From new writing to Nelson, scriptwriting to sex at sea, WOW is proud to announce its 2005 Festival Programme. The theme is 'The Sea', so step aboard, put your toe in
the water, or dive straight in and sign up for one of our many fabulous events. If you're a budding writer, a serious reader, a literary tourist, a local literalist, or just looking to take a cruise and soak up the atmosphere, there's plenty here for you.


WOW is proud to welcome Booker Prize winning author, Barry Unsworth (Sacred Hunger described as "...a book of grace and meditative elegance, and of great moral seriousness."– New York Times) to the festival. Barry is the author of fifteen novels, including Losing Nelson, "Stunningly original... Pulpy and juicy, full of wisdom and horror." – Los Angeles Times


WOW welcomes aboard prize-winning Liverpool children's author Brian Jacques. We are delighted to announce that Brian's Annual Literary Award for Young People will be linked to WOW's schools' programme. This year the schools' programme theme is 'Around the World in Eighty Poems'. Brian Jacques, leading a host of writers, story tellers and performers, will entertain over a thousand pupils from primary and special needs schools across the city. Pupils will be encouraged to create their own poems and short-stories. The best eighty, to be judged by Brian Jacques and other local writers, will receive a prize presented by Brian, and will be published on the WOW and Capital of Culture web-sites.




Escalating, a short film produced for the 2003 festival, scripted and produced by the Pupils of Croxteth Comprehensive School and Jimmy McGovern, won the award for Best Script by Children at the Chicago Festival. Two staff and eight pupils flew out for the festival to receive the award. Earlier in the year Report, by pupils from Weatherfield High School, won best comedy short at the First Light Film Awards in London. The six films have now appeared on local and national TV and appeared at film festivals across the world. Interested? Contact WOW for details of how to order your copy.

WOW has big plans for other events and happenings later this year and next year. If you're looking to get involved, talk about ideas, and keep up to date with all that we're doing sign up to WOW.