Christchurch festival's “writers-only” PechaKucha Night

17 August 2012

Christchurch festival to co-host special “writers-only” PechaKucha Night

In association with PechaKucha Night Christchurch, The Press Christchurch Writers’ Festival is hosting a special “writers only” PechaKucha event.

All the featured speakers will also be appearing in the festival, but the unique PechaKucha format gives people the chance to hear from the writers in a fresh, informal way on whatever subject that takes the fancy.

For human rights advocate Marianne Elliot it’s “Superheroes and the importance of your origin story”; for playwright Ross Gumbley it’s “If life were like the movies”.

Other writers include Rachael King, scientist and Antarctic adventurer Chris Turney and industrial designer Michael Smythe.

PechaKucha is a presentation format where speakers are contained to talks that feature 20 images on show for 20 seconds each. The idea was devised in 2003 by architects in Japan, who wanted to find a way for architects or any creative people to share their work or passions in public in a relaxed, engaging way. PechaKucha nights now happen in 500 cities around the world and this event is the Christchurch chapter’s 15th.

Festival Director Marianne Hargreaves says it’s an exciting way to introduce people to the writers and see another side of them. “We thought teaming up with PechaKucha Night would be a great way to let the writers’ imaginations run wild and kick off the festival.”

PechaKucha Night Christchurch 15 takes place on 30 August at the Geo Dome in North Hagley Park. Tickets are $10 plus booking fee from dashtickets.co.nz

The Press Christchurch Writers Festival runs from 30 August to 2 September based in the Geo Dome at Hagley Park and tickets are priced at just $16. Tickets are on sale now. For the full programme and details, visit http://chchwritersfest.co.nz.

Full list of writers and topics:

Doc Drumheller // poet // on Haiku In Transit
Marianne Elliot // zen peacekeeper, change-maker & storyteller // on superheroes & the importance of your origin story
Ross Gumbley // playwright and Court Theatre artistic director // on 'If life were like the movies'
Rachael King // novelist // on creepy '70s & '80s children's television
Elizabeth Knox // writer // on Mt Cook, 1954
Veronika Meduna // science writer // on science in Antarctica
Rebecca Priestley // science historian and writer // on New Zealand in the atomic age
Anke Richter // journalist // on being Kraut, becoming Kiwi - why stereotypes work
Michael Smythe // design historian // on Christchurch by design: top per-capital performer?
Mark Spurgeon // graphic designer / on hand painted signage
Chris Turney // scientist & writer // on scientific exploration

ENDS

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