Leading spoken word event producers Fane Productions today announce plans for WORDS WEEKEND, a series of festivals the first of which will take place at Sage Gateshead on 25 – 27 October 2019. Words Weekend will be a celebration of the spoken word in all its forms, with at least 25% of events free, and all events BSL interpreted and fully accessible.

This brand new festival, put together in close partnership with Sage Gateshead and future venue partners, promises as many as fifty events and activities in four different spaces of this iconic building, including author interviews, masterclasses, poetry, music, silent discos and much more. Programme details will be announced in the spring. Fane will use their experience and proven track-record in live events to bring a fresh approach to the festival scene.

Managing Director of Fane Productions Alex Fane said “Our experience in live events with a wide range of authors has cemented our belief that there is a real appetite for taking our relationship with words and the people who write them to another more interactive level.”

 Sage Gateshead is just the first in a series of Words Weekend events planned across the country; Fane Productions is also announcing two further festivals in 2020 at London’s Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre and The Lowry in Salford.  Alex Fane added “Words Weekend can happen in any community, and we look forward to bringing it to other regions in the UK and beyond.”

One aspect of the festival announced today is the appointment of a team of Ambassadors who have been assembled to assist in making sure the event has a broad appeal. Gateshead writer, film maker and broadcaster David Olusoga, literary agent Karolina Sutton and curator, audio producer, filmmaker and editor-in-chief of gal-dem magazine, Liv Little, are delighted to be on board. “I’m from the North East” Olusoga said “it’s a part of the world that I care about, and also a place that is changing fast, becoming increasingly diverse and confident. I’m really excited about playing a part in a new kind of festival in which success with diverse communities and accessibility are key.”

Tamsin Austin, Director of Performance Programme at Sage Gateshead commented “We are delighted to host the first ever Words Weekend and celebrate the rich talent and diverse culture of the North East.”