Comedian Jake Donaldson is partially blind, or partially sighted, depending on your outlook on life, but what’s it really like to be a visually impaired comedian?
With tickets to his four-week stand-up show at this year’s Edinburgh Fringe now available, Jake is keen to dispel misunderstandings about sight loss. “Sometimes people come up to me and say, ‘You’re not actually blind though, are you? That’s just made up for your comedy’. Just because someone isn’t wearing dark glasses and accompanied by a guide dog, it doesn’t mean they’re not visually impaired” he says.
Jake (30) from Newcastle Upon Tyne has been writing and performing comedy since he was a teenager. Having performed previously at the Fringe and at comedy clubs across the UK, his work also includes his 2022 show, ‘Neurotica’ now streaming on Amazon Prime and NextUp.
“I always enjoyed comedy when I was little, and I spent all my pocket money on stand-up DVDs or tickets to see comedians rather than CDs and clothes like most of my friends,” he says. “I joined comedy groups at university, and we performed shows together, I got the bug then and ever since, I’ve been pursuing stand-up.”
This year’s show, ‘Spectacle’ will explore Jake’s sight loss journey. The show will feature a unique use of light and sound to create a sensory experience for audiences. “My eyesight is something that I’ve had to deal with my whole life,” says Jake.
“But it’s now in my 30s that I’m really facing the reality of being visually impaired and what that means for my future. Spectacle feels like a new level of performance for me. I think it will give audiences a new sense of perspective about how they see the world – literally – as well as an hour of laughs.”
Off stage, Jake has been supported by his local Eye Care Liaison Officer (ECLO), a service managed in hospitals across the UK by leading sight loss charity RNIB and other providers. Alongside practical support to help people maintain their independence, they also offer emotional reassurance. Jake adds, “My ECLO has been great, he’s been really instrumental in helping me come to terms with the reality of my sight loss.”
Jake is not the only comedian with sight loss on the comedy circuit, but he is usually the only one on the bill. “It’s rare for multiple visually impaired performers to get booked on the same gig because bookers assume we’ll all be similar,” he says. “In reality, we’re all varied in our styles and kinds of comedy we do.”
And what about venue accessibility?
“In the past, I have been discounted from gigs because the venue was not reachable by public transport, and they automatically assumed I don’t have access to someone who could drive me, but this has thankfully only happened a few times.
“I’m lucky in that, for the most part, I’m usually able to navigate most venues with the sight I do have and my guide cane.
“However, often comedy gigs happen in rooms above pubs or comedy clubs in dark basements which could easily prove difficult for performers in terms of accessibility. The vast majority of bookers and promoters I’ve personally worked with have been super helpful, accommodating and understanding about my access requirements.”
What’s next for Jake?
“Spectacle is a show that I’m incredibly proud of and I can’t wait for audiences to experience it. I want to continue making comedy and sharing it with the wider world. I’m really excited about building my own audience through touring because I love being a comedian. I will continue to push myself out of my comfort zone and create new and exciting shows in the future.”
*Jake’s show, ‘Spectacle‘, is at Just the Tonic – The Mash House (Venue 288) at 6.40pm from 1-11 and 13-25 August 2024.
Taylor Swift with her Scottish ancestry was welcomed to Edinburgh by bagpipers playing her biggest hits.
With the star performing at Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium from Friday 7th – Sunday 9th June, stadium sponsorship signage has also been aptly changed to ‘Scottish Lass’ to greet the singer and celebrate her Scottish roots.
As the first UK leg on her sold-out Era’s tour, Edinburgh residents rolled out a warm welcome in the best way they know how, with eight highland bagpipers and three drummers taking to their instruments to toot out the tune to Taylor’s earlier hit, Love Story.
Roddy Deans, Pipe Major of The Reel Time Band, said “Taylor’s tunes translate surprisingly well to traditional Scottish instruments.
