LitCrawl doubles in volume
Wellington will be full to the brim of literary lovers this November as LitCrawl near doubles in size, organisers say.
After two-and-a-half thousand people braved Wellington storms last year to discover New Zealand’s poets, writers, storytellers and playwrights, LitCrawl co-director Claire Mabey knew it was time for an expansion.
Back for its fourth year to showcase national and international geniuses using the written and spoken word, LitCrawl has spilled from a Saturday evening to a full weekend event.
Sprinkled around Wellington will be 38 hubs exposing local, independent businesses and bringing poetry, story telling, debates, new ideas, passions and academic, artistic and activist discourse to the centre stage.
On top of the 25 events taking place during the traditional LitCrawl – up seven from last year – is the extended series running from Friday night to Sunday.
‘‘It’s the biggest we have ever done,’’ Mabey said.
‘‘It means more options and more possible pathways for crawlers and more space – the past years have been chocker.’’
Kicking it off is the highly anticipated Women of Letters. While the list was yet to be complete, Mabey confirmed former MP Georgina Beyer, My Year With Helen film-maker Gaylene Preston, editor Ashleigh Young, actress Jess Holly Bates and columnist Rachel Stewart would receive their themes sometime next week.
They would write a letter based on that theme and read aloud for the first time in front of an audience.
‘‘It’s moving, it’s funny and it’s incredibly inspiring,’’ Mabey said.
Any profits received from the event go towards the Wellington Homeless Women’s Trust.
Hosting the Saturday LitCrawl with literary icons such as Joy Cowley, Witi Ihimaera, Emily Perkins and He¯ mi Kelly were business venues Bicycle Junction, Hunter and Collectors, Crumpet, Bowen Galleries and Bartley And Company Art.
Mabey said the eclectic line up has something for everyone.
‘‘There’s definitely going to be something that suits your tastes – it’s really stimulating,’’ she said.
‘‘This is a great way to introduce yourself to writers and writing live.’’
LitCrawl runs from November 10 to 12.