Canny Cheltenham punters avoided our country’s dismal showing against Iceland in the Euros on Monday in favour of the only show in town that night – the premiere of ‘My Voice is a Shy Tiger’, a compendium of masterpieces from writers in Years 9-12. As spirits plummeted in Nice, they soared in the academy hall as Ciara Austin closed the event by reading a piece that has been specially commissioned.
The students have had a year of weekly writing workshops, of visiting national and local Universities and Art Galleries and of ‘playing Dragon’s Den’ in choosing their own book cover. This has all been thanks to the support of the Academy itself, the Cheltenham Literature Festival and First Story (a project which funds the discovery of young authors in areas of disadvantage across the UK and which promotes social mobility). Most of all it has been thanks to the real stars: the mice that became tigers, namely the students themselves.
The young published authors will be invited to read their poems at the Cheltenham Literature Festival this year where their book will also be on sale. Students will also be reading some of their work at our Summer Carnival on Saturday 9th July between 12 – 3pm.
By Mr Fredrickson