“We’re all huge music fans, so we’re delighted to help welcome Taylor to Scotland in the best way we know how. It’s been a lot of fun recreating Love Story on the bagpipes and putting this ensemble together.”
The Reel Time Pipe Band, who have played all over the world and for audiences including The Royal Family, prepared with 32 hours of rehearsal to deliver the over one-minute Taylor Swift smash hit.
New figures show 137 children waiting more for a year for mental health treatment
The Scottish Children’s Services Coalition (SCSC), an alliance of leading providers of specialist care and education to vulnerable children and young people, is calling for the Scottish Government to renew its focus on tackling the child mental health emergency.
The SCSC has also warned that the Scottish Government is in in danger of missing its Programme for Government commitment to Increase direct investment into mental health by the end of the parliamentary term, noting that only 75p in every £100 is spent on specialist child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS).
While health is a devolved matter, it has also noted that the General Election provides an ideal opportunity to talk about this crucial matter in Scotland.
The call comes as the latest waiting time figures from Public Health Scotland, published on 4th June, indicate that 137 children and young people had been waiting over a year for treatment from CAMHS in the quarter ending March 2024.
The figures also show that a total of 5,557 children and young people were still stuck on waiting lists to start treatment at the end of that quarter.
In addition, just 86.0 per cent of patients with mental health problems were seen within 18 weeks from referral to treatment at CAMHS. This falls short of the Scottish Government’s waiting time target of 90 per cent being seen within 18 weeks.
This comes against the background of an increasing level of violent incidents in the classroom, a result in part due to the current mental health emergency, exacerbated by the long shadow of the Covid lockdown and cost-of-living crisis.
Even before the Covid-19 pandemic, cases of poor mental health in children and young people were at unprecedented levels, with under-resourced services struggling to keep pace with growing demand, leaving an increasing number of vulnerable individuals unable to access support.
The Scottish Government in its NHS Recovery Plan 2021-2026 committed to Increase direct investment into mental health by the end of the parliamentary term in 2026, ensuring that 10 per cent of the frontline NHS budget is invested in mental health, with 1 per cent directed specifically to children and young people through CAMHS.2
However, it should be noted that despite greatly increased demand, only 0.75% of the total frontline NHS budget was spent on CAMHS in the 2022/23 financial year, amounting to £114.799 million (real terms), just 75p in every £100 of the NHS budget.
The mental health budget overall amounts to only 8.53% of total frontline NHS expenditure, a decrease of 0.59% from 9.12% in the past decade (2011/12).3
The SCSC is calling the Scottish Government to refocus on the treatment of mental health issues, prioritising spending and avoiding a potential lost generation of children and young people with mental health problems.
A spokesperson for the SCSC commented: “The latest figures, highlighting that 137 children and young people have been waiting over a year for treatment from mental health services, is extremely alarming.
“We are facing a mental health emergency, and many of our children and young people are at breaking point, with stress and anxiety reaching alarming levels. Despite this, too many are waiting too long for treatment, and if the Scottish Government is to reach its financial commitment to spend 1 per cent of the frontline NHS budget on CAMHS, it will need to radically increase investment.
“While health is a devolved matter, this General Election provides an opportunity to talk about it, and we would urge the Scottish Government to refocus its efforts on delivering services that adequately address the needs of our children and young people.”
To celebrate the arrival of the hotly anticipated Eras Tour in Edinburgh, Fort Kinnaird is welcoming a Taylor Swift performer to the centre for an afternoon of sparkles and style.
If you missed out on tickets, the event will help you ‘Shake It Off’, with the chance for Swifties to visit the centre on Friday 7th June and enjoy a free live performance from the superstar impersonator.
‘Taylor’ will be at the centre from 12pm – 4pm, performing songs including Shake It Off, You Belong With Me, and Love Story. Glitter tattoos and meet and greet opportunities will make the event every fan’s ‘Wildest Dream’.
