Oct. 3rd - Oct. 19th 2008

Young People at Ilkley Literature Festival

There are loads of events specifically for young people at this year's Festival- and you are welcome to come along to any audult events that take your fancy too.

And don't forget to enter the young people's poetry or short story competition. Details on the Competitions page......

Top events to try

Cool Voices Club Night- come as a performer or just to listen

Friday 17th October 7.30-9.30pm Otley Courthouse Arts Centre,

Courthouse Street Otley

For all the details go to the Tickets and Info page

Volunteer at the Festival

If you are 16 or older you can volunteer to help out at the Festival. This usually involves taking tickets at events; showing people where to sit; running round and fetching things; moving chairs and looking after late comers. Some teenagers also help out at the children's day, where audience members are anything from 3-11 years old and probably dressed up as a fairy/pirate/monster(sweet).

You get to sit in on the events you steward- for free!- it's really good fun and not bad for your UCAS form either. If you think you might like to work in the arts when you leave school, or do anything involving people it's definitely one to try.

You'll need to be:

reliable
punctual
polite
willing to wear black trousers/skirt and a white top (school shirt/blouse is fine) for your sessions
available at either weekends or on weekday evenings from 6-9.30pm during the Festival 3-19 October this year - but you choose your own slots and do as many/few as you like.

Go to our volunteers page for more info and to downlaod a form.

Or go to the contact page and email us if you've got any queries.

For our first young people's page we handed over to Becca...

Hi,

My name is Becca, I’m 15 years old and I have been on work experience in Ilkley for the last two weeks. As the preparations for the Ilkley Literature Festival have begun, I thought I would find out what people my age think of Literature Festivals. I asked 5 young people what they would expect the Literature Festival to be like and what they would like to see there.
I also spoke to Rachel Feldberg, the Festival Director, who explained what the Festival is really about and what you can expect to find at the Ilkley Literature Festival ’07!
Read on to see what they had to say!

Becca
-x-

Name: Evelyn

Age: 15 years old

- Have you ever been to an ILF before?
“No, I haven’t before”

- What do you think a literature festival involves?
“I would expect; books, poems and reading”

- Would you consider going to one?
“Hmm... maybe. It would depend what was there.

- What sort of events would you like to see there?
“I love dancing and gym performances but I wouldn’t expect anything like that to be there.”

- What types of things do you like to read?
“True stories, fiction that gets you gripped! Real life circumstances. Not really fantasy, apart from Harry Potter!”

- Do you have a favourite book?“I have a few… ‘Where Rainbows End’ by Cecilia Ahern is one of them.”

Name: Nessa

Age: 15 years old

- Have you ever been to the ILF before?
“No not before.”

- What do you think a literature festival involves?
“Books being publicised by authors and publishers. Plays or readings from books, book groups and reviews and new books being advertised.”

- Would you consider going to one?
“Yes, it might be interesting”

- What sort of events would you like to see there?
“Plays and drama events”

- What types of things do you like to read?
“Magazines, newspapers sometimes and some books”

- Do you have a favourite book? :“No, not really, I read more magazines"

Name: Charlotte

Age: 15 years old

- Have you ever been to the ILF before?
“No”.

- What do you think a literature festival involves?
“I just imagine readings, and books really”.

- Would you consider going to one?
“I don’t know, I wouldn’t know what to expect”

- What sort of events would you like to see there?
“Storytelling and a story corner.”

- What types of things do you like to read?

“Real life fiction is my favourite”.

- Do you have a favourite book?

Name: Sam
Age: 15 years old

- Have you ever been to the ILF before?
No, but I imagine it to be very good.

- What do you think a literature festival involves?
“I'd expect there to be Book Sales and Famous Poets Reading.”

- Would you consider going to one?
“Yes, why not.”

- What sort of events would you like to see there? “A famous poet or two, maybe some bargains on books.”

- What types of things do you like to read?
“Anything that’s exciting!”

-Do you have a favourite book?
“The Davinci Code. Most of the Dan Brown books really.”

