WayWORD continues this weekend with events in The Cowdray Hall, Aberdeen Central Library, and The Blue Lamp. Browse the events on offer at the Cowdray Hall below and view the full programme at www.waywordfestival.com

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Friday 3rd October

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ACE Voices Ceilidh (6.30, Cowdray Hall)

Move your body and enjoy music, song, and poetry with ACE Voices Intergenerational Ceilidh Band. Even if you’ve never danced before, this is the perfect opportunity to learn new dances in this fun and beginner friendly session. Co-led by ACE Voices Youth Leadership Team, this event will also incorporate ceilidh traditions such as singing and poetry readings from performers. 

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Saturday 4th October

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Margaret McDonald and Danielle Jawando: Award-Winning YA Fiction (11am, Art Gallery Seminar Room)

Two of Britain’s most exciting Young Adult fiction authors – Danielle Jawando and Margaret McDonald – join us to discuss their award-winning novels. Jawando’s third book, If My Words Had Wings, is a life-affirming story of rehabilitation and hope after prison; was recently shortlisted for this year’s YA Book Prize, an award she won in 2023 for her second novel, When Our Worlds Collided. This year, McDonald became the youngest ever winner of the Carnegie Medal for Writing for her debut novel Glasgow Boys which explores mental health, trauma, inequality and identity through the friendship between two boys who have grown up in foster care. 

Ideas of North – New Poetry from Scotland and Ireland’s North (12.30, Art Gallery Seminar Room)

Charles Lang, Jake Hawkey, and Zara Meadows are three of the most accomplished, thematically pertinent, and innovative poets to have emerged within their tradition in recent years.

ACE Voices Choir Performance (12:45, Sculpture Court)

A performance by Aberdeen’s own intergenerational choir led by ACE Voices. With members ranging from 0 to 80+ years old, ACE Voices is formed on the basis that ‘Everyone can sing, everyone is musical, and everyone has a voice worth hearing.’

Michael Pedersen and Chris McQueer: Muckle Masculinities (2.30, Cowdray Hall)

Scottish writers Michael Pedersen and Chris McQueer are joined by Nicola Sturgeon to discuss their compelling 2025 debut novels Muckle Flugga and Hermit, which both explore isolation and masculinity in unique ways.

Fusion Dance pop-up performance

Don’t miss this pop-up collaboration between Spectrum Ensemble and Fusion. Hear new works from Spectrum, the University of Aberdeen’s student led new music ensemble, brought to life with dance and choreography by Fusion, Citymoves Dance Agency’s youth dance company.

How to Kill a Witch with Zoe Venditozzi and Claire Mitchell (4.30, Cowdray Hall)

The Witches of Scotland campaign is dedicated to seeking justice for the nearly 4,000 individuals, predominantly women, who were accused of witchcraft in Scotland between 1563 and 1736. Following the success of the campaign and Witches of Scotland podcast, Zoe Venditozzi and Claire Mitchell discuss their new book, How to Kill a Witch: A Guide for the Patriarchy which explores this historic injustice in detail and considers its relevance today. 

Nicola Sturgeon: Writing Frankly (6.30, Cowdray Hall)

(This event is SOLD OUT)

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Sunday 5th October

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Love in Lyrics – Fiona Soe Paing, Cameron Stewart Grant & Florence Jack (11.30, Cowdray Hall)

How does love sound? Is it loud or quiet? Sweet or painful? Smooth like silk or tangled like guitar strings? Love in Lyrics is an intimate, one-hour live chat with some of the most emotionally resonant emerging and established musicians in Scotland. 

Aberdeen Gaelic Choir | Còisir Ghàidhlig Obar Dheathain (12.45, Sculpture Court)

Come hear a selection of traditional and modern Gaelic songs performed by Còisir Ghàidhlig Obar Dheathain (Aberdeen Gaelic Choir) before they are off to the Royal National Mòd in Lochaber! 

Len Pennie and Peter Mackay: Celebrating Scotland’s Languages (1.30, Cowdray Hall)

Join us for an afternoon of lively readings and discussion with two of Scotland’s best-known poets working in these languages. Our new national Scottish Makar, Gaelic poet Pàdraig MacAoidh (Peter Mackay), is joined by Scots-language sensation Len Pennie, hot off the release of her second poetry collection, Poyums Annaw.

