PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release 27 November
James Cosmo, Sally Magnusson, Jackie Kay, and David Greig to feature in Pitlochry Festival Theatre’s Winter Words Festival 2024
Pitlochry Festival Theatre is thrilled to announce the lineup for its 20th Winter Words Festival, featuring an exciting line up of authors, playwrights, adventurers, broadcasters, and actors from around Scotland and further afield for a celebration of all things artistic and literary.
From 8-11 February, Pitlochry Festival Theatre will host, an exciting programme of events including stimulating and entertaining conversations, as well as performances and special events in its Studio performance space. These will include broadcaster Sally Magnusson in conversation with the journalist Magnus Linklater about her third novel Music in the Dark; celebrated diarist Chris Mullin will talk about his book Didn’t You Use To Be Chris Mullin? Diaries 2010-2022 which gives his take on the twelve turbulent years since he left Parliament as a Labour MP; author and theatre critic Allan Radcliffe will discuss his new book, The Old Haunts, a wistful coming-of-age story, which paints a tender portrait of grief in all its complexities; and author, poet and third National Poet for Scotland Jackie Kay will be in conversation with Pitlochry Festival Theatre’s Artistic Director Elizabeth Newman about her illustrious career.
The theme of the Scottish outdoors and nature will feature strongly in this year’s festival as Catherine Moorehead will give a talk about her book Mountain Guru – The Life of Doug Scott which explores the life of one of the greatest mountaineers in history, whose extraordinary expeditions were undertaken over a period of four decades across seven continents; acclaimed author and presenter of BBC One Scotland’s From the Sky, James Crawford will return to the festival to talk about his book, Wild History: Journeys into Lost Scotland; Annie Worsley will discuss her acclaimed book Windswept which tells the story of what happened when she decided to trade in a busy life in academia to take on a croft on the west coast of Scotland. BBC journalist Neil Ansell will be talking about his book The Last Wilderness: A Journey into Silence, which is set amongst the wildlife in the Scottish Highlands. Dr Kerri Andrews will be discussing her book Way Makers, the follow-up to the best-selling Wanderers, and the first anthology of women’s writing about walking, and Dougie Strang talks about his journey through the Scottish Highlands to follow a series of folktales and myths to the places in which they are set in his book The Bone Cave. Naturalist, writer, and photographer, Polly Pullar talks about the inspirations behind her writing, highlighting the importance of nurturing love and respect for nature in all its complexities.
Making a welcome return to Pitlochry Festival Theatre will be acclaimed Scottish playwright David Greig who will be talking about his debut novel Columba’s Bones which explores a fascinating clash of cultures and religions that played an important part in the shaping of Scotland. Award-winning playwright May Sumbwanyambe and Dr Peggy Brunache, lecturer on the history of Atlantic slavery at the University of Glasgow and Director of the Beniba Centre for Slavery Studies, will discuss the case of freedom fighter and Black abolitionist Joseph Knight and Scottish abolitionism, the subject of Sumbwanyambe’s award winning play Enough of Him which premiered at Pitlochry Festival Theatre in 2022.
As well as this impressive lineup of writers, this year’s Winter Words Festival will include two special events. On Saturday 10 February the theatre will be hosting An Audience with James Cosmo. Having appeared in over 130 films and TV shows, including Highlander, Braveheart, Trainspotting, Troy, Game of Thrones and His Dark Materials, actor James Cosmo will be in conversation about his long and illustrious career in film and television, followed by a tasting of his STORYMAN whisky. Finally, the performance poet Kokumo Rocks will be reading and performing a selection of her vibrant and intense poems. Kokumo’s poetry explores the themes of love, race, freedom, and imprisonment, which she does with a sense of fun and humour.
The Winter Words Festival runs from 8-11 February 2024. Tickets go on general sale on Friday 1 December. For tickets and further information call the Box Office team on 01796 484626.