The performance will take place across the centre, starting outside ODEON, and booking is not required but there will be crowd management in place on the day.
Lisa Hawkins, Marketing Manager at Fort Kinnaird, said: “We know just how excited our community is for the Eras Tour to visit Edinburgh and we wanted to continue the celebrations at the centre with our very own Taylor Swift experience.
“Whether you’re a Fearless fan or an Evermore enthusiast, this is the perfect opportunity to get together with likeminded Swifties and have some fun. Fans going to the tour can even finish off the day with some last-minute shopping for their perfect outfit.”
For more information and to plan your day out at Fort Kinnaird, please visit:
Scotland’s flagship Tinderbox Orchestra announces Live in Libraries UK & Ireland Tour to spread a campaign that gets musical instruments into public libraries so people can borrow them for free, just like borrowing a book!
First dates (more to be announced):
21st June, Glasgow – Mitchell Library (World Music Day) | tickets will be available here
6th July, Leeds – Central Library | tickets will be available here
4th July, Manchester – Henry Watson Music Library | tickets will be available here
8-10, 15-17, 22-24th August, Edinburgh Festival Fringe – Edinburgh Central Library | tickets here
Ahead of this year’s World Music Day (21 June), Tinderbox Orchestra is pleased to announce that its ground-breaking 20-piece orchestra will undertake a tour of UK libraries to spread a national campaign to get musical instruments into public libraries, so people can borrow them for free, just like taking out a book.
The tour will see rappers and singers performing alongside heavy brass, strings, woodwind and a thundering backline.
The We Make Music Instrument Libraries initiative has been growing in Scotland for the past few years and has now spread to over 10 local authorities and 30 community libraries across the country.
Thousands of people have borrowed instruments and these libraries are introducing a whole package of music lessons, workshops, live gigs and events into their buildings, bringing crowds of new people into libraries and supporting music and educational opportunities for communities across Scotland.
The campaign started when a local youth music project run by Tinderbox Collective teamed up with Muirhouse Library in North Edinburgh, to enable children and families to borrow instruments during the summer holiday.
It worked so well the idea got picked up by other library services and local music organisations, who formed a growing Scotland-wide collective, convened by the Music Education Partnership Group and We Make Music Scotland.
They ran a successful crowdfunding campaign in 2022 which gathered donations of hundreds of second-hand instruments. These were serviced to a good standard and placed in libraries across the country, giving thousands of people the opportunity to try out saxophones, guitars, ukuleles, trumpets and all sorts of other instruments.
Tinderbox Orchestra are now taking this campaign and initiative further afield. Funded by PRS Foundation’s Beyond Borders programme, they are bringing their five-star show and 20-piece band together with local acts to perform at libraries in Northern England and Scotland for the first leg of the tour with more dates to be announced soon.
Initial dates include Glasgow’s Mitchell Library, Manchester’s Henry Watson Music Library, Leeds Central Library, and a run of 9 shows at Edinburgh’s Central Library as part of the Edinburgh FestivalFringe where they will present their new show Outwith Words: Tinderbox Orchestra & Loud Poets, featuring collaborations with some of Scotland’s leading spoken word artists.
A new crowdfunding campaign will accompany the tour with a call-out for second-hand instruments to help kickstart instrument libraries wherever they go.
They also plan to release a Live in Libraries album as part of the campaign, featuring performances and collaborations from different shows on the tour.
Tinderbox Orchestra will be touring to the south of England and Ireland later in the year (dates TBC) and would love to hear from libraries and cultural organisations interested in joining the campaign.
Internationally acclaimed musician and Director of the Music Education Partnership Group, John Wallace (CBE) said: “With such an incredible demand out there for musical instruments from people of all ages and abilities who want to learn, recycling musical instruments for future generations to enjoy is a zero-carbon idea whose time has come!”
The NSPCC has launched new resources designed to encourage more fathers and male carers to take an active role in their children’s early development. And with Father’s Day just around the corner the charity wants more dads to sign up.
