The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Winter Words
Artists, poets and writers, folk musicians and TV personalities – there’s plenty to whet the appetite at Winter Words Festival, Pitlochry Festival Theatre, February 13-16
Perthshire’s annual literary extravaganza returns next week with one of its strongest line-ups yet.
Now in its 16th year, Winter Words has forged its reputation on a diet of thought-provoking talks and workshops on themes celebrating Scotland’s history and environment. Book fairs, signings and live music are also taking place over an extended weekend designed to inject sizeable doses of creative energy amid the winter slumbers.
Among the big names involved this year are Scottish rugby legend and inspirational motor neurone disease campaigner Doddie Weir, crime-writing spouses Chris Brookmyre and Marisa Haetzman, and Tarta n Noir exponent Val McDermid who’s joining awardwinning photographer Alan McCredie on an illustrated journey to key locations in her work.
In an exclusive, BBC broadcaster Sally Magnusson is talking ahead of the launch of her second novel, while Newsnight duo Kirsty Wark and Gavin Esler are putting in appearances to discuss their latest books.
One writer who won’t have any problems finding his way to Pitlochry is Perthshire-raised festival regular Kenneth Steven, who’ll be hosting a poetry workshop at PFT’s Port Na Craig rehearsal rooms next Saturday.
It’s a chance for visitors to hone their own craft under the watchful gaze of the Letting In The Light and Glen Lyon author, who recently branched out into political thrillers with his latest novel 2020.
Kenneth, who relocated to the Isle of Seil near Oban almost four years ago, believes Winter Words is one of
Scotland’s stand-out literary gatherings, and that it provides a huge boon to his former home.
“The festival’s remit is broad and that helps to widen the audiences,” he says.
“Importantly, it helps to breathe much-needed life into Pitlochry and Perthshire at the deadest time of the year.
“It’s the first festival of the Scottish year and it’s wonderful to set off with such a firework. Pitlochry’s an exciting place to be around the time of Winter Words and there’s a wonderful atmosphere at the theatre.”
Kenneth’s workshop is being run as part of PFT’s Shades Of Tay project, which celebrates the Tay’s beauty.
“The wonder of a river like that is that it’s ever-changing from Kenmore to where it reaches the sea at Dundee,” adds Kenneth, 52.
“I’ll just be seeking to inspire people as much as possible. KENNETH STEVEN
“It really is an extraordinary creature and I know that quite a lot of my poems are going to be used as part of the project.
“I’ve lived along many different parts of the Tay and been constantly inspired.
“I’ve written a great deal about the places and people on the banks of the Tay so it made sense to see the river as a common thread running through the lives of the people coming to Winter Words.”
Despite having led many writing workshops previously, the ex-Dunkeld resident admits the hour-long Pitlochry event – aimed at budding poets both with and without previous experience – poses a challenge. “I’ll just be seeking to inspire people as much as possible,” he says.
Further festival attractions include folk troubadour Freeland Barbour and actress Gerda Stevenson reinterpreting the songs of Lady Nairne of Gask, plus the return of its ever-popular literary lunches.
Meals with sewing-in-history expert Clare Hunter, modern pilgrim Richard Frazer and feminist firebrand and successful author Mairi Kidd have sold out, but tickets remain for the closing session with food anthropologist Ghillie Basan.