23-29) will feature a tour of Gallery Oldham at dusk, celebrations with author Jane Costello for World Book Day (Apl 23) and the chance to duet with a serving soldier.

As a prelude, Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy, the Manchester poet who writes for children and adults, will be joined by acclaimed musician John A Sampson on April 22 (7pm) for a concert of verse and music.

Free tours at dusk of Gallery Oldham (7pm, Apl 15), will enable visitors to see exhibits and spaces in a new light, and hear some of the stories behind individual works.

The event will be followed by a creative-writing workshop on the morning of April 26, to write stories with award-winning writer Billy Cowan based on the experience.

Residents can also showcase their singing voice at Gallery Oldham for The Soldier’s Song, which offers an on-screen karaoke liaison with a currently-serving solider!.

Other events during the festival include a monologue drama showcase on April 26, spooky retellings of Dickens’ ghost stories on April 29 and a visit from children’s author Emma Barnes on April 29.

To book tickets for any of the events log on to www.oldhamlibrary.eventbrite.com