In the build up to National Poetry Day Write out Loud are taking a group of eight local writer/ performers to Bordeaux for a series of readings on 29, 30 September and 1 October. Co-founder Julian Jordon a regular visitor to the city has organised readings in conjunction with local arts centres and music venues. This will be the third Write out Loud foray to France helping to cement the cultural entente cordiale!

On Monday 2 October MA student Alan Markland has organised a reading at the Pavilion Studio on the Chadwick Campus from 6.30, to provide an insight into the creative writing talent in the University of Bolton. Write out Loud regulars Scott Devon and Abi Ibodun will be flying in straight from Bordeaux to take part. All students, old and new are welcome.

National Poetry Day is Thursday 5 October 2006 and Write out Loud is working in collaboration with Bolton Central Library to bring poetry to the community. Short readings/performances will be given in the foyer between 10.00am and 11.00am. Between 12.00 noon and 2.00 pm expect a poet to appear from behind any library stack. The younger generation will not neglected as there will be poems and stories in the children’s section from 3.45 to 5.00pm.

Write out Loud’s own Poetry Day gig will take place at the Phoenix Youth Theatre, Bark Street, on the 5 October from 7.30 to 10.00pm. This will feature Liverpool-based Cath Nichols who has a growing national reputation with many published books and CDs to her name. She has just been commissioned by Radio Lancashire to produce a piece of work on the Slave Trade in conjunction with Lancashire Museums.
Cath’s work has been described as “honest and sensitive, robust and elegiac.” Supporting Cath will be Abi Idowu and twelve local poets will take part in the open mic section of the show. Abi is a “spellbinding storyteller”, with a fund of earthy poems about life and love. Turn up early to reserve an open mic slot. MC for the night will be Manchester’s Tony Walsh, a Write out Loud regular, who has created a significant regional and national following after his recent performances at Glastonbury and Latitude Festivals. Admission is £2 and there is a licensed bar.

Finally on Friday 6 October Write out Loud will be sending a team of local writer/performers to Turton High School, led by Dr Bernard Clare, a Write out Loud regular who happens to be a department head at the school. The aim is to encourage young people to write poetry and to break down any preconceived ideas about the nature and importance of poetry in everyday life.

For more information on any of these events or on Write out Loud go to this site's gig guide, email admin@writeoutloud.net or call Dave Morgan on 01204 382440.