evening events
At The Writers' Summer School - it's not all courses and workshops!
Once the sun has gone down and dinner is over, we have an eclectic mix of EVENING ENTERTAINMENT and EVENTS lined up for you.

20:00
SATURDAY
CHAIRMAN'S WELCOME
A warm welcome for the week ahead awaits you from our Chairman, Keith Hinchy, the rest of the committee and all our volunteers.
After this, sit back and relax as our opening night speaker takes the stage.

20:10
SATURDAY
EVENING SPEAKER
Simon Hall​
A WRITING LIFE IS A STORYTELLING LIFE.
In this talk, we’ll celebrate the remarkable power of stories to move us, inspire us, absorb us and entertain us.
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21:30
SATURDAY
WRITE On CUE!
Grab a notebook and a pen, a tipple of your choice and gather with other writers for a madcap evening of fun-fueled writing games and prompts. This s a great chance to kick-start your week, get our creativity fired up and make some new friends!

20:00
SUNDAY
EVENING SPEAKERS
Emma Purshouse & Steve Pottinger​
LIFE IN A 21st CENTURY GARRET - THE ADMIN YEARS!
Writers...they laze around all day, gazing through windows, writing the occasional bon mot and quaffing laudanum, don't they?

21:30
SUNDAY
PROSE OPEN NIGHT
If you are one of those writers who consider their work to fall somewhere between poetry and song, our popular Prose Night offers you the opportunity to share your work with others. If you would like to share (up to 300 words/five minutes maximum) visit the Information Room for sign up details.

21:30
SUNDAY
The BIG QUIZ
Come and test your general knowledge in our BIG QUIZ!
No black armchairs, dimmed lights or starters for ten - just an entertaining and wide ranging quiz for all levels.
Teams of four-six (we make up teams on the night) are put to the challenge in this fun and easy (well - relatively!) quiz.
Prizes for BEST TEAM.

20:00
MONDAY
EVENING SPEAKER
Dr Russell Wate​
HOW TO CATCH A MURDERER.
​This talks covers a little bit about Russell's career, firstly as a uniform officer and then as a detective. In particular as a homicide detective, covering techniques used including the Soham murders and the deaths of Holly and Jessica.
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21:30
monday
POETRY OPEN MIC
Calling all poets! Our relaxed and informal 'open mic' session is a fantastic opportunity to share your work with others. Bring a drink, find a seat and enjoy this read-around.
If you would like to read (up to 300 words/five minutes maximum), you can sign up before hand.

21:30
monday
BUSKERS EVENING
Our Buskers' Night is one of our most popular events. Grab yourself a drink from the bar and come along and enjoy an evening of live music - writers style! If you would like to sing or play, you can sign up beforehand and if your name is picked, you'll be invited to perform one song (maybe two, depending on time and popularity). A PA is provided, if you need one and we always have other delegates who would be happy to accompany you on guitar. Newcomers are most welcome!

20:00
tuesday
PAGE TO STAGE PERFORMANCES
This is the evening where you get to watch the performances and vote for your favourite play in our infamous 'Page to Stage' event.
Who will win the coveted 'Swannies' this year?
Come along and support your fellow friends and delegates and enjoy the results of our 'Play in Three Days'. There are awards in FIVE categories. See the PAGE TO STAGE page on the website for more details.
The awards are given out at the FAREWELL EVENING on Wednesday.
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22:00
tuesday
FANCY DRESS DISCO
Theme: TBA
Many of our delegates love dressing up, so we encourage everyone to get into the spirit - from full costumes to perhaps just a scarf or a hat - but it's not compulsory. The Disco is a full on cheesy sing and dance along, we promise you'll know ALL the words ALL the songs. So why not pop along for a bit of a boogie - whatever you are wearing?
There will be prizes for the best costumes.
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20:00
wednesday
FAREWELL EVENING
PRIZE GIVING & AWARDS
​Join us after dinner for our last evening together, where we will award all the prizes won during the week, draw the raffle and present 'The Swannies' - our very own Oscars for the Page to Stage writers and performers.
After the Awards are done, sit back and enjoy our special Evening Sketch, 'Baggy Bra', written by Izzy Searle, before we bid farewell until next year. ​