Look, Say, Sing, Play is a set of fun and science-based resources which have been helping new parents since being launched in 2019. It provides activities that can be enjoyed with babies and toddlers to help encourage higher quality interactions and build stronger bonds.
Parents are encouraged to Look at what their baby is focusing on and how they react, Say what they’re doing and copy the sounds their baby makes, Sing along to their favourite tune and Play simple games and see what their baby enjoys.
There has been a strong take-up of the service by mums, but only 10% of sign-ups were from dads, so the NSPCC held focus groups with expectant dads and those with new babies and toddlers, to see how to encourage more men to sign up.
The charity also worked with Father Support Workers and other professionals to understand how they’d like to use Look, Say, Sing, Play.
We found that fathers and male carers preferred to have outdoor and more physical activities that they could enjoy with their children, and they wanted to get more information about the science behind the programme.
As a result, Look, Say, Sing, Play with Daddy has been created with a whole range of free activities specifically designed to enable professionals working with dads and male caregivers to support them in early attachment, brain development…and having lots of fun with their 0-2 year olds.
The activity book created by the NSPCC features a four-week programme of activities that parents can do with their young children, with several options of varying activities suggested for each week.
Parents and carers can sign up to the main Look, Say, Sing, Play activities at www.nspcc.org.uk, with resources for dads and male caregivers available on NSPCC Learning.
People across Scotland have come together in their thousands to take positive action as part of Keep Scotland Beautiful’s annual Spring Clean.
Between 15 March and 28 April more than 45,000 people from every local authority area across Scotland joined forces to take part in litter picks, gather data and to raise awareness of our litter emergency.
In total there were 3,564 litter picks registered, showing that people really do want to play an active part in improving the places they live, work and visit.
Across Scotland the volunteer efforts included:
567 litter picks with businesses
357 litter picks on beaches, rivers and canals
967 litter picks led by community groups.
399 litter picks involving schools, young people and educators.
Barry Fisher, KSB Chief Executive, said: “Although 90% of people agree litter is a problem across our beautiful country, what is inspiring is just how many thousands of people have played their part and enthusiastically joined a litter picking event during #SpringCleanScotland – an increase in 15,000 people from last year.
“I’d sincerely like to thank everyone who took part, giving up their time and showing just how much they care about keeping Scotland beautiful. Your commitment to tackling the litter emergency is extremely appreciated.”
Spring Clean Scotland is KSB’s annual challenge to tackle Scotland’s litter emergency, and follows the publication of the Scottish Litter Survey which found that seven in 10 people believe litter is a problem locally and 85% of people want to see more efforts to prevent litter in their area.
We’re delighted to also share our 2024 Spring Clean report, showcasing the amazing achievements of this year’s campaign.
Learn more about our work to tackle the litter emergency on our litter page.
A national programme of engagement will take place over the next year to inform Scottish Government plans for health and social care reform.
Through a series of direct engagements with the workforce, service leaders, royal colleges, third sector groups and the people of Scotland, the Scottish Government will collect views on how best to transform services to meet changing demands.
This is alongside work already being carried out through the Scottish Partnership Forum to gather views from NHS staff.
Health Secretary Neil Gray announced the plans as he outlined to Parliament the Scottish Government’s overarching vision for NHS reform which focuses on key areas including; improving population health, prevention and early intervention, providing quality services and maximising access.
He also confirmed that, as part of on-going work to improve population health, five Scottish institutions will share £5 million of funding to conduct major research programmes.
This includes research into improving rural healthcare, managing gestational diabetes in pregnant women and informing how unscheduled care services might better meet people’s needs.
Mr Gray said: “Scotland’s NHS is an institution of national pride and the principles of a health service free at the point of need, must always be protected.
“Significant transformation to how our health services operate has never been more urgent and our vision for reform focusses on changes within current NHS structures to deliver for Scotland.
