Fancy improving your Poetry Writing or Dramatic talents with the help of an expert? Well, in preparation for the Wootton Bassett Arts Festival there will be Masterclasses held at the Wootton Bassett Library during the Easter Holidays and what’s more they are completely FREE!

These sessions have been designed primarily to be fun and will also give people, who have not taken part in a festival before, the chance to try out their skills before thinking about entering the Festival.

Poetry Writing

The poetry classes will be run by Sue Chadd, a local poet, story teller and creative writing tutor. Creative Writing enthusiasts may well know her as a member of local poetry group, Bluegate Poets.  Sue has a MA in Creative Writing and Creative Writing Teaching from Cardiff University and has had many of her poems published including in the local poetry publication, Pulsar Poetry.   Sue, who has extensive experience facilitating creative writing workshops, will explore the inspirations for poetry based on the subjects featured in the poetry classes of the festival.

These classes will take place during the afternoon and evening of Wednesday 7 April, with each aimed at a different age group; 7-11 years (2.15pm – 3.15pm), 12-14 years (4.00pm – 5.00pm)  and 15 years through to adults (6.15pm – 7.15pm).

Speech and Drama

The Speech & Drama classes are planned for Friday 9 April and will be run by drama teacher Sandra McDowell.   Mrs. McDowell LGSM, ALAM, has been teaching Speech and Drama to pupils of all ages for nearly 30 years, and for the past 8 has been an examiner for the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA).

The drama classes will include group work, and will work on acting, mime and reading of verse and prose.  There will be two classes; 7-11 years (1.30pm – 3.00pm) and 12-14 years (3.15 – 4.45pm) where everyone will be encouraged to join in and perform.

Book Early to Secure Your Place

The poetry writing sessions in particular have been planned to allow entrants a further two weeks to perfect their poems before entering them into the Wootton Bassett Arts Festival. Closing date for entries is 23 April 2010. Clearly the drama students will need to get their entry forms in too but will have all the way up to June to rehearse and perfect their performances.

The classes are FREE OF CHARGE, but places are limited and since schools have been informed of this opportunity people have already started make reservations, so book early to avoid disappointment by contacting Wootton Bassett Library on 01793 853249.

A Masterclass Leaflet can be downloaded from the Wootton Bassett Arts Festival website. See Creative Writing and Speech & Drama pages for full details.