Wayang Kata IV ... and the Road to Singapore

And talking about poetry in performance, a quick plug for an exciting event that's coming up soon. This from the British Council's website:

WAYANG KATA IV: AN EVENING OF SPOKEN WORD

Getting it across!

Some say good things come in three’s but we beg to differ! Presenting the fourth edition of Wayang Kata – harder, better, faster, stronger!

Wayang Kata IV will feature an all-Malaysian line-up of poets that have attended our poetry workshops but here’s the twist: we’re going to have these wordsmiths battling it out for an opportunity to attend and perform at the Singapore Writers Festival in December.

The poets will be assessed by a panel of guest judges but ultimately the audience gets to sway the final decision! If you’re thinking Poetry Idol, you’re getting warm…

Back as emcees are Jerome Kugan and Jasmine Low also known as Troubagangers, our Wayang Kata co-presentors. The evening will also include special performances by our hosts, guest judges and new talent as well. Watch this space for updates and details.

Check out the competitors, note the dates and see you there!
Date Wednesday, 24 October 2007
Venue No Black Tie, 17 Jalan Mesui off Jalan Nagasari, KL
Time 8.30 p.m.
Admission RM10 at the door

For more information, email us at arts@britishcouncil.org.my

Well, there's nothing like a little competition to motivate folks to do their best, and judging by the list of poets who are up for it, it's going to be a tough contest!

This is what we know so far about the Singapore Writers' Festival:

In 2007, the nine-day festival will feature over 100 exciting programmes including film screenings (of literary adaptations), a book exhibition, panel discussions, literary tours and lunches, literary-related music performances and of course talks, book signings and readings by prominent writers.

The festival will be presenting, for the first time, a professional symposium, specifically focusing on the literary publishing industry. Industry experts from all over the world will be invited to give talks and take part in panel discussions. These sessions will also be opportunities for industry networking and information sharing among the key players in the literary ecosystem.

To generate buzz for the festival in December and to nurture a sustained interest in the literary arts, there will be monthly literary events leading up to the festival from February to October 2007.

The literary ecosystem? Either someone's been reading my blog or they're just as brilliant as I am. Publishing is an ecosystem, in which all parts must be healthy and in balance.

I know where I'm going to be in December!