One of Bournemouth’s most famous inhabitants and a member of the classical literati is having her 227th birthday celebrated in style at her final resting place, St Peter’s Church in Bournemouth, on Friday 30 August.
Mary Shelley, the legendary author of Frankenstein, is being honoured with a special evening of performances and discussions dedicated to Bournemouth’s iconic literary heroine.
Organised by The Bournemouth Writing Festival, in collaboration with the Shelley Trust, the evening’s entertainment will feature two specially commissioned performances. The first, Mary Shelley Unbound, is a wild ghost chase across Bournemouth performed by Dr Kevan Manwaring, MA Creative Writing Course Leader at Arts University Bournemouth. In this playful creative-critical piece especially written for the anniversary of Mary Shelley’s birth, Kevan honours the writer in a site-specific performance at her grave.
Kevan comments, “As a proto-feminist and pioneering writer of science fiction, Mary Shelley is one of English literature’s most influential writers. Her works have inspired countless documentaries, movies, comic strips, novels, tourist attractions, monographs, merchandising, and memes.
“What if she were alive today? What would she have to say about Artificial Intelligence, #MeToo, Barbie, and the Climate Crisis? In my piece, the spirit of Mary Shelley rises from her grave at St Peter’s and roams the modern world, casting a cool, critical eye on it all. What will she make of us today?”
The second, the dynamic Mother of Monsters, is a performance by Christy Fearn and Greg Gwyther who reveal the truth behind Mary Shelley’s prophetic writing and its relevance today. Christy and Greg bring the characters to life in this incredible story asking; Who was Mary Shelley? How did this young woman create the original science fiction novel? And why, along with her other lesser-known works, has it had a life of its own, inspiring drama, film, music, and popular culture since its conception during the summer of 1816?
A Q&A session follows the two performances, hosted by Shelley Trust Founder Katherine Edgar, for a deeper delve into Mary Shelley’s life, her works, and her lasting impact on literature and culture.
Dominic Wong, director of the Bournemouth Writing Festival, commented, “Mary Shelley and her family are not just icons of literature; they are a cornerstone of Bournemouth’s rich cultural heritage. We are delighted to collaborate with the Shelley Trust to honour her enduring legacy whilst inspire writers to write.”
Taking place on Friday 30 August from 7:30pm until 9pm, tickets start from £15 with £5 concessions available for students and those on low incomes.
For tickets, visit www.BournemouthWritingFestival.co.uk
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