“I want to give our workforce the voice they deserve, and I am fully committed to listening and speaking with our amazing health workers who will inform our future plans.
“The Scottish Government’s national engagement will gather insight from clinicians on how best to respond to health demands and hearing the experiences of those who care for people in Scotland is paramount.
“I am also pleased to announce five Scottish institutions – the Universities of Aberdeen, Edinburgh, St Andrews and Strathclyde, as well as Public Health Scotland, have been awarded £1 million of funding each through the Chief Scientist Office to conduct major research programmes into areas of population health.
“These five programmes have the potential to make a significant impact and can play a vital part in our on-going work in this field.”
Five institutions will share funding of £5 million to conduct research programmes with a high level of impact to address important Scottish population health and/or NHS challenges with up to £1 million available per programme of up to five years in duration:
– University of Aberdeen – research to improve rural health and healthcare outcomes for people living in rural areas.
– University of Edinburgh – research to improve the management of gestational diabetes for mothers and their babies.
– University of St Andrews – research to improve unscheduled care for people in the last year of life.
– University of Strathclyde – research to reduce the negative impacts of justice on people’s health and increase opportunities to improve health and wellbeing in disadvantaged communities.
– Public Health Scotland – to support research to improve pregnancy and newborn screening.
After all the recent rain, we were thankfully blessed with calm seas and brilliant sunshine for Gala Day last weekend.
The Queen was crowned, the bands played, hundreds of visitors enjoyed the festivities and activities outside and a good time appeared to be had by all.
Many took advantage of the occasion to venture inside the Heart where they were greeted by tours, teas and interesting table displays.
Thank you to you all for coming and enjoying yourselves and a huge thank you to the volunteers who helped make it all happen.
See you next year.
Art in healthcare – The Landscape has changed.
Come in and visit our new exhibition which features artworks from the Art in Healthcare collection.
It’s a selection of works that celebrate people and place and in particular draws on themes of communities that grew from fishing villages, living by the sea and coasts.
Some of the works have been selected by local people through a series of workshops, and artworks have been added and expanded. This began with identifying local artists and works that came from the Newhaven, Leith and then expanding to wider Edinburgh areas.
You’ll find it all the way up the red stairs in the Heart if the stairs are difficult there is a qr code at the bottom which allows you to see a virtual version. Come in and enjoy.
Grow
Gentle reader, after all the stimulation and hearts beating in expectation, it’s official and we can now tell you more about the recent filming in the Heart.
Sky has confirmed that GROW will air on the Sky Cinema channel next year. Bridgerton star Golda Rosheuvel leads in the family comedy about pumpkin-growing, neglected youngster Charlie (played by Priya-Rose Brookwell) and well-known British actors Nick Frost, Tim McInnery, Jane Horrocks and Alan Carr will also appear.
Golda Rosheuvel’s character, Dinah, finds Charlie, her lost niece, at an orphanage, aka the Heart, and takes her to her farm where she, and a field of pumpkins blossom.
Director John McPhail says “Grow is a joyous comedy about growth, nurturing and family, set in a world of pumpkin-obsessed, madcap characters but grounded in real relationships.”
We can’t wait!
Little Free Library
Our very own bookbinder, Cass (aka Bookbinding with Cass), has recently led an initiative to install two Little Free Libraries at The Heart of Newhaven, one for youngsters and one for adults. She had plenty of help from our other creatives so this has been a project with real, creative collaboration at its heart!
Leith Men’s Shed built and installed the library box structures, Susan Thomson, member of The Edinburgh Book Arts Group (which meets monthly at The Heart), worked with Cass to decorate the children’s book box and a mix of residents and members of the local community helped paint the black and white mural backdrop.
The community garden volunteers got involved with the design and Lorna Brown (Ik on Mesh) printed the design onto the box. The final step will be establishing a growing roof using donated plant cuttings inspired by the Sir Patrick Geddes quote – ‘By leaves we live’.