“I have lots of favourites, but Cecilia Ahern is a great author.”

Name: Tyrone
Age: 15 years old

- Have you been to the ILF before? “No, not before.”

- What do you think a literature festival involves? “I imagine there would be book signings and maybe talks on writing.”

- Would you consider going to one? “Depending on what was there.”

- What sort of events would you like to see there? “Maybe some music events.”

- What types of things do you like to read? “Humorous books.”

- Do you have a favourite book? “I like a few, but I like funny autobiographies most.

Becca’s Interview with Rachel Feldberg, Ilkley Literature Festival’s Director

1. Becca - How does this year’s festival compare in size to the last one?

“This year’s is about the same size as the last one, I promised everyone I wouldn’t make it any bigger! There’s always lots happening, loads to see and do! It’s always a busy festival.”

2. Becca - What will it have to offer for young people?

“There are lots of activities and workshops for young people One of the biggest events is the ‘Cool Voices Club Night’ where young people can perform material they have written themselves. There is an MC for the event, stage, lighting rig, juice bar and whether it’s a story a play, songs for bands or poetry, it is all listened to.”

3. Becca - Can all ages of people go to the festival, and would it be a good family day out?

“It’s definitely a good family day out, and even very young children can be involved. The children's amd young people's days are on Saturday 11th and Sunday 12th October and Saturday is aimed at children from 3 ½ - 11 year olds and is packed with great things to do. There will be performances and workshops and Eureka are bringing along a special ‘Mini-Eureka’ just for the day.

4. Becca - Why should teenagers go and take part?

“I think teenagers are very creative, and some of the work that comes from teens such as songs, poems and short stories is fantastic. The festival is a great way for them to meet other young people that share the same interests as them. It could be they share an interest in writing songs, or they have the same favourite author and if they’re brave enough the ‘Cool Voices’ night is a brilliant opportunity for them. Teenagers don’t need an adult with them if they are thinking about going to the festival; it’s a day they can enjoy with a group of friends.”

5. Becca - How long have you been involved in the festival for?

“I started working as the Festival Director in December of 2002”

6. Becca - Do you have a favourite event at the festival, or one that you are most looking forward to?

“One of my favourites has to be the ‘Cool Voices’ night, as I love seeing young people performing and letting everyone see how talented they really are. However, I also love it when there is a particular event that people get especially excited about seeing.

7. Becca - Is there anything you dislike about the festival?

I hate it when authors we’d love to invite aren’t able to come. But authors have good reasons for not being available, often they are out of the country on a book tour and sometimes they just need time to write!

8. From the name, some people think the festival is all about books and don’t realise the different types of creative events involved. Do you think this stops some taking part?

It is difficult. The name ‘Ilkley Literature Festival’, has been the same since 1973, making it 35 years old, so it’s hard to change. Even though the festival has evolved to embrace any type of words and ideas, making it extremely creative, fun and interesting, people sometimes don’t realise and, yes, I think this can often be a problem.

9. Becca - Do you have a favourite book?

My favourite adult author – although there are so many! – is Rose Tremain. She's just won the Orange Prize so I am really please!
My favourite children’s author has to be Jacqueline Wilson. My daughter loves her books and I sneak into her room to borrow them-I find myself enjoying them just as much as her!

10. Becca - What types of things do you like to read?

Anything!
I read the newspaper in the morning, then books through the day for work and when I go to bed at night! I’ve always loved reading; even it’s just the back of a cereal packet!

11. Becca - So you read lots!

A friend once challenged me not to read anything at all for a whole day. It was so difficult! Not being able to read posters on walls or any material, even just for fun, is much harder than you think!

12. Becca - Do you think the festival will give people the opportunity to try something new?

Yes, it always does! Events that people enjoy most are usually the ones they aren’t sure about, or ones they’ve never tried before. I’m always telling people to have a go at things; you can love an event or an author’s talk without having even read the book!

Keep an eye out for more information on ILF ‘08