-Ends-
For all press interviews, images and tickets please contact:
Duncan Clarke PR on 07880893750 or email duncanclarkepr@gmail.com
NOTES TO EDITORS
TICKET DETAILS
Box office details
Ticket prices: £12 per event and £10 for members
Buy four events and get 25% off (excluding An Evening with James Cosmo)
Tickets for An Evening with James Cosmo are £25 including a STORYMAN whisky tasting.
Tickets are now on sale to priority members and on general sale on Friday 1 December.
Box Office and group bookings: 01796 484626
email boxoffice@pitlochryfestivaltheatre.com
Website: pitlochryfestivaltheatre.com
Address: Pitlochry Festival Theatre, Port-Na-Craig, Pitlochry, Perthshire PH16 5DR
WINTER WORDS 2024 SCHEDULE – 8-11 February 2024
THURSDAY 8 FEBRUARY
2-3pm – The Studio (FREE)
KOKUMO ROCKS
Performance poet Kokumo will read and perform a selection of her vibrant and intense poems. In 1991 she decided to change the direction of her life following a near-death experience and began to fulfil her life-long ambition to become a performance poet. Kokumo’s poetry explores the themes of love, race, freedom, and imprisonment, which she does with a sense of fun and humour – proud to include ‘the flabby bits.
From the Scottish countryside to Nigeria, via the metropolitan high street and her childhood experiences, Kokumo paints her world with colour and spirit. Kokumo – the name means ‘this one will not die’ – lives by the motto ‘if you don’t ask you won’t get’ and believes that passion can turn the ‘mundane into excitement’. She has been inspired by poets including Maya Angelou, Benjamin Zephaniah, and Ivor Cutler, but above all by ‘growing up black in Scotland.”
“A power of a writer are you.” Benjamin Zephaniah
FRIDAY 9 FEBRUARY
11am – 12pm – The Studio
NEIL ANSELL –The Last Wilderness: A Journey into Silence
Neil Ansell, former BBC journalist, is now a full-time writer living in the Western Highlands. He is the author of a series of acclaimed books of nature memoir, all of which reflect on different aspects of our relationship with the natural world.
Join Neil as he talks about his book The Last Wilderness: A Journey into Silence, which is set amongst the wildlife of the Scottish Highlands.
Over the course of a series of solitary walks in remote country he reflects on the progressive hearing loss that is chipping away at his connection with the sounds of nature. His book was shortlisted for the Wainwright Prize for nature writing and the Highland Book Prize.
“Beautiful…a testimony to reticent courage.” Daily Mail
12.30 – 1.30pm – The Studio
ANNIE WORSLEY – Windswept
A few years ago, Annie traded a busy life in academia to take on a croft on the west coast of Scotland.
Hear about what it means to live in this rugged, awe-inspiring place of unquenchable spirit and wild weather, a land ruled by great elemental forces – light, wind, and water – that hold sway over how land forms, where the sea sits, and what grows.
In her book Windswept Annie evokes a place where nature reigns supreme and humans must learn to adapt.
“Windswept is a wonderful work, prose painted in bold, bright strokes like a Scottish Colourist’s canvas.” Robert MacFarlane
“An instant classic of British nature writing.” Sunday Telegraph
3 – 4pm – The Studio
DAVID GREIG – Columba’s Bones
Columba’s Bones is the debut novel from playwright David Greig, which explores a fascinating clash of cultures and religions that played an important part in the shaping of Scotland. It is the fourth book in the Polygon series, Darkland Tales.
Columba’s Bones is set on Iona in 825 and is the story of the aftermath of a ninth century Viking raid, a ‘heist gone wrong’. Join award-winning playwright David Greig to discover more about his passion for historic Scottish peoples and the inspiration for the story.
“David Greig manages to offer echoes of the Norse sagas while at the same time capturing the spirit of Celtic Christianity.” Alan Massie, The Scotsman
“Stupendously earthy, laugh out loud funny in places, visceral writing.” Sally Magnusson
4.30 – 5.30pm – The Studio
MAY SUMBWANYAMBE AND DR PEGGY BRUNACHE in conversation
Award-winning playwright May Sumbwanyambe and Dr Peggy Brunache, lecturer on the history of Atlantic slavery at the University of Glasgow and Director of the Beniba Centre for Slavery Studies, talk about the case of freedom fighter and Black abolitionist Joseph Knight and Scottish abolitionism.
