Jackie Kay at Arran’s McLellan Festival

The famous poet and writer, Jackie Kay, is coming to this year’s McLellan Festival, which will run from August 31st to September 9th and promises a multitude of delights. She will be judging the poetry competition (there’s still time to enter) and will be running a practical workshop on the Saturday morning for those interested in writing poetry. This is an extraordinary chance to work with one of Britain’s most outstanding and charismatic poets. Jackie, of Scottish and Nigerian ancestry, combines thought-provoking insight with a robust humour, and is rightly celebrated for her outstanding work both in poetry and prose. She is currently Professor of Creative Writing at Newcastle University, and lives in Manchester.

For all details of the poetry competition, see the Arran Theatre and Arts Trust website.

Other highlights of the Festival include an opera performance by the immensely talented students of the Royal Northern College of Music, a staging of Robert McLellan’s play, Jeddart Justice and an all-welcome performance of Haydn’s Creation, in which Arran singers will join as members of the chorus. A comprehensive brochure will be available in plenty of time for the early September festival.