26 November 2013

Staff, students and friends of the University among the book-lovers to read their favourites 'Loud and Clear'

Staff, students and friends of the University of Dundee will explore prose, poetry, philosophy, history and other subjects on Saturday when they read from contemporary and classic texts as part of the Book Week Scotland celebrations.

Dundee Contemporary Arts (DCA) plays host to a series of events that will explore how we create, share and enjoy books of all shapes and sizes from 26th-30th November. Many of the events are being led by the University of Dundee, including 'Loud and Clear: A day of Vocalised Readings' which takes place between 10am and 6pm on Saturday, 30th November.

The day takes the form of a book-reading marathon of 30 different sessions in which the works of authors ranging from Homer to Roald Dahl will be read aloud by fans of the writer. Local authors will also make personal appearances to read from their work, while school pupils and other groups will deliver performative readings.

'We are delighted to be leading the Loud and Clear event as part of Book Week Scotland,' said Dr Gail Low an English lecturer at the University and General Editor of Dundee University Review of the Arts (DURA). 'Reading aloud is a lost art and it is a real pleasure to have a book read to you.

'Some of Dundee's most passionate readers are lending their voices to their favourite books. Visitors will be able to hear selections read aloud from some of the best and most important books, poems and plays ever written. They will also be able to drop in to read from their favourite book at one of the timetabled public sessions.'

Book Week Scotland activity at DCA begins today with 'A Book on One Page', a workshop (12.30-1.30pm) that will encourage participants to write postcards and then send them to places in or around Dundee.

This is followed by the University's 'Readers and Writers' series from 5-6pm at the Dalhousie Building when Professor Kirsty Gunn will quiz authors Linda Cracknell (Call of the Undertow) and Jean Rafferty (Myra, Beyond Saddleworth) about tackling dangerous and threatening subject matter in their novels, and how to create atmosphere and a sense of place in fiction.

A fun evening of book swapping takes place at DCA on Wednesday, 27th November. The 'Book Barkers' event offers participants the opportunity to take away a free book by pitching their giveaway to other attendees.

'Storystorm', a special one-day workshop exploring how it might be possible to create an autobiography of a city through the use of storytelling takes place on 28th November before 'Loud and Clear' closes the schedule at the weekend.

Further information on all these events are available from http://dura-dundee.org.uk/category/whats-on/.

Tickets for the 'Loud and Clear' event are free and can be booked through the DCA Box Office on 01382 909900.

For media enquiries contact:
Roddy Isles
Head, Press Office
University of Dundee
Nethergate, Dundee, DD1 4HN
TEL: 01382 384910
E-MAIL: r.isles@dundee.ac.uk
MOBILE: 07800 581902