The George Town Literary Festival is the latest state-sponsored arts festival to enter George Town’s cultural calendar. This festival aims to contribute towards creating a vibrant creative and cultural environment that significantly raises the quality of living in Penang. Armed with a vision to support Malaysian writers by providing a platform for dialogue and exchange, the George Town Literary Festival is poised to become a sustainable key player in the growing network of arts infrastructure being built and nurtured on the island. PROGRAMME Friday, 23 November 2.00pm - 3.30pm Poetry Workshop with PELLTA & Arts Ed Three award-winning writers and poets work with Penang schoolchildren to create a series of rap poems in one afternoon. Come and share in the fun! Writers: Ng Yi-Sheng, Omar Musa and Nii Ayikwey Parkes Venue: Sekeping Victoria 2.00pm – 3.30pm Lecture by Dr John Robertson. The Battle of Penang On the 28th October 1914, at the dawn of WW1, the German cruiser Emden steamed quietly into Penang harbour and sank the Russian cruiser Zhemtchug. Leaving before anyone could retaliate, the Emden encountered and sank the French destroyer Mousquet. Writer John Robertson recounts this fascinating event in our naval history. Venue: Vic’s, Upstairs at The Canteen, ChinaHouse 8.00pm – 9.00pm Official Opening Ceremony by Chief Minister of Penang, Y.A.B. Lim Guan Eng Readings and Performances by A. Samad Said, Ng Yi-Sheng and Omar Musa Venue: Sekeping Victoria 9.00pm – 11.00pm Opening Reception and Live Music at The Canteen Reception courtesy of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands Music by Isaac Entry, Andrew Greig and Az Samad Venue: The Canteen, ChinaHouse Saturday, 24 November 10.30am – 12.00pm Reading and Panel Discussion Women Writers Forum Five women. Five writers working in different genres, forms and styles. Listen to how they are inspired to write what they do, and discover the inner workings of what it takes to engage with material that matters to them. Writers: Dina Zaman, Shivani Sivagurunathan, Linda Christanty, Chiew-Siah Tei and Judith Uyterlinde Moderator: Sharon Bakar Venue: Vic’s, Upstairs at The Canteen, ChinaHouse 10.30am - 12.00pm In Conversation with David Van Reybrouck A meeting of minds between two scholars and writers of history, society and political realities of the East and West, this promises to be an open and riveting discussion about issues that are current and relevant to us all. Writer: David Van Reybrouck Moderator: Farish Ahmad Noor Venue: Sekeping Victoria 2.00pm – 3.30 pm Reading and Panel Discussion Imaginary (Home)Lands Writers write about landscapes and spaces that are real and/or imagined. See how these writers are inspired to transcend the real into the realm of the imaginary. Writers: Rana Dasgupta, Andrew Greig, Nii Ayikwey Parkes, Shivani Sivagurunathan and Reggie Baay Moderator: Umapagan Ampikaipakan Venue: Vic’s, Upstairs at The Canteen, ChinaHouse 2.00pm – 3.30pm Reading and Panel Discussion The Mind of the Malay Author Inspired by the title of the book ‘The Mind of the Malay Author’ written by Muhammad Haji Salleh, this panel seeks to discuss the underlying currents, complexities and changes in the history and points of view of Malay literature from the past to the present. Writers: Dina Zaman, A. Samad Said, Alfian Sa’at, Omar Musa and Farish Ahmad Noor Moderator: Rehman Rashid Venue: Sekeping Victoria 4.00pm – 5.30pm Reading and Panel Discussion Fixi and the Rise of New Malay Fiction (Session in Bahasa Malaysia) Fixi has created a platform for new and exciting voices in contemporary Malay fiction. Fixi founder Amir Muhammad along with some of its writers, will discuss how Malay pulp has evolved to embrace the sacred and the profane in ways never seen before, and the anticipation of its foray into English pulp fiction. Writers: Fixi Writers Moderator: Amir Muhammad Venue: Studio@Straits 5.30pm – 6.00pm Book Launch by Amir Muhammad Amir Muhammad will be launching a book which title and content are yet unconfirmed at press time! This session will have the book hot off the press, with a limited edition specifically done for this festival. We are told that the book will be 200 pages long and promises to be objectionable. Not to be missed! Writer/Moderator: