BEYOND WORDS FESTIVAL, UNIVERSITY COLLEGE SCHOOL
November 17th to 21st 2008
University College School’s annual Beyond Words Festival is now a well-established star in the festival firmament. Not merely a literature or arts festival, Beyond Words embraces every area of endeavour – including dance, science, music, film-making, cookery, politics, medicine, advertising, history, and much more. We have a multitude of events on offer, offering a week of creativity, investigation, physical activity, exhilaration and contemplation.
This year, Beyond Words’ horizons encompasses subjects as diverse as James Bond, forensic science, and the circus. There will be workshops on high-wire walking, crime scene and DNA investigations, ballet and military manoeuvres. Students whose subject choices have narrowed to the sciences will be encouraged to dip into poetry and advertising; rugby players will be cajoled into dance workshops; arts students will attend science workshops and talks on medicine; and history will be embraced by all, irrespective of history syllabuses. Our contributors come from many worlds and backgrounds; all are passionate about their work or have a burning desire to convey a message – about the art of translation, univocalism, the pirouette, street children, exploring multiculturalism, the use of spices, the importance of design.
Our aim is simple – to inspire and provoke, to entertain and to stimulate, and to provide material for quiet reflection. We want to stretch the boundaries of curricula, to cross academic subject divides, to fire students’ imaginations, and to reflect the exciting world outside the confines of school. In short, we wish to show that education is much more than about passing exams, but a life-enhancing process that opens minds and can provide the seed of a future passion, or even a career.
This year, in what is the National Year of Reading, Beyond Words has set up a bold new venture to encourage reluctant readers: weRead. In a pilot scheme, students from UCS, The Henrietta Barnett School and Hampstead School will nominate their favourite book from a shortlist, post reviews on our weRead website, and meet finalist authors at the Festival; the winning author will receive the weRead Book Award 2008 on the evening of Thursday 20th November, and prizes will be awarded for the best reviews.
Beyond Words is not just for students of University College School. We welcome parents and students from other schools; and we open our doors to the wider community. Most events are free; all we ask is that you let us know which event/s you wish to attend, so that we can keep a tally of numbers (space at some venues is limited).
Photo credits: Raymond Blanc; Ballet Central (photo Patrick Baldwin); Gerry Judah, Land Rover sculpture, Goodwood Festival of Speed 2008