This Thursday 26^th August at 7.30pm, around 300 people will walk into Croxteth Fire Station to watch the community-led production of the greatest love story ever told, directed by Neil Caple (RSC, Brookside).

Join us for free food and drink, to spot the film stars of the future and, most importantly, for an absolutely fantastic show. In case you just can’t wait until Thursday, here’s a little preview:

Catch the Bard in Croxteth while you can!

Extra Shakespeare News:

On Sunday 22nd  August at 16.30, BBC Radio 4 broadcast ‘The Bards of Somalia’ http://www.poetrytranslation.org/news/116/’The_Bards_of_Somalia’_

The programme featured interviews with translator Martin Orwin, who outlined the remarkable tradition of poetry in Somali, and with PTC Director, Sarah Maguire, who discussed the importance of translating Somali poetry into English. Poet W N Herbert, who co-translated Maxamed Xaashi Dhamac ‘Gaarriye’ with Martin Orwin for the PTC, talked about the complexities and delights of the translation process, and the impact it’s had on his own writing.

The programme will be repeated on Saturday 28th at 23.30 and you can also catch it on the BBC iPlayer for seven days following the second broadcast http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00tf9nw/The_Bards_of_Somalia/

The festival focuses largely, but not exclusively, on issues relating to gender equality and active citizenship, with particular attention paid to how they affect young people. As well as working with schools and civic groups, the festival has invited a variety of different artists to share their expertise in using their tools to examine and challenge what they perceive as inequities.

Kayd is an organisation promoting the freedom of expression through art and culture in the Somali territories, and aims to encourage the tolerance and appreciation of the diverse Somali culture.

If you would like any more information, here’s a link back to a previous post about HIBF.

The collection explains how pastoral nomadic communities were brought into conflict, and explores the role which literature can play in matters of peace-keeping: providing both Somali and non-Somali readers with a fascinating insight into the history of a creative community which may have otherwise been lost.

The anthology will be launched at the Mooge Festival and Hargeysa International Book Fair, and can now be ordered from Red Sea Online.

We are looking for suggestions to help us compile a list of around 50 books which might be published by Kayd Organisation, to be used as recommended reading for people interested in Somalia/Somaliland or Somali territories as whole. The books might be ‘classic’ English texts, poetry, travel writing, or works of a more political or historical nature. Please draw our attention to anything you judge to be worthy of consideration! (Use the ‘comments’ section at the bottom of this post to leave your suggestions.)

Do read the information provided on Kayd Organisation and the Somali Arts & Culture Festival – hopefully it will offer a clearer insight into the above request.

Kayd Organisation

Based in London, Kayd deals primarily with the devlopment and continuation of the Somali Arts & Culture Project in both the UK and the Somali territories, and promotes the extension of Somali work into a wider audience. In order to further promote the work, Kayd, in association with its partner organisation RedSea online, propose to organise the first ever Somali Arts & Culture Festival, with the objective of supporting freedom of expression through the arts. The event will be held in Hargeysa, Somaliland from 22-26th July 2009, and the theme for 2009 will be ‘Censorship’; exploring how artists participating in the festival have experienced acts of censorship, whilst still celebrating the freedom of creativity.

Hargeysa International Book Fair (HIBF)

Hargeysa International Book Fair (HIBF) will be an essential part of the festival. Aiming to display 5,000 books from both local and international writers, the main objective for HIBF is to encourage members of the public to engage with writers and their work, and to inspire them into joining the RedSea Book Lending Centre. Each year, the festival will centre on one country in particular – 2009 being the year dedicated to the UK – and will display books devoted not only to ‘classic’ British Literature, but to the philosophy, politics, and history of the UK, as well as many more diverse and interesting topics. The aim is to provide and insight into the society, culture, and literature of the chosen country.

Kayd has entitled the event: ’Mooge Festival’, in honour of the celebrated Somali musician, singer and teacher Mohamed Mooge Liibaan; a man who believed in the responsibility of the artist to stand up for creative freedom, even when faced with censorship and imprisonment.