Monday, May 17, 2010

Poet pushes festival ticket sales past 1,000 mark

Ticket sales for the imminent 2010 Nairn Book & Arts Festival (5-13 June) have passed the 1,000 mark, in part thanks to Britain‘s first female Poet Laureate.

Carol Ann Duffy last week penned a poem called ‘Democracy‘ about the hung parliament, and last month wrote ‘Silver Lining‘ about the volcanic ash cloud. She is proving a major attraction along with writers Christopher Brookmyre and AL Kennedy, a tour of Cawdor Castle gardens, a lecture by a former submarine commander, stand-up comedy from Fred MacAulay, an archaeological discussion about Culloden and a performance of the acclaimed play The Tailor of Inverness.

Other events over the nine days include exhibitions of art in Nairn town centre shop windows, a musical celebration of whisky, events for Gaelic speakers and late night films including the classic Manhattan by Woody Allen.

In total over 1,200 tickets have been booked so far.

Festival Chairman John Fyfe said: “Ticket sales are going very well for the wide variety the festival offers. It‘s proof Nairn audiences appreciate quality. We opened our box office a few weeks earlier than usual and it seems to be paying off. Having said that, there's still plenty of room and we love big audiences so please take a look at the full line-up and keep booking those tickets."

The full line-up is available to see on line at
www.nairnfestival.co.uk. Brochures have been flying off shelves in bookshops and other venues throughout the Highlands. Tickets are available from Nairn Community Centre, Nairn Bookshop and on line at www.thebooth.co.uk.

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