Hay Festival Scribblers Tour 2023

Hay Festival Scribblers Tour saw another successful series of workshops in Welsh universities in February 2023, thanks to Welsh Government funding.

In interactive events pupils built stories, asked questions and expressed themselves through the power of writing. Authors and compères spent time with the pupils, on and off the stage, to encourage creative conversations throughout the Tour.

#ScribblersTour

Week 1 – Years 7 & 8

Glyndwr University Monday 6 February 2023

Aberystwyth University Tuesday 7 February 2023

Swansea University Wednesday 8 February 2023

Cardiff Metropolitan University Thursday 9 February 2023

University of South Wales Friday 10 February 2023

Week 2 – Years 9 & 10

Glyndwr University Monday 13 February 2023

Aberystwyth University Tuesday 14 February 2023

Swansea University Wednesday 15 February 2023

Cardiff Metropolitan University Thursday 16 February 2023

University of South Wales Friday 17 February 2023

Day at a glance

9.45am Schools arrive | 10am–10.15am Introduction

10.15am–11am Event 1 | 11am–11.15am Break and book signing

11.15am–12pm Event 2 | 12pm–12.45pm Lunch and book signing

12.45pm–1.45pm Event 3 – University session | 1.45pm Pupil and teacher evaluation and book signing

2pm End

TEACHING RESOURCES

Week 1 – 6–10 February 2023 – Years 7 & 8

Event 1 – Maz Evans

We all need a little perspective from time to time – and that is precisely what Maz Evans wants to offer in this interactive workshop all about Point of View. Taking an excerpt from Who Let The Gods Out? we will explore the events from all the different characters’ perspectives, before we choose whose diary entry we would like to write. As we’ll see, the same circumstances can look very different depending on who is looking at them. And after all, looking at events from different angles can only make us better writers – and maybe better people too.

Event 2 – Matt Goodfellow

Join prize-winning poet Matt Goodfellow for a fun and interactive event where words will be brought to life. Experience Matt’s witty performance style and take part in a writing workshop which demonstrates why Matt believes poetry is ‘rebel writing’ and lets all young people use their own experiences to write poems ‘in their voice, about their life’. Matt’s latest poetry book Let’s Chase Stars Together is filled with poems about everything from friends, family and fitting in to growing up, standing tall and finding your people. This collection is the perfect place to lose yourself, find yourself and come out stronger on the other side.

Host – Jenny Valentine

Award-winning YA author and teen champion Jenny Valentine will be compèring the Scribblers Tour and encouraging pupils to find their own words to express ideas and creativity throughout the tour.

Week 2 – 13–17 February 2023 – Years 9 & 10

Event 1 – Femi Fadugba

In Femi’s workshop, students will collaborate to write a short story from scratch, making use of AI, story science and the maddest ideas in our collective imaginations. Femi writes young adult sci-fi novels. His debut novel, The Upper World, is set to be a Netflix feature film, starring Daniel Kaluuya. In prior lives, Femi has worked as a science tutor, management consultant and solar power financier as well as graduating with a Master’s in Quantum Computing from Oxford University and University of Pennsylvania. Prepare to have your mind expanded with Femi in this workshop from the future.

Event 2 – Caroline O’Donoghue

Caroline's workshop will focus on the storytelling power of tarot cards, and how this ancient magical tool can be useful for creating stories, characters and situations. The workshop will also include an introduction to telling tarot, with plenty of cards to learn from. Caroline is the New York Times bestselling author of the 'Gifts' trilogy, an Irish supernatural adventure focusing on a gang of friends who find special powers through the tarot cards. Caroline is also a podcaster, a screenwriter and the best friend of a small dog.

Host – Jenny Valentine

Award-winning YA author and teen champion Jenny Valentine will be compèring the Scribblers Tour and encouraging pupils to find their own words to express ideas and creativity throughout the tour.

The Scribblers Newspaper

Scribblers Tour Teaching Materials

The Scribblers Welsh Language events

Hay Festival Education

Hay Festival Scribblers Tour 2023 supporters