Elamin Abdelmahomoud, Susie Taylor, Noah Hamilton & David Ferry

Elamin Abdelmahomoud is the author of the acclaimed memoir Son of Elsewhere.

You also know him as the host of CBC Radio's daily arts, pop culture and entertainment show Commotion and as part of the At Issue panel on The National. It’s a rare journalist who is equally at home discussing the carbon tax and Taylor Swift.

We are very pleased to welcome Elamin to Woody Point for the first time. He’ll be interviewed by Peter Mansbridge on Thursday afternoon and reading from Son of Elsewhere on Saturday night.

Susie Taylor’s is a fresh and vibrant literary voice. She's a queer writer from Harbour Grace with an honest and raw wit and brilliant sensitivity for coming-of-age stories. Her characters are often caught in situations of complex morality in small town Newfoundland settings. We can't wait to hear Susie's stories on stage in August.

Over the years, Short Waves/Short Stories has been a can’t-miss part of our festival. The unique theatre experience is the invention of David Ferry, a proud Newfoundlander who is one of the most acclaimed actors, directors and writers in the Canadian theatre scene.

If you haven’t been before, imagine arriving at the Woody Point Legion late Sunday morning. You find a seat at the bar or at a table, order a drink, say hello to friends in the crowd, and then sit back and enjoy a live performance as actors and musicians present a story that will move, inspire, provoke, amuse and do all of the things that great theatre does. The difference is that – like a radio play – it is a pure listening experience. The performers are hidden from view. But unlike a radio play (or a podcast) you hear it among others in a shared space.

This year, David will present his original work Dead Head Out of St John’s – the title inspired by a line from a Crowbar song.

Here’s how David describes the story:

“Helene was a Montreal actress touring Newfoundland doing free theatre in the summer of 1972. On the last night of the tour the members of the theatre company all dropped acid, soaked the wooden risers they had performed on with the leftover naphtha fuel from their Coleman stoves, stacked the risers on the rocks at