Joseph Knight became a notable figure in a landmark legal battle that saw him successfully appeal against a Scottish court’s decision that had reduced him to a mere chattel in the ownership of his former slaveholder. This victory affirmed that Scots Law could not uphold the institution of slavery in Scotland, a ruling that would make a profound contribution to paving the way for the abolition of slavery in Britain.
6 – 7pm – The Studio
ALLAN RADCLIFFE – The Old Haunts
Allan Radcliffe discusses his new book, The Old Haunts, a wistful coming-of-age story, which paints a tender portrait of grief in all its complexities.
Allan manages to invoke empathy and put complex emotions into words, and he writes with an honesty and understanding that is rare. The Old Haunts is a novel full of love, kindness, and compassion, but also regret and contrition. The beauty of his understated prose accentuates the depth of these feelings.
Allan has won the Allen Wright Award and the Scottish Book Trust New Writers Award. With an MA from the University of Glasgow, he works as an arts journalist and editor, and is currently a freelance theatre critic and feature writer.
“Poignant and evocative.” Books from Scotland
11am – 12pm – The Studio (£12 – £10 Members)
CATHERINE MOOREHEAD – Mountain Guru – The Life of Doug Scott
Catherine Moorehead talks about the life of one of the greatest mountaineers in history, Doug Scott, whose extraordinary expeditions were undertaken over a period of four decades across seven continents.
Catherine talks about the man behind the mountaineer. She uncovers how Scott matured in thought and action as his formidable global reputation increased revealing him to be a clash of opposites, a man who took extraordinary risks yet who developed a deep interest in Buddhism and inspired widespread affection.
“Doug Scott was one of my closest friends. He had so many facets to his character – integrity, courage, great intelligence, and a strong sense of social responsibility, particularly in the way that he devoted his later life to support the people of up-country Nepal. This book is a remarkable tribute to an extraordinary climber and a great humanitarian.” Sir Chris Bonington
SATURDAY 10 FEBRUARY
12.30 – 1.30pm – The Studio
JACKIE KAY in conversation with Pitlochry Festival Theatre Artistic Director Elizabeth Newman
Jackie Kay was born and brought up in Scotland. She is the author of – among other books – The Adoption Papers, which won the Forward Prize, Red Dust Road, winner of the Scottish Book of the Year Award, Trumpet, and the Costa-shortlisted Fiere. She was the third Makar, or National Poet for Scotland (2016-2021). She is a Professor of Creative Writing at the University of Salford.
“Her poetry achieves that joyful and rare thing; it is of high literary merit and also accessible to even those who may not have encountered poetry before.” The Guardian
3 – 4pm – The Studio
SALLY MAGNUSSON in conversation with Magnus Linklater about her debut novel Music in the Dark
Set over one night in a room-and-kitchen in Rutherglen, the book explores the aftermath of the clearance of communities in Strathcarron, Ross-shire, in the 1850s.
Partly inspired by her own Highland great grandmother, this critically acclaimed novel delves into the experience of women on which the historical record is largely silent – placing a Victorian washerwoman of low class, despised Gaelic race, advancing age and brilliant but injured mind into exhilarating light. A beautifully written story of love and resilience, it explores the effects of brutal community displacement and the healing power of music.
“Truer to the reality of clearance and what came after than many ostensibly factual accounts of those events.” Dr James Hunter
4.30 – 5.30pm – The Studio
CHRIS MULLIN – Didn’t You Use To Be Chris Mullin? Diaries 2010-2022
“The Queen was at the next table. I caught her staring at me during the national anthem and half-wondered whether someone had pointed me out as the author of that incident which the Mail on Sunday had splashed all over the front page of its review section, about which she would not have been too pleased.”