Damian Barr and Keava McMillan: Scotland’s Hidden LGBTQ+ Art History

Uncover the queer lives behind some of Scotland’s finest 20th century art with award-winning author Damian Barr and art historian Keava McMillan. Barr’s latest novel, The Two Roberts, tells the moving story of painters Robert MacBryde and Robert Colquhoun, deeply devoted to their art and their love for one another. Dr McMillan will share insights from her WayWORD-commissioned pamphlet exploring the queer art of artists Dorothy Johnstone, Cecile Walton and Anne Finlay, all featured in Aberdeen Art Gallery’s ‘Art of Empowerment’ collection.

WayWORD Festival 2025 hits full speed in Sir Duncan Rice Library from tomorrow, 1st October. Here are the events you can join in Old Aberdeen.

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Wednesday 1st October

Spotlighting North East Magazines: Pushing Out the Boat & Causeway/Cabhsair(12 noon)

Celebrating new writing with performers reading their work from two magazines from North East Scotland – Pushing Out the Boat and Causeway/Cabhsair.

Lesley Benzie and Alessandra Thom: She’s Some Woman! (1.30)

At WayWORD, we support women’s rights… and women’s wrongs! Our first book event kicks off with two writers hailing from the North East who explore the lives of women in their work. Award-winning poet Lesley Benzie will read and discuss her contributions to She’s Some Woman: Testaments which celebrates leaders, mavericks, and trailblazers, while debut author Alessandra Thom’s novel, Summer Hours, explores the questionable choices of young queer women during one hot summer in Edinburgh. 

Curating Aberdeen(s): Ica Headlam, Abeer Eladany, Charley Buchan (3.30)

What makes a city’s past, and how do you represent it? How do you engage with a controversial heritage without rewriting history? And what is the place for museums going forward?

Film Premiere: Saliqmiut: People along the coast, at the edge (5pm)

the premiere of award-winning filmmaker Professor Alan Marcus’s latest work. Saliqmiut: People along the coast, at the edge (2025), explores the impact of climate change on two communities in sharply different urban and natural settings.

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Thursday 2nd October

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Performing the Self: Aiden Cowie & Fiona Robertson (1pm)

How do we bring our selves to the stage? Writing and performing identity, power and disability, Aiden Cowie and Fiona Robertson are two of Aberdeen’s most striking voices. Bringing forth their lived experience with passion, clarity, and good comedic timing, Aiden and Fiona share their love for performance.  

Novel Takes on ADHD: Natalie Jayne Clark and Tom Newlands (3pm)

In their debut novels, award-winning authors Natalie Jayne Clark and Tom Newlands feature protagonists navigating life with ADHD, inspired by their own experiences of neurodivergence.

A Tribute to ABBA with Lisa Brunzell and Shane Strachan (5pm)

In Let the World Adore You (shortlisted for the international Rencontres d’Arles Photo-Text Book Award), Swedish photographer Lisa Brunzell captures the lives of Britain’s ABBA tribute artists, exploring the tension between their impersonations and their individual identities. Lisa will discuss the development of the project alongside Aberdeen-based collaborator Shane Strachan, who will perform short poetic texts from the book inspired by melancholy and joy of both ABBA lyrics and of Lisa’s images.

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Friday 3rd October

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Toulmin Prize with Sheena Blackhall (1pm)

In honour of Aberdeenshire writer David Toulmin (John Reid, 1913–1998), the Toulmin Prize writing competition is held annually by the Elphinstone Institute and sponsored by the Reid family. Join us for this celebration of North-East writing with this year’s prizewinning story read aloud by Doric poet, Sheena Blackhall. 

Gothic Aberdeen Prizegiving with Heather Parry (2pm)

Discover who has won our Gothic Aberdeen Short Story Competition before it is read aloud for the first time by judge Heather Parry, author of Carrion Crow. The event will also feature a short talk from Christina Mackenzie, lead curator of the ‘Fear and Fascination’ Gothic Exhibition currently on display the Sir Duncan Rice Library. 

Feminist Futures in Reactionary Times: Nat Raha and Lois Shearing (3.30)

Poet and activist-scholar Nat Raha (Trans Femme Futures, co-authored with Mijke van der Drift) and journalist-author Lois Shearing (Pink-Pilled: Women and the Far Right) explore feminist politics in a world where far-right forces pose growing challenges. 

