Spotlight On Leaps Of Faith

Spotlight On Leaps Of Faith

RICHARD HOLLOWAY
Richard Holloway is that rare being, a controversialist with a conscience. A former bishop of Edinburgh, Holloway describes himself as a “Christian Agnostic”, a considered position in a world rent by wars of religion and bigotry. On Forgiveness is one of his books. Holloway has addressed complex ethical issues relating to sexuality, drugs and bio-ethics. He has held the position of chair of the BMA Steering Group on Ethics and Genetics. But he also has the gift of communicating broadly: he presented his own television series, including ‘When I get to Heaven’. He writes for many British newspapers, and his latest book, Between the Monster and the Saint, looks at humanity’s ability to transcend ‘the banality of evil’, reaching some form of grace. This is contemporary religion at its most eloquent.

See Richard Holloway in:
An Hour with Richard Holloway
16 May | 2:30 - 3:30pm
ASB Theatre – Aotea Centre

The Next 100 Years
17 May | 4:00 - 5:30pm
ASB Theatre – Aotea Centre

RICHARD DAWKINS
Richard Dawkins is the author of the bestselling science books The Selfish Gene, The Blind Watchmaker, River Out of Eden, Climbing Mount Improbable, Unweaving the Rainbow, The Ancestor’s Tale and The God Delusion. He is a Fellow of both the Royal Society and the Royal Society of Literature, has received numerous awards, and was the first holder of the Charles Simonyi Chair in the Public Understanding of Science at Oxford University from 1995 until 2008. An atheist and scientific rationalist, he is famous for his advocacy of natural selection. The God Delusion has sold well over 1.5 million copies and has been translated into 31 languages. Recently, his television programme 'The Genius of Charles Darwin' won 'Best Documentary Series' at the British Broadcast Awards in 2009. He lives in Oxford and will be joining us via satellite.

See Richard Dawkins in:
Richard Dawkins on the Big Screen
15 May | 8:15 pm - 9:30 pm
ASB Theatre – Aotea Centre

SONYA RENEE
Sonya Renee is an American performance poet. She is a National and International Poetry Slam Champion, an HBO Def Poet and an international touring artist championing many social causes including AIDS Awareness and Women’s Rights issues. Sonya Renee is easily one of the most distinguished, accomplished and recognizable female in the world of Slam Poetry. After a meteoric rise to poetry superstardom in 2004, Sonya has redefined the role and impact of women in slam since her whirlwind arrival on the scene, consistently ranking at the top of every major national and international poetry slam every year since then.

See Sonya Renee in:
Poetry Idol
15 May | 8:00 - 10:00pm
Toto’s Montecristo Room
53 Nelson Street

Sonya Renee
17 May | 7:30 - 8:45pm
ASB Theatre – Aotea Centre

TICKET SALES UP IN DIRECTOR’S LAST YEAR AT HELM
Response to the 2009 Auckland Writers & Readers Festival guest speakers and theme – ‘”find out what on Earth is going on” – has been enthusiastic since the full programme was launched on 30 March. “A lunch event with New Yorker writer  Judith Thurman has already sold out (Thurman can still be seen in New Yorker Night and An Hour with Judith Thurman), and overall ticket sales are 30% up on 2008. Bookings for the inaugural  Schools Programme have exceeded all expectations, and we’ve had an unprecedented number of requests for programmes from outside Auckland this year which is also very encouraging” says Auckland Writers & Readers Festival Director Jill Rawnsley (right).

Jill has led the development of the event since 2001, and has decided that this year’s Festival will be her last. “This is my sixth festival in eight years, and I’m very proud of what has been achieved in that time. I’m especially proud of the 2009 programme, which has been challenging and rewarding to put together. I’m eager to see it all come to life in a couple of weeks.” The festival takes place in the Aotea Centre from 13 to 17 May.

Sarah Sandley, Chair of the Auckland Writers & Readers Festival Charitable Trust, says: “Jill is known for her insight, diplomacy and attention to detail, and has led the festival to new heights during her tenure. She has sharpened every aspect of the operation, developed the event significantly, and in so doing has created a must-attend event with growing patronage. She will continue in the role until August, and assist the Board in planning a smooth transition for the new incumbent. On behalf of the Board I want to thank Jill sincerely for her contribution to the Festival, and to wish her every success with her future plans.”

“I’m going to make the most of my last festival,” says Rawnsley, “although it won’t really be my last. I will be an avid audience member from now on.”

For more information, contact: Sarah Sandley
Chair: Auckland Writers & Readers Festival Charitable Trust

WIN MAN O' WAR WINE
Win two bottles of Black Label Man O’ War wine (valued at $100). Simply email competition@writersfestival.co.nz with the subject heading ‘Man O' War wine draw’ to go in the draw to win. Entries close 8th May.

Good luck.

Until next time ...

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