Cass would like to thank all those involved and give a special shout out to local resident Shona Littlejohn for her generous donation which covered the materials for this project.
Both Little Free Libraries have been created for you to use so we encourage you to take a book, read a book, exchange a book and/or donate a book – you can find out more about the Little Free Library network here, which currently includes over 175,000 Little Free Libraries in 121 countries!
If you’d like to get involved at the garden you’re very welcome to drop in on Mondays from 4-6pm or Thursdays 10.30am – 12.30pm. You can either dig in with the rest of the volunteers or you might just fancy finding out a bit more about what we have growing.
If you’d like to find out more please contact Hayley at :
The potatoes were sown in the community garden last month so mark your diary and come along on the 21st September for Tattie Fest. Expect creative activities, family friendly fun and lots of tatties!
Volunteers needed for a new project at The Heart
Our schooldays – memories and legacies Heritage tales from Newhaven, Trinity and Leith Harbour
The project will use the theme of ‘school days’ to connect via a series of workshops and events, people of different ages, ethnicities, and backgrounds to learn more about each other, and the changing local area by sharing their learning experiences.
A programme of activities will explore and creatively share these experiences. Participants will include pupils from our local schools and other community groups based around or within The Heart.
We will be working with highly experienced resident artists within The Heart, to deliver and develop these workshops, community events and a touring exhibition.
We are looking for volunteers for this project over the coming 18 months who would be interested in supporting this project specifically through:
Helping to evaluate the project through information gathering from project participants and through your observation of workshops and events. This could include using recording equipment and interviewing participants. Full training and support would be given throughout the project.
If you are interested in this voluntary role and would like more information, please leave your contact details if you visit The Heart or email the school days Project Co-ordinator, Simone via email: simone.kenyon@heartofnewhaven.co.uk
Heart Dementia Meeting Centre Update
The Heart Dementia Meeting Centre enjoyed a delicious bread making session recently, led by a member who is a keen and experienced baker. We are also excited to play host to the exhibition, now up in the lounge, from a collaboration betweenEdinburgh University and QMU celebrating five years of being bold: Bringing Out Leaders in Dementia. The nine panels on display show a range of poetry and images created in response to each creative session.
If you are awaiting a diagnosis, have recently been diagnosed with dementia or are living with mild to moderate dementia then the Heart Meeting Centre is for you!
June is Dementia Awareness Month and Meeting Centre manager Jan Brown will be hosting a Curiosity Café every Tuesday Morning from 11-12 noon in the Lounge for carers and families of people living with dementia and for folk who are curious about brain health in general and how to top up their cognitive reserves.
Finally, we’re celebrating the one-year anniversary of the Edinburgh Local Heritage Network (ELHN). The network was launched on the May 10, 2023 and was attended by HONC along with 16 representatives from a variety of other local community groups and now has 30 members.
The Lord Provost Robert Aldridge is Honorary President and the purpose is to develop and maintain partnerships between local heritage groups and with Council services, chiefly Archives, Libraries, and Museums and Galleries. Currently, the key focus of the ELHN is collaboration on the Edinburgh 900 programme with a focus on supporting local communities to celebrate this anniversary.
In connection with ELHN, the Heart was represented at the recent royal visit of the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Edward, and his wife, Sophie. They were treated to a grand reception in the City Chambers and we were able to chat about our plans for celebrating Edinburgh 900.
We’re finalising these ambitious plans, centred on the history of Newhaven now, and will update everyone after the summer, when the real work will begin in earnest. Watch this space.
In the meantime, here’s a photo of the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh in the City Chambers, listening to Shionka Kamikaji-Inkster, who played the clarsach at the end of the event and another of some of the ELHN members at the event.
