We are really excited to support Pitlochry Festival Theatre to deliver a series of free writing workshops in the lead to their annual literary festival, Winter Words 2022.
Each workshop features a different writer who will lead a practical workshop to unlock, unblock, inspire, encourage, motivate and add fuel to the fire in a writer’s belly! Given that Edwin Morgan was not only and poet, but a novelist, playwright, journalist – the list goes on! – these workshops celebrate the skill of crafting words and each writer leading them brings a different expertise.
The workshops started with May Sumbwanyambe librettist, radio dramatist, academic and playwright from Edinburgh. He focused on creating characters and placing them in the action of dramatic story telling. Read more on the PFT website here.
17th January 6pm: Catriona Lexy Campbell
Catriona Lexy Campbell has worked as a theatre artist, actor and writer for many years, primarily in her native Gaelic. She has published numerous works over the years, including two novels for adults, two novels for Gaelic learners, a novel and book of short stories for children, a trilogy of novels for young adults and three plays. Book here.
24th January 6pm: Frank Rennie (Sponsored by the Highland Book Prize)
Winner of the 2020 Highland Book Prize, Frank Rennie is Professor of Sustainable Rural Development and also Head of Research and Postgraduate Development. He has special research interests in rural and community development studies, particularly in terms of the impact information and communication technology (ICT) and online learning systems has on rural communities. He also specialises in the relationship between nature conservation and the development of human communities. Frank believes passionately that non-fiction writing can also be creative, stimulating, and motivational, without losing its accuracy or relevance. Book here.
27th January 6pm: Robert Softley Gale
Robert Softley Gale is an established figure in the Scottish arts scene, with over eighteen years of experience in diverse and varied roles –including disability rights activist, actor and performer, writer, artistic director and supporter and advocate of equality of access to the arts for disabled people whether as artists or audiences. Book here.
31st January 6pm: Ashley Davis
Ashley Davies is a freelance arts journalist who writes mainly for The Times Scotland and Metro, and particularly enjoys interviewing creators about what compels them to bring stories alive. She has been a journalist for 30 years, and has worked for The Guardian, The Scotsman, The List and Standard Issue, among others. Book here.
3rd February 6pm: Douglas Maxwell
Douglas Maxwell has been one of Scotland’s top playwrights since his debut in 2000.His work includes I Can Go Anywhere at The Traverse, Edinburgh, Charlie Sonata at The Royal Lyceum Edinburgh, The Whip Hand for The Traverse/Birmingham Rep, Yer Granny (a version of Roberto Cossa’s La Nona) for the National Theatre of Scotland and Fever Dream: Southside for The Citizens, Glasgow. His online lockdown work includes Beautiful Boy for Pitlochry Festival Theatre, The Assumption for Solar Bear and the Royal Conservatoire Scotland and Fatbaws for the National Theatre of Scotland and the BBC. Fatbaws, directed by and starring Peter Mullan, has been seen by over a million people and was nominated for a Scottish BAFTA. Book here.
10th February 6pm: Hannah Lavery
Edinburgh Makar, poet, playwright, performer and director, Hannah Lavery’s theatre credits include Jekyll and Hyde(Pitlochry Festival Theatre)The Drift (tour of Scotland as part of the National Theatre of Scotland’s Season 2019); Lament for Sheku Bayoh(co-production with the Royal Lyceum Theatre, National Theatre of Scotland and Edinburgh International Festival).Her poetry has been published widely and her poem,Scotland, You are No Mine,was selected by Roseanne Watt as one of the Best Scottish Poems 2019. Her pamphlet, Finding Seaglasswas published by Stewed Rhubarb Press in 2019. Book here.
Edwin Morgan Trust 