No longer in the tent, but not quite out of it, celebrated diarist Chris Mullin gives his take on the twelve turbulent years since he left Parliament. With his trademark wit and keen eye for the absurd, he recounts events from the fall of New Labour to the death of the Queen and his encounters with movers and shakers from all political parties and with citizens from all walks of life, from dustmen to dukes.
“One of Mullin’s charms is his readiness to like people who don’t echo his politics.” Jenni Russell, Sunday Times
7 – 8.30pm – The Studio
AN EVENING WITH JAMES COSMO
James Cosmo in conversation about his long and illustrious career in film and television, followed by a tasting of his STORYMAN whisky.
James Cosmo is a Scottish acting legend who has appeared in over 130 films and TV shows, including Highlander, Braveheart, Trainspotting, Troy, Game of Thrones, and His Dark Materials.
He studied at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Dramatic Art and the Bristol Old Vic drama school.
He was awarded the MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) in 2018 for his services to drama. He is also a patron of the charity, Chance for Childhood.
In 2023 James teamed up with Annandale Distillery to create his own whisky, STORYMAN. This whisky reflects his personality and his passion for sharing stories with others.
James says,
“It is a smooth, rich and complex whisky that is perfect for sharing with family and friends.”
SUNDAY 11 FEBRUARY
11am – 12pm – The Studio
DR KERRI ANDREWS – Way Makers
Dr Kerri Andrews talks about her book Way Makers, the follow-up to the best-selling Wanderers, and the first anthology of women’s writing about walking.
Moving from the eighteenth century to the present day, and across poetry, letters, diaries, novels and more, she traces a long tradition of women’s walking literature. Walking is, for these women, a source of creativity and comfort, a means of expressing grief, longing, and desire. It is also a complicated activity: it represents freedom but is also sometimes tinged with danger and fear.
This anthology is testament to the rich literary heritage created by generations of women walker-writers over the centuries.
“Way Makers is a scintillating and exciting collection of women’s voices.” Katharine Norbury, author of The Fish Ladder
12.30 – 1.30pm – The Studio
DOUGIE STRANG -The Bone Cave
Dougie Strang talks about his journey through the Scottish Highlands to follow a series of folktales and myths to the places in which they are set. Travelling mostly on foot and camping along the way amid some of Scotland’s most beautiful and rugged landscapes, Dougie encountered a depth of meaning to the tales he tracked.
He offers a unique perspective on place, culture, land ownership and ecological stewardship, as well as insights into his own entanglement with place. “I was keen to find out what might happen if I took stories out into the landscape – took them back to the places that held them.”
“A unique perspective on place, land, ownership, and ecological stewardship.” Oban Times
3- 4pm – The Studio
JAMES CRAWFORD Wild History: Journeys into Lost Scotland
Acclaimed author and presenter of BBC One’s Scotland from the Sky, James Crawford talks about his book, Wild History: Journeys into Lost Scotland.
James reveals places all over Scotland which have merged with the landscape and are being reclaimed by nature. Places where you scramble up over the dunes of an isolated beach. You climb to the summit of a lonely hill. You pick your way through the eerie hush of a forest. And then you find them. The traces of the past. Perhaps they are marked by a tiny symbol on your map, perhaps not. There are no plaques to explain their fading presence before you, nothing to account for what they once were. They are being reclaimed by nature. They are wild history.
“…an absolutely riveting journey through time and space.” The Scotsman
4.30 – 5.30pm – The Studio
POLLY PULLAR – Naturalist, Writer, Photographer
Informative and humorous, with glorious photographs and numerous anecdotes, naturalist Polly Pullar talks about the inspirations behind her writing – the wildlife and wild places that are at the heart of her life. Highlighting the importance of nurturing love and respect for nature in all its complexities. From owls, gannets, beavers and badgers to spiders and dragonflies, and the fact that every red squirrel counts, this is guaranteed to be a thought-provoking and entertaining event.
Polly says,
“The natural world holds the key to our future success on this planet, and we must protect it now as never before.”
Polly contributes to The Scots Magazine and The People’s Friend, and previously she was wildlife writer for Scottish Field.