Amir Muhammad Venue: Studio@Straits 8.00pm– 9.30pm Spoken Word/Performance Poetry: Wayang Kata VIII - Wayang Kata began in Kuala Lumpur in 2006 as a collaboration between Jasmine Low and Jerome Kugan. Seven editions of Wayang Kata, sponsored by The British Council featured noted UK poets Malika Booker, Benjamin Zephaniah, Francesca Beard and Polar Bear. Wayang Kata will host its first ever show in Penang featuring a multi-lingual lineup of poets and spoken word performers in English, Bahasa Malaysia, Hokkien, Tamil, Thai, Burmese and more! Poets: Lucille Das, Maria Teutsch, Ko-Ai, Sheena Baharudin, Mark Walker, Murugan Sellapan, Venogopal Sahadevan, Ksatriya Words N Rhymes, Jamal Raslan, Jerome Kugan, Jasmine Low and more. Price: RM5 Hosted by: Jasmine Low and Jerome Kugan Venue: Sekeping Victoria 9.30pm – 11.00pm Live Music at The Canteen Musicians : Jerome Kugan and Mei Chern Sunday, 25 November 10.30am – 12.00pm Reading and Panel Discussion My Democracy Should writers care about their governments? Should literature be political? Should the writer also be an activist? See how these different writers deal with their own democracies and how they choose to work with their own political realities. Writers: David Van Reybrouck, Rana Dasgupta, Alfian Sa’at, Linda Christanty and A. Samad Said Moderator: Sharaad Kuttan Venue: Vic’s, Upstairs at The Canteen, ChinaHouse 10.30am – 12.00pm In Conversation with Tan Twan Eng Is Malaysian writing finally getting the recognition it deserves? Tan Twan Eng is the first Malaysian writer to be short-listed for one of the most prestigious literary prizes in English. An open discussion on the writer’s life, its trials and tribulations. Writer: Tan Twan Eng Moderator: Sharon Bakar Venue: Sekeping Victoria 12.30pm – 1.30pm Poetry Rant Mad as Hell! Five poets get angry. Watch them get mad - and bad. Writers: Ng Yi-Sheng, Omar Musa, Alfian Sa’at, Shivani Sivagurunathan and Nii Ayikwey Parkes Host: Jasmine Low Venue: Sekeping Victoria 2.00pm – 3.30pm Reading and Panel Discussion Show me the Money! Do writers write to get rich? What happens when writers become successful beyond their wildest dreams? See how money plays a role in the complex, intricate business of publishing and market-driven profits. Writers: Judith Uyterlinde, Chiew-Siah Tei, Andrew Greig, Nii Ayikwey Parkes and Tan Twan Eng Moderator: Kam Raslan Venue: Vic’s, Upstairs at The Canteen, ChinaHouse 2.00pm – 3.30pm Reading and Panel Discussion Taboos or Travesties How do writers go about saying the unsayable? How do they deal with issues and themes that may cause scandal and uproar? See how these writers deal with challenging issues that simply need to be said. Writers: Ng Yi-Sheng, Reggie Baay, Dina Zaman, Linda Christanty and David Van Reybrouck Moderator: Bernice Chauly Venue: Sekeping Victoria 4.00pm – 5.00pm Book Launch Readings from Readings 2 : New Writing from Malaysia, Singapore and Beyond Since 2005, Readings@Seksan and CeritAku have provided platforms for local and expatriate writers, both new and established, who have found keen audiences in Kuala Lumpur. A first highly acclaimed collection of short fiction, poetry, and essays was published in 2011. This second anthology features more voices from Malaysia, Singapore and beyond. Edited by Bernice Chauly and Sharon Bakar Moderator: Sharon Bakar Venue: Studio@Straits 5.00pm – 6.00pm Book Launch Sex, Stage + State: Kuali Works Plays – Book Launch by Ann Lee Award-winning playwright Ann Lee’s collected plays was first launched at the Ubud Writers and Readers Festival in Bali. Enjoy rehearsed readings by local actors Jo Kukathas, Foo May Lyn and other special guests. Writer/Moderator: Ann Lee Venue: Studio@Straits 8.30pm – 11.00pm Open Mic and Live Music at The Canteen Musicians: Isaac Entry, Az Samad, Andrew Greig, Mei Chern and Jerome Kugan 23 – 25 November Alternative Bookfair The Alternative Bookfair will feature local publishers and distributors Gerakbudaya, Areca Books, The Penang Bookshelf, Matahari Books and Fixi. Venue: The Reading Room, ChinaHouse Festival Venues Sekeping Victoria 164 Lebuh Victoria, George Town ChinaHouse 153 & 155 Lebuh Pantai, George Town Studio@Straits 86 Lebuh Armenian, George Town Source: George Town Literary Festival