WORD Christchurch 2016 program announced

The program for the 2016 WORD Christchurch Writers & Readers Festival, which runs from 24-28 August, has been announced.

Among the international guests attending this year’s festival, which embraces the theme ‘the planet and its people’, are US YA author David Levithan; US mortician, author and YouTube star Caitlin Doughty; UK science correspondent Alok Jha; US television comedy writer (30 Rock, The Office) Steve Hely; Inuit writer and activist Sheila Watt-Cloutier; Canadian author and film-maker Ivan E. Coyote; and Afghan-American physician and novelist Nadia Hashimi.

Also appearing at the festival are Australian authors Tim Flannery and Tara Moss; and New Zealanders C K Stead, Stephen Daisley, Fiona Kidman and Tusiata Avia.

WORD Christchurch literary director Rachael King said this year’s festival ‘is a platform for ideas and discussion about the things that move and concern us, as well as the things that entertain and comfort us’. ‘In addition to seeing many of your favourite local authors, you’ll hear stories from refugees and indigenous writers from around the world, engaging science speakers, reflections on feminism, gender and sexuality, and a continuation of our Shifting Points of View series designed to challenge ways of thinking about issues,’ said King.

The biennial festival, which was rebranded in 2014, will be held in a new venue, The Piano, in Christchurch’s performing arts precinct. For more information, click here.

Category: Local news