The University of Aberdeen’s Word Festival celebrates its 10th edition this year. Having grown from somewhat humble beginnings into one of the most important literary events in the country, there’s a wide range of events taking place as usual, check out the full programme on the Word website.  Here are some picks from us (tickets still available through the Word site for all of these at time of writing):

Friday: Local journalist and historian Jack Webster (who knows this city as well as anyone), award-winning Spanish novelist and biographer of Kurt Cobain & Courtney Love Lucía Etxebarría and a very promising-looking clubnight from über-cool publishing house Canongate Books at The Lemon Tree.

Saturday: War correspondent-turned independent MP Martin Bell and novelist Pauline McLynn (AKA Mrs Doyle in Father Ted who’s also hosting a screening of Angela’s Ashes at The Belmont later in the day)

Sunday: Scottish Opera’s innovative Five:15 programme of short, Scottish-made operas continues after its world premiere on Saturday, the Sunday Herald Political Debate (should be particularly lively after recent events) and author of The Damned United David Peace.

Of course, you can always just head down to the uni and soak up the festival vibe in the cafes and bookshop tent where the air will be filled with the gentle hum of urbane sophistication…until we get there, obviously…

We’ve not featured many German plays on The Kiosque (we’ve not featured any to be honest), so now’s as good a time as any to start.

Presented by the University’s German Drama Group,  it’s a modern interpretation of Friedrich Schiller’s 1781 play ‘Die Räuber‘ (The Robbers) and focuses on the relationship between two twentysomething sisters (the original play had two brothers as the main protagonists).  Don’t worry if you’re German is non-existent, there are English subtitles and the play will be summarised in English as well. There’s also a chance to ask the actors some questions afterwards too…

Tonight!  German composer/percussionist Burkhard Beins (wikipedia bio) and Aberdeen-based experimental electronica bod Bill Thompson play a selection of weird and wonderful instruments in the unusual but promising surroundings of The Suttie Centre in Foresterhill.  Part of the Sound Festival, this looks like it could be a very interesting evening indeed…

Part of the Cruel Weather Film Festival, Ayreen Anastas and Rene Gabri’s film What Everybody Knows documents their travels through Israel and Palestine. Read a preview written ahead of a New York screening last year here.

Showcasing recent film and video from the Middle East, the Cruel Weather Festival promises to be a fascinating and thought-provoking event…

A collaboration between Peacock Visual Arts and The University of Aberdeen’s Centre for Modern Thought, many of the films are being shown in Scotland for the first time.  We’ll feature some of the screenings in the coming days/weeks but for starters, Slingshot Hiphop (pictured) on Saturday 3 October, 4pm at The Belmont Picturehouse looks pretty unmissable.

There’s also a  companion exhibition by artist Ayah Bdeir at Peacock too which you’ll be able to have a sneak peek at during the festival launch on Friday 2 October at 6pm (it’s free and open to all).

A full festival programme is available on Peacock’s site here and there’s an excellent interview with festival curator Jay Murphy on We Make Money Not Art

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