National Year of Reading ends, but budding writers are inspired!
Warwickshire’s celebration of the National Year of Reading 2008 came to an end with a double celebration at the Royal Shakespeare Company’s Courtyard Theatre in Stratford yesterday (Wednesday).
One of Warwickshire Libraries’ new fleet of Shakespeare-inspired mobile libraries provided the backdrop for actors from the RSC’s current production of Romeo and Juliet as the NYR ended. “Romeo” featured with Niamh McCann and Owain Arthur, members of the RSC’s Romeo and Juliet company. But that’s not all.
The final activity in the Year was the Be Inspired writing competition for all ages across Warwickshire. Entrants wrote up to 500 words inspired by one of four photos taken by young people across the county. Winners in all three categories – adult, 13-17 years and 5-12 years – were there to receive their prizes from the actors and the competition judge – author and illustrator Steve Smallman.
The overall winner received a £50 theatre voucher and all winners received books and book tokens. Category winners also received a year’s subscription to newbooksmag or tbkmag (for teenagers!) and books kindly supplied by New books (http://www.newbooksmag.com) - a premier independent organisation that promotes reading via its magazines and book offers.
In 2008 the RSC launched a manifesto for Shakespeare in Schools called ‘Stand Up For Shakespeare’ with the aim of giving children and young people the opportunity to experience Shakespeare’s plays in ways that excite, inspire and engage them. Warwickshire Library Services helped spread the word by including information about the manifesto in their libraries.
Stella Thebridge, Warwickshire’s National Year of Reading Co-ordinator, said:
“This is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate Warwickshire County Council’s partnership with the RSC and mark the culmination of over 200 events across the county in a range of venues and with a number of partners between April and December 2008 which encouraged ‘Reading for everyone, everywhere’.”