Several visitors to this autumn?s Cheltenham Festival of Literature, as well as some authors taking part in events, felt that it was marked by a higher degree of active engagement on the part of audiences than in previous years, writes Sarah Smyth.
It was perhaps relevant that this year?s Festival was one of the first large-scale arts events to take place since September 11.
Readers and writers seemed especially keen to take advantage of the opportunity to discuss their responses to recent international events - a rare opportunity to discuss issues in a genuinely open forum rather than through the filter of the media. The Festival?s theme explored ideas of power and literature; the theme and the events themselves were, of course, planned months ago ? the programme went to press in July. Seeming to become an impromptu gauge of the public mood, many events asked exactly the questions audiences were keen to discuss, and addressed many of the issues which have dominated public debate since September 11. Maggie O?Kane joined William Shawcross and Ben Macintyre to discuss the conflict the day after flying back from Afghanistan; and Stella Rimington, Paddy Ashdown, Mark Tully and James Naughtie - not to mention the widely misquoted Kate Adie - were all asked by the audience to share their thoughts on where we go from here.
Sarah Smyth is Director of the Cheltenham Festival of Literature t: 01242 263494 e: sarahsm@cheltenham.gov.uk
The Cheltenham Festival of Literature Spring Weekend runs from April 5-7, 2002