Lit Fest returns, celebrating the creativity of young people in Waterford
Left to right: Ryan, Emma, Bee, Leon, Neeva, Emily, Molly, Eoghan, Ren
The Lit Festival, run by the members of Waterford Youth Arts, all started in 2017 with the 14-19 years creative writing group, who felt they would love to have a festival that encouraged people of their own age to actively engage with literature and the wonderful world of words.
Over the years, the festival has taken on not only literature but music, comedy, theatre workshops and more.
It has since evolved into ‘A Festival Celebrating the Creativity of Young People’.
On Friday November 15, the team at Lit will release two zoom interviews conducted with musician Oscar (Aliens in Caves) and also with writer and youtuber PhantomStrider..
Also on Friday, three exciting young bands will be performing at St. Patrick’s Gateway Centre from 7pm to 9.30pm.
The night will start with ‘Squire’, a 5 piece indie rock band and ‘Ruin (ed)’, a three piece all girl band.
Headlining the night will be Aliens in Caves, a local grunge/trash metal band who have garnered a huge following in Waterford.
On Saturday, four creative workshops will take place, offering young people hands on experience in various creative practices.
Songwriter Robert Power, will be offering a workshop examining the creative practice of assembling ideas, sounds, images, rhythms, and written responses to one’s environment.
Robert will also be running a theatre workshop, examining the ongoing work of assembling ideas in response to one’s environment which can be shaped as pieces of finished and presented work.
Meanwhile, poet Stephen James Smith will explore how he writes about people, places, friends and family, and fine art printmaker Anne McDonnell will run a practical workshop where young people can learn how to approach print art.
Also on Saturday, the Lit Fest Committee are inviting young people to join them for a chat at St. Patrick’s Gateway Centre, and an open mic event will take place featuring Robert Power who will play a couple of songs, and Stephen James Smith who will perform a few poems.
On Sunday, playwright and theatre director Jim Nolan and Mary Boland, Creative Director of the Theatre Royal, will answer questions about their journey from secondary schools Mount Sion and the Ursuline into the world of the arts. This is the only event of the festival which is open to adults as well as young people.
See the festival's socials and visit thelit.org for booking information and additional event details.
