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Welcome to WayWORD! 

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We’re delighted to announce a fantastic programme of literary and cross-arts events, brought to you by University of Aberdeen. Together with a dedicated group of students and young people, the WORD Centre for Creative Writing has devised an exciting line-up of poets, novelists, artists and other creatives for readings, performances, workshops and discussion panels. The festival is taking place almost entirely in person  with BSL interpretation provided by Lesley Crerar throughout.

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2024 is the fifth WayWORD Festival, featuring Ben Aaronovitch, Leila Aboulela, Amira Al Shanti, Rachelle Atalla, Dean Atta, Sarah Bernstein, Mae Diansangu, Victoria Hawthorne, Aleksandra Hnatiuk, Danielle Jam, Chris Kohler, Margot Livesey, Liz Lochhead, James Lovegrove, Elle McNicoll, Grace Nichols, Len Pennie, Jacob Sam-La Rose, Jen Stout,  Zoe Strachan, Louise Welsh, Maud Woolf,  Morna Young and many more!

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There is plenty to entice audiences of all ages and interests and all tickets are FREE. 

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Besides established authors and new talent, the festival focusses on more unconventional forms of artistic expression: whether your thing is crime fiction, activism, music, comedy, visual art, poetry, dance or live performance, there is something here for everyone. WayWORD is here - spread the WORD.

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Full programme available now! 

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All tickets are free of charge but if you would like to make an optional donation to the festival, you can do so while booking your ticket.

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A headshot of Sheena Blackhall.
A headshot of Liz Lochhead.
A headshot of Jacob Sam La Rose.
Ben Aaronovitch
Len Pennie sitting on a bench in a park.
A black and white headshot of James Lovegrove.
Helen Lynch is speaking into a microphone. She is a white woman with shoulder length brown hair.
Shane Strachan is sitting on a flight of stairs and holding a book. He is a white man with short brown hair.

Team

Helen Lynch 
Creative Director

Shane Strachan
Creative Co-Director

Emily McKay standing on a street in front of twinkly lights. She is a white woman with blonde hair.
A headshot of Blair Center. He is a white man with glasses and short, dark brown hair.

Youth Committee

Emily McKay

Blair Center

A headshot of Kirsty Lawie. She is a white woman with blonde shoulder length hair and glasses.

Kirsty Lawie 
Assistant Director

Naomi Christie holding a camera. She is a white woman with long light brown hair.

Naomi Christie 
Production & Admin Coordinator

A headshot of Finn Abou El Magd standing in front of a building with his arms crossed. He has glasses and short wavy black hair.

Finn Abou El Magd

Erin Benton standing in front of trees. She is a white woman with dark brown hair.

Erin Benton

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A headshot of Maryann Pierse. She is a white woman with oval glasses and curly brown hair.
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Maryann Pierse

Annabel Lunney

A headshot of Timothy Baker. He is a white man with short brown hair and glasses and a moustache and beard.
A headshot of Elizabeth Elliott. She is a white woman with short brown hair.

Mentors

Timothy C. Baker

Elizabeth Elliott

A headshot of Helena Ifill. She is a woman of colour with shoulder length curly brown hair and glasses.

Helena Ifill

A black and white headshot of Alan MacPherson. He is a white man with short hair and glasses.

Alan MacPherson

A headshot of Duncan Cameron. He is a white man man with short brown hair.
A headshot of Eleanor Campbell. She is a white person with short brown hair and is wearing a hat.
A headshot of Stacey Harkins. She is a white woman with long brown hair and glasses.
A headshot of Pixie Nishina. He is a person of colour with short curly black hair and glasses.

Duncan Cameron

Eleanor Campbell

Stacey Harkins

Pixie Nishina

Partners
& Supporters

BSL Interpreter

A headshot of Lesley Crerar. She is a white woman with short grey hair. She is signing.

Lesley Crerar

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