Weaver Words 2023 Festival Review

Festival manager Lynn Pegler said: “It has been a fantastic festival – the best we’ve ever staged. Seven events sold out, which is unprecedented, and hundreds of people enjoyed a diverse range of thought-provoking and enjoyable speakers, plays and workshops.

“Attracting the national Poet Laureate to our small market town in coronation week was a particular coup and very much appreciated by the enthusiastic audience at Frodsham Community Centre. From the launch of a new literary series at the town’s Main Street Kitchen with radio legend Mark Radcliffe to stand-up comedy with Frank Melling at Chapter Brewing, we have been delighted to explore new venues and create new opportunities.”

Many thanks to all our brilliant speakers, performers, workshop leaders, volunteers and record-breaking audiences for making the 2023 Weaver Words Literature Festival the ‘best-ever’.

Headline acts like the Poet Laureate Simon Armitage, TV drama legend Sir Phil Redmond, a Bronte afternoon tea and a Literary Cruise along the River Weaver all proved incredibly popular.

Actor Gerald Dickens, the great great grandson of writer Charles Dickens, performed a stunning, fast-paced one man show of Great Expectations, and on the night of the coronation, writer Sharon Wright and actor Abigail Halley took audiences to new heights in a comedy play about the first female balloonist, ‘Fly Me: Mrs Sage and the Mile High Club’.

A series of fascinating seminars explored a diverse range of topics, from Welsh poet R.S.Thomas and the secrets of self-publishing to recent political threats to the British Constitution, ‘Bonfire of the Decencies’, with London University politics professor Andrew Blick.

Promoting new writing was at the heart of the festival, with a Word Weavers event devoted to poetry from Andrew Rudd and Sarah Clare Conlon, and writing workshops delivered by poets Julia McGuinness, Jean Atkins and crime novelist Martin Edwards.

Festival patron Calendar Girls writer Tim Firth entertained audiences on the final Gala Night with a fascinating insight into the professional theatre world. He also presented prizes for the festival’s two writing competitions.

Simon Armitage signing book prizes for the children’s competition winners with volunteers Steve Capstick and Carol Harte.

Tim Firth and Prof Sue Zlosnik with Flash Fiction Prize winners

Tim Firth and Prof Sue Zlosnik with Flash Fiction Prize winners and finalists

Graham Palmer (Encirc sponsor) and Tim Firth with junior school prize winners and finalists

Graham Palmer (Encirc sponsor) and Tim Firth with senior school prize winners and finalists

Gerald Dickens with festival organisers Christine Reeves, Lynn Pegler and Graham Reeves

Pop up poetry wall with festival volunteers artist Ann Crawford, Liz Conway, Christine Reeves and Pam Capstick

2023 Great Weaver Words Writing prize senior winners Tim Firth & Graham Palmer

Literary Cruise James, Fran, Lynn, Andrew

Woodland writing workshop in Hob Hey Wood with Poet Jean Atkin

Opening night stand-up comedy from Frank Melling (centre) at Chapter Brewing, with Noah Torn (Brewery Owner) and Lynn Pegler (Festival Manager)

Launch of Main Street Kitchen literary series with owner Abelines Geldenhuys (left) and radio legend Mark Radcliffe

Patron Tim Firth and festival manager Lynn Pegler

Sir Phil Redmond (left) is interviewed by Mick Ord

Prof Andrew Blick (right) is interviewed by Alex Pegler about the ‘Bonfire of the Decencies’.

Monkey with No Bum author Asa Murphy signing books at a children’s event

Julia McGuinness creative writing workshop

Author Sharon Wright, with actress Abigail Halley, who performed the hilarious comedy ‘*Fly Me! Mrs Sage and the Mile High Club’*

Word Weavers: Poet Andrew Rudd, with his grand daughter Isla, poet Sarah Clare Conlon and violinist Daniel Axworthy

Andy Jurgis talk on Welsh poet R.S.Thomas

Mothering Heights: Bronte author Sharon Wright

CONGRATULATIONS TO WINNERS OF OUR TWO WRITING COMPETITIONS

Frodsham Flash Fiction Prize

Frodsham Flash Fiction Prize was won by Anne Caldwell with a hard-hitting short story on sexual violence. Find out more and read the winning entries here.

Great Weaver Words Writing Prize

Nearly 300 entries were received for the Great Weaver Words children’s writing prize, sponsored by Encirc glass manufacturers of Elton, and judged by Tim Firth. Find out more…