Theme of ‘risk’ allows Word festival to examine challenging issues
Saturday, 19 August 2023
Telling stories and writing novels can be a risky business in 2023.
The Word Christchurch festival, which opens in the city next week, will this year explore the broad theme of risk in the literary world.
Writers, musicians, poets and firebrands from across the world and New Zealand will descend on Christchurch on Wednesday for five days of literary events at the city’s premier book festival.
The event this year features Sorrow and Bliss author Meg Mason, British writer Gabriel Krauze, performance poet Tusiata Avia, Dead C musician Bruce Russell, and All Blacks legend Dan Carter.
Word programme lead Kiran Dass said the broad theme of risk emerged as she programmed the festival. The idea was inspired by a quote from New Zealand writer Katherine Mansfield, who died 100 years ago this year.
“Risk! Risk anything! Care no more for the opinions of others, for those voices. Do the hardest thing on Earth for you! Act for yourself. Face the truth!” the quote reads.
The theme of risk meant the festival could explore challenging issues, Dass said.
“Words can feel risky at the moment.”
Dass said this year’s festival cast a wide net to include music, performance, poetry and books.
“We celebrate words in all of their forms,’’ she said.
“I really wanted to capture that, rather than just books and writing.”
One novel event will see Christchurch librarians do battle with AI to see if the new wave of computer technology can recommend better books than the collective wisdom of the city’s librarians.
Another event at Christchurch’s central library, Tūranga, is a free, interactive experience where people can write letters to strangers that will be delivered by Word posties during the festival and even fired through pneumatic tubes.
But books are still at the core of the festival, with over 130 writers, thinkers, poets and performers appearing at more than 80 events.
Dass said British author Gabriel Krauze, whose autobiographical novel Who They Was was longlisted for the 2020 Booker Prize, would be a highlight.
“He is absolutely not to be missed. He has an amazing story about literature and art as a force to change lives.”
A collaboration between musician and Dead C founding member Bruce Russell and cult Scottish author David Keenan would be another high point, Dass said. Keenan’s debut novel, This Is Memorial Device, is animated by a love of music.
“One of the things that I am most excited about is having our international guests in sessions with local thinkers, writers and performers, and hearing the conversations and discussions which result.”