Inspiring interviews with acclaimed authors and insightful panel events on accessibility and representation
Calibre Audio is a pioneering audiobook charity celebrating its 50th Anniversary and working towards an inclusive future where everyone has the right and the opportunity to read
Upcoming author interviews include:
Mat Osman (The Ghost Theatre)
The Magazine Girls (Authors of a new book on their journalistic experiences on popular magazines in 60s-80s)
Roger Moorhouse (Author and historian)
Lisa Jewell (None of This is True)
Jenny Ireland (Winner of PRH’s WriteNow competition)
Candy Gourlay (Bone Talk and Wild Song)
Philip Reeve (Mortal Engines)and Sarah McIntyre (Adventure Mice)
Joe Haddow (Art Is Everywhere)
Calibre Audio, the pioneering audiobook charity, is celebrating 50 years of making reading accessible to everyone.
Marking the occasion in a programme of celebratory interactive activities, Calibre Audio has launched Calibre Conversations, a new online book festival featuring acclaimed author interviews and panel discussions available now through the Calibre Audio website.
The Festival launches with a filmed interview with author and Suede musician Mat Osman. Mat will discuss his book, The Ghost Theatre, a wild and hallucinatory reimagining of Elizabethan London.
Later this month, The Magazine Girls will be sharing their fascinating experiences of working for popular magazines from the 1960s to the 1980s including Rave, Mirabelle, Valentine, Loving, Petticoat, and 19.
Famous names The Magazine Girls interviewed included David Bowie, David Cassidy, Marc Bolan, Elton John, The Who and Bob Marley, amongst others. The Magazine Girls went on to become high-profile fashion and beauty editors, PRs, stylists, features and showbiz writers, working on best-selling women’s magazines such as Woman’s Own, Woman, and Good Housekeeping, Hello! and national newspapers.
As part of Calibre Audio’s Children’s Festival in July, Children’s authors and illustrators will take to the online stage to speak about their work and offer insights into their creative processes. Authors include winner of PRH’s WriteNow competition Jenny Ireland whose book The First Move explores her own personal experiences by featuring a character who has arthritis.
Candy Gourlay who writes about the history of the Philippines and American invasion in late 1800, will speak about her books Bone Talk and Wild Song. Mortal Engines’ writer Philip Reeve will be joined by author and illustrator Sarah McIntyre to talk about their book series Adventure Mice. Author, radio producer and podcast host, Joe Haddow will discuss his first book for children, Art Is Everywhere.
July will also see a panel event onaccessibility and representation in Children’s books with more details on this and in-person author panel event at the Library of Birmingham in October being released soon.
In August, author and historian Roger Moorhouse will talk about his work researching acclaimed books including The Forgers: The Forgotten Story of the Holocaust’s Most Audacious Rescue Operation.
Rounding up the online aspect of the Festival in September will be an interview with Lisa Jewell, author of debut novel Ralph’s Party, which she wrote after accepting a challenge from her friend to write three chapters of a novel in exchange for dinner at her favourite restaurant.
Novels such as Thirtynothing, After The Party, Then She Was Gone, The Family Upstairs, Invisible Girl and The Night She Disappeared followed along with her latest book None of This Is True.
Emma Scott, Director of Commissioning and Editorial has said: “Accessibility is at the heart of what we do at Calibre Audio. Our new Calibre Conversations Festival aims to reach as many people as possible and create new ways to discuss and interact with a brilliantly exciting array of writing talent and much loved authors.
“In a world that assumes everyone can read, Calibre Conversations is there for our members to provide an access point where other literary Festivals may prove a challenge to engage with.
“Alongside our Inclusive Voices, short story competition, we look forward to welcoming people to the Calibre Conversations Festival as part of our 50th anniversary celebrations.”
Calibre Audio has also recently launched ‘Inclusive Voices’, a new competition which encourages everyone to share original stories of 550 words or less that feature a character with a print disability.
Writers can enter a story or a poem written down or recorded as a video or voice message with prizes including the winning story recorded as an audiobook.
Entries close on 31 August and can be made through the Calibre Audio website here
