Inspired by a famous quote from Agatha herself - stating that all she needed to write was a 'sturdy table' and typewriter - an emerging writers' programme has been devised.
'Sturdy tables' will be installed in beautiful, interesting and quirky locations across Torquay, including a beach hut; a solicitors' office; an art deco library; a traditional seaside café; an art gallery; a museum; a hotel lounge; a medieval garden; and a boat house on the River Dart and will encourage writers of all kinds to stop and have a go.
A wide range of expert-led workshops will run daily at Torquay's Imperial Hotel from September 14 to 19 to accompany the writing spots and equip keen writers with skills and ideas for their own literary creations. Topics will include writing and geography, writing inspired by real lives, finding inspiration in objects and writing in creative education.
There will even be a professional troupe of actors on hand at the festival so that if someone writes something they would like to have performed they can see it come to life before their eyes and audiences will be treated to a piece of new literature and performance.
And for those keen to immerse themselves even further there will be a Writers' Retreat at The Imperial Hotel with an offer that includes bed and breakfast, accommodation, use of a dedicated quiet 'writers' room' and glorious public lounges with sea views, outdoor and indoor swimming pools, and a terraced garden with tables and easy access to cliff top walks.
Festival director Anna Farthing explains: 'The theme we are taking for the 2015 festival is the life, literature and legacy of Dame Agatha Christie. Clearly, part of her legacy is the many contemporary writers, several of our guest speakers among them, who cite her as an influence and inspiration. So we wanted to keep that going - partly via the creative writing workshops we have been running with local schools and by the workshops and retreat we are offering to adults at the Imperial but also in a fun way, by giving everyone the chance to sit at an Agatha-inspired sturdy table and have a go.
'We're not expecting anyone to get up from one of our tables with a best-seller fully formed. It's more about planting an idea and giving writers an incentive to start.'
The international festival marks the 125th Anniversary of Agatha Christie's birth and is supported with public funding from the National Lottery through our Grants for the arts programme. It will also feature talks, tours, book launches, film, theatre, exhibitions and vintage entertainment.
Kate Offord, Relationship Manager, Literature, Arts Council England, said: 'We're delighted to be supporting the festival this year and I'm very excited to see what unique and inspired creations come out of the 'sturdy table' programme. Not only will emerging writers have the opportunity to develop their creative ideas but those new to writing will be motivated to have a go themselves. And with a vast range of activities for die-hard Agatha Christie fans and those less familiar with her work alike, there really is something for everyone to enjoy, get involved with and celebrate the joy of reading and writing.'
At the Arts Council we support literature and creative writing in many forms including poetry, fiction, life writing, storytelling, spoken word, writing for children and literary translation.