Berlin bound… Northern Ireland writers showcased at German literature weekender

SOME of Northern Ireland’s most exciting writers are off to Berlin this weekend for a literary showcase.

They’ll be taking part in the 37th British Council Literature Seminar, which for the first time focuses on Northern Ireland – showcasing both new and established writers over three days (February 24-26 February 2022).

Entitled Now Neu NI: Contemporary writing from Northern Ireland, the event will be chaired by Glenn Patterson, renowned writer and Director of the Seamus Heaney Centre, Queen’s University Belfast.

He will be joined by six other writers from Northern Ireland including novelist Lucy Caldwell, who releases her latest novel around the Belfast Blitz on 3 March; Nick Laird, an accomplished poet, screenwriter and curator from Co Tyrone; and Dublin-based writer Michelle Gallen.

Also on the bill are emerging/newer writers, Abby Oliveria, a writer and performer based in Derry/Londonderry; Belfast poet Padraig Regan; and Bebe Ashley, a poet and PhD student at the Seamus Heaney Centre, Queen’s University Belfast.

The seminar will take place over three locations in Berlin: the English Theatre Berlin, the Literaturhaus Berlin and the Lettrétage a literary house in Berlin’s Kreuzberg district. Consisting of readings, panel discussions and author-led workshops, it will offer literature fans, publishers, academics, and journalists, the chance to hear the latest writing from Northern Ireland and engage with the writers and their work first-hand.

Speaking about the seminar series, Chair, Glenn Patterson said: “I first went to the British Council’s Literature Seminar in the 1990s. To be returning there to chair a seminar which focuses on writing from Northern Ireland is a huge privilege. It is heartening to think we could have programmed three weeks of new writing – such is quantity, and quality of work coming out of here just now – but these three days are an opportunity to introduce to German audiences some writers who they have not met yet in translation and to celebrate new work by writers they may be more familiar with. If everyone leaves thinking ‘I would love to read more,’ it will have been three days very well spent.”

Jonathan Stewart, Director, British Council Northern Ireland said: “We’re delighted that this year’s literature seminar will focus on writers from Northern Ireland – both well established and emerging. Over the years, Northern Ireland has produced world-famous poets, playwrights and novelists, and there is a wealth of talent from here. We hope this showcase will help bring Northern Ireland writers to new international audiences, while building and strengthening connections between Northern Ireland and Germany.”

The British Council Literature Seminar in Germany has brought new literary voices from the UK to Germany for over 30 years. Featured writers at this popular event have included Ian McEwan, Robert Macfarlane, Salman Rushdie and Jeanette Winterson. Chairs of the seminar have included Valentine Cunningham, A S Byatt, Patricia Duncker, Professor John Mullan and 2019 joint Booker Prize winner Bernardine Evaristo.

The 2022 Literature Seminar is a collaboration between the British Council, Seamus Heaney Centre at Queens University Belfast, Literaturhaus Berlin, Lettretage and the English Theatre Berlin. It will take place in Berlin from 24-26 February. To find out more visit: https://www.britishcouncil.de/en/programmes/arts/literature-seminar

Events will be livestreamed from British Council Germany’s Youtube Channel from 7.30pm on Thursday, 24 February – view here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_YzBQdnDvI

The British Council builds connections, understanding and trust between people in the UK and overseas through arts, education and English language teaching. To find out more about their work in Northern Ireland visit nireland.britishcouncil.org or follow on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram.