Attendance at Word events was in excess of 11,000 as visitors descended on the King’s College Campus, University of Aberdeen, and venues around Aberdeen City and Shire for an energetic three-day mix of readings, debate and discussion.
For the opening event of 2010, the Festival returned to its roots with a reprisal of the very first Word event featuring great prose from Ireland and Scotland with Bernard MacLaverty, William McIlvanney, and Word artistic director Alan Spence.
They were followed by science writer and libel law campaigner Simon Singh, speaking for the first time in Scotland since the conclusion of his libel case. Friday also welcomed a sold-out crowd to see wildlife photographer and cameraman Simon King, who discussed his recent Shetland Diaries series as well as his many adventures in the wild. Continuing the celebratory theme into the evening, with an appearance by renowned West End actress Linda Marlow and the first-ever Aberdeen edition of Canongate Irregular Club Night which brought together writers, a live band and DJ for a noir-themed late-night session.
Saturday saw big names such as Pauline McLynn, Karen Dunbar, Martin Bell and Simon King perform to full houses, and on Sunday Word participants tackled some of the biggest questions of the day, with a panel of leading writers and political commentators debating the future for Scotland in the Politics and Power, and an interactive discussion with leading researchers on the obesity crisis and the book Fat Matters — which looks at whether the ‘ideal’ female body is achievable. Also topping Sundays bill were author Denise Mina, described as ‘the Crown princess of Crime’ and David Peace, who penned the Red Riding quartet and The Damned United.
The Festival also took a new leap off the page, hosting the world premiere run of Scottish Opera’s newest Five:15 series. The mini operas were received with appreciation by a sold-out opening night at Elphinstone Hall.
As ever, the Word Schools’ and Children’s Festivals added to the excitement. The Schools’ Festival brought hundreds of youngsters onto campus, attracting a record 15 new schools over three days. Highlights for younger visitors included wood carving, aliens from space, weather watching, survival workshops and a joking computer, alongside readings and workshops with leading children’s authors.
Word artistic director, Professor Alan Spence, said: “The sheer energy of the Festival was amazing and there was a real buzz around the campus on all three days. For the first time ever I cannot pick a stand out event because there were so many highlights — everything was fantastic. The success of this year’s Word is fitting for our 10th anniversary and shows just how far this festival has come in the last decade.”