readings 

Friday, March 6th 2009 at 20.00

Doors open at 19.30. Entry is free to delegates and the public.

The conference opens with a cabaret evening of creative work from local writers, audience participation and an open-mic session.

The night will include a reading and short talk by novelist Rodge Glass, the new Creative Writing Fellow at Strathclyde University. A graduate of the creative writing MA at Glasgow University, Rodge has gone on to publish two novels with Faber and Faber. His most recent book is a biography of Alasdair Gray (Bloomsbury 2008), which he is currently transforming into a PhD thesis.

Saturday, March 7th 2009 at 20.30

Doors open at 20.00. Entry is free to delegates and £7 for the public.

The Lonely Page is delighted to present a showcase of creative work by delegates and a reading by Roddy Doyle.

Roddy Doyle (b. 1958) is a native of Dublin, where he still lives. His writing is known around the world, and he has been awarded the Booker Prize and an honorary doctorate from Dublin City University.

His novels include The Commitments (1987); The Snapper (1990); The Van (1991), which was shortlisted for the Booker Prize; Paddy Clarke, Ha Ha Ha (1993), which won the Booker Prize; The Woman Who Walked Into Doors (1996); A Star Called Henry (1999); Oh, Play that Thing (2004); and Paula Spencer (2006). His short stories are collected as The Deportees (2007).

His drama includes Brownbread (1987); War (1989) ; Guess Who's Coming to the Dinner (2001); and, with Bisi Adigun, a new version of The Playboy of the Western World (Dublin Theatre Festival, 2007). His film and television credits include The Family (BBC) and the scripts for the films based on his novels. His original screenplay, When Brendan Met Trudy, was directed by Kieron J. Walsh in 2000.

He has also written books for children, including The Giggler Treatment (2000); Rover Saves Christmas (2002); The Meanwhile Adventures (2004); and Wilderness (2007). His play for children, No Messin’ With The Monkeys!, was produced in Dublin at The Ark in 2005.