Student Showcase at York Literature Festival

York St John ‘stars of the future’ will perform later this month as part of York Literature Festival.

The Student Showcase event will feature new fiction, poetry and other work from students studying Creative Writing. The evening, on 26 March, will be introduced by and include a reading from York St John graduate Nuala Casey whose second novel, Summer Lies Bleeding, will be published in September.

Nuala Casey said: “As a graduate of York St John’s MA Creative Writing, I am thrilled to be introducing the Student Showcase. The BA and MA Creative Writing students have produced some amazing work this year and I am really looking forward to celebrating some truly outstanding and undiscovered talent. “

York Literature Festival begins next week and brings a diverse programme of literature-related events to venues across the city.

Sponsored by York St John University, and now in its seventh year, the 2014 event has attracted famous names including Germaine Greer, Roger McGough and Professor Robert Winston.

The festival is a partnership between organisers and local and cultural institutions including York Theatre Royal, Visit York and St Peter’s School.

As well as the showcase, YSJ events will include workshops and evening talks on short fiction and poetry.

York St John is also involved with BBC Radio York’s Fifty Shades of Grey: The Debate. Naomi Booth, lecturer in Creative Writing and English Literature, will take part.

Miles Salter, Festival Director and graduate of York St John, said: “I am thrilled that York St John, which has always been such a creative place, is our lead sponsor.

“I am looking forward to a diverse and wide ranging festival with more than 3,000 people attending events.”

York Literature Festival events taking place at York St John University:

Friday 21 March, 3.00pm – 5.00pm, The Art of Short Fiction - Workshops, Temple Hall

Friday 21 March, 7.00pm – 9.00pm, The Art of Short Fiction - Evening Talk, Temple Hall

Tuesday 25 March, 4.00pm – 6.00pm, Three Prize-Winning Poets: Emily Berry, Helen Mort and Rebecca Goss - Workshop, Skell 223

Tuesday 25 March, 7.00pm – 9.00pm, Three Prize-Winning Poets: Emily Berry, Helen Mort and Rebecca Goss – Evening reading and book signing, Quad South Hall

Wednesday 26 March,7.30pm – 9.30pm, York St John University Student Showcase, Quad South Hall

Saturday 29 March, 2.30pm – 4.00pm, Kokoro: an afternoon of poetry and music inspired by Japan, York St John University Chapel