Word on the Street festival provides fun for all ages
A FESTIVAL of poetry and the arts celebrating female writers and comediennes has ended after a successful three-day run in Dingwall.
The Word on the Street Festival attracted more than 500 people to its various events – which included writing workshops, authors’ readings and performances, dance and storytelling for children.
Run by a small team of local volunteers it was the fourth year of the festival.
It was supported by Highland Council through a grant from the Dingwall and Seaforth ward discretionary fund, Dingwall Arts Promoters and the WEA Women in the Highlands Project.
Writer-in-residence for the festival this year was Margaret Bennett – a noted folklorist, ethnologist, broadcaster and singer.
Audiences of 50 attended most events and there were more than 70 at the National Hotel on Saturday for the finale, which comprised a mixed programme including stories of Rudyard Kipling, dance by Plan B Young Co, drama and monologues.
The festival began on Thursday at the Ross-shire Club with an evening of comedy and slam by a troop of Highland comediennes, including Hazel Urquhart and Jenny Johnstone, local slam poet Danielle Quist and award-winning performer Catherine Wilson – who got the festival off to a flying start.
On Friday Highland-based authors, Barbara Henderson, Helen Sedgwick and Cynthia Rogerson read from their work and discussed the opportunities and challenges for women writers in the north today. A writing workshop with published writer, Sherry Morris, followed to encourage aspiring Highland writers.
The festival also featured the work of Dingwall Yarnbomber Sharon Scobbie, an artist working with fibre who transformed the High Street with her unusual yarn art on each day of the festival
The festival, which marked the centenary of some women getting the right to vote was such a success their are big hopes for next year.
Two of the organisers, Nick Fearne and Bill Anderson, said they were delighted with the response to the various events and workshops.
"We had over 70 at the National on Saturday night.
"It was a very informal evening and everyone enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere.
Most of the other events attracted audiences of up to 50," said Mr Fearne.
"The life of Hector Macdonald and works of Rudyard Kipling and Robert Service featured along with dance performances by Plan B Young Co.
"Dingwall Library staged some of the children’s events and these too were well attended with over 50 youngsters enjoying storytelling by some of the authors."
Mr Anderson added: "It was wonderful to have Margaret Bennett as our writer- in-residence at a number of the events.
She also attended the Wyvis Care Centre and it was a pleasure to listen to her talks and Gaelic singing."
All events were free or on a pay-what-you-want basis.