Between Science and Seeing: Artist talk with Stuart Whipps (5pm)

Artist Stuart Whipps has been working with Grampian Hospitals Art Trust (GHAT) to explore the Foresterhill Health Campus and its links to the development of MRI technology. Stuart has also worked closely with the University of Aberdeen Biomedical Physics department, looking at research, artefacts, and the new technology to create a series of photographs on display in The Suttie Arts Space from 6 September to 14 December. Stuart will talk about this new work in discussion with the GHAT team and guest speakers.

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And the fun doesn’t stop there….

WayWORD continues into the weekend with events at Aberdeen Central Library and The Cowdray Hall. Browse the full programme and book your tickets at www.waywordfestival.com

Although the festival officially runs 1-5 October we have some additional events starting this weekend!

TONIGHT (Friday 26th September)

From Aberdeen to Aberlangs: Multilingualism in the North East (6.30pm)

Sir Duncan Rice Library, Seminar Room 224

In celebration of the European Day of Languages, an interdisciplinary team from the University of Aberdeen will host a discussion on Aberlangs, a collaborative initiative aimed at fostering multilingualism and at enhancing the visibility of home, heritage and community languages in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire. By promoting Aberdeen as a vibrant City of Languages, the Aberlangs project highlights the importance of multilingualism as a valuable asset for both individuals and the community. This panel will serve as a platform to explore Aberdeen’s multilingual landscape, inviting audience participation in the conversation. Speakers include: Fransiska Louwagie, Dawn Leslie, Nicolas Le Bigre and Andrada Maries.

Saturday 27th September

Immersive Murder Mystery with Aberdeen University Roleplay Association (Various times)

King’s Pavilion

This event is nearly sold out!

The director of Aberdeen’s Amateur Whodunnit Play Theatre Company has been found murdered, hours before opening night of their first show! With the cast and crew under suspicion and the police stuck in Aberdeen traffic, it’s up to some plucky audience members to solve the crime before the 5-minute call! 

Set in the style of Agatha Christie, this Murder Mystery will take participants back to the 1920s and throw them right in the middle of a classic ‘whodunnit’ through an immersive theatre experience. Choose a time slot to join and work through this immersive experience at your own pace.

Workshop – Melody & Accompaniment with Roo Geddes & Hugo Franco (1.30-3.30)

King’s Pavilion

Join Roo Geddes and Hugo Franco of Darach for a fantastic workshop on Saturday 27th September 2025. Fiddle led by Roo and Guitar led by Hugo at the King’s Pavilion, University of Aberdeen. 1:30-3:30pm. Aimed at intermediate and above players and open to all instruments

Concert – Darach supported by SC&T Youth (7pm)

King’s Pavilion

Join us for a vibrant evening of live music featuring Darach—the exciting duo of Scottish fiddler Roo Geddes and Galician guitarist Hugo Franco. Blending deep-rooted traditions with contemporary energy, Darach bring expressive melodies, rich harmonies, and inventive arrangements to the stage, showcasing their unique cross-cultural sound.

Opening the night will be performances from talented young musicians from SC&T Youth. Come along and support the next generation of traditional musicians before enjoying an unforgettable set from one of the scene’s most compelling new collaborations. 

Expect warmth, creativity, and a celebration of tradition old and new!

Sunday 28th September

Wilderness skills with ACE Voices

Cruickshank Botanic Garden

This event has sold out!

Join ACE Voices and their Youth Leadership Team for an intergenerational family day of wilderness skills, nature play and team games in the beautiful Wild Garden at Cruickshank Botanic Garden. Please take a packed lunch/snacks and appropriate clothing. Children taking part need an adult in their family to join in too.

On Friday we are launching the programme for 2025!

We are hosting a drinks reception to welcome friends of the festival to celebrate our new programme. With new venues, new performers, and a new committee of young people driving the programme forward there is lots to enjoy! Join us to hear from performers in this year’s line-up as well as hearing from the new festival director and youth committee about the programme development.

If you would like to attend please RSVP as we have limited capacity in the venue.

Browse the full programme at www.waywordfestival.com

You can find accessibility information at www.waywordfestival.com/accessibility

We look forward to seeing you!
The WayWORD Team