Student Run Literary Festival inspires all

July 2, 2016

Literature festivalMonmouth Literary Festival  2016 came to a dramatic conclusion on Wednesday with a performance of The Play’s The Thing, a brief version of three Shakespeare  plays written by Mrs Arrand and performed, after only a morning’s rehearsal, by 45 Year 8/ Form II pupils from Monmouth Comprehensive School, HMSG and Monmouth School .  It was the most extraordinary and enjoyable feat.  Simultaneously poets from all three schools were meeting, along with Monmouth members of Poets in Progress, in Coffee#1 in town to get together and showcase their work – in public.

The day before that Form II boys were dissecting the events described in Charles Causley’s poem “Whatever happened to Lulu?”  and  putting together a police report.  And earlier 6th Formers had got together with Bristol PGCE students for a session of serious literary analysis and debate.

This was all complimented by drawing sessions given by Tony de Saulles of Horrible Science, poetry performances, a very thought-provoking talk by Rosie Moriarty-Simmonds about thalidomide, reminiscences from the older members of the Monmouth community, encouraged and recorded by Year 10 students from all schools, and several book talks including of course an evening in The Savoy with the wonderful storyteller Michael Morpurgo.

Many pupils contributed to the planning, smooth running and fun of the festival but special mention should be made of Edward and Charlie who not only helped with all the events but were fund-raising and managing right from the beginning.