The popular Northern Ireland broadcaster and novelist, Roisin McAuley, award-winning Crime Writer, Brian McGilloway, and acclaimed Irish poet, Nessa O’Mahony, are among the top writers who will act as tutors for the very successful Creative Writing Workshops to be held during the John Hewitt International Summer School which is supported by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland and Armagh City & District Council.
Also among the tutors this year is Kimberley Lynne, an American playwright, novelist and teacher. Over thirty of her plays have been produced in New York, Washington DC, Baltimore and Minneapolis.
These popular writing workshop, which run from 28-31 July, will provide an unique opportunity for anyone in Armagh and surrounding areas interested in different types of creative writing to take part in workshops led by highly-regarded, published writers who all have wide experience of directing writing workshops.
On 28, 29 & 31 July, at 2.15pm each day, there will be separate hour and a half long creative writing workshops in Poetry (led by Nessa O’Mahony & English poet, Paul Batchelor), Children’s Fiction (with the acclaimed English writer, Nicky Harlow), Memoir Writing (Maureen Boyle), Crime Fiction (Brian McGilloway), Prose (Roisin McAuley) and Playwriting for stage (Kimberley Lynne). The workshops being taken by Maureen Boyle, Nessa O’Mahony and Nicky Harlow are being sponsored by the Open University, while Kimberley Lynne’s course is being supported by the University of Baltimore
These attractive workshop opportunities are open to everyone interested in writing and there will be limited number accepted for each course, so early booking is advisable. Anyone interested must sign up for a course of three workshops in any of the areas on offer and remain within that course.
The workshops will take place at the Market Place Theatre, the AmmA Creative Learning Centre and Armagh Pipers’ Club and the JHISS organizers are pleased to be able to offer local people and others the opportunity to work with such a range of admired and respected writers.
There will be opportunities on Friday 1 August for some of those taking part in the workshops to read their work to others in the Studio Theatre at 2.15pm.and other workshop participants, as well as members of the public, will be welcome to attend this free event.
Places on each Creative Writing Workshop course at JHISS will cost £35 per course and these can be booked now at The Market Place Box Office on 028 37521821 or online at www.marketplacearmagh.com. Applicants are asked to indicate their preferred choice of course when booking. Details are available online at www.johnhewittsociety.org and in the Hewitt Summer School brochure available at the Market Place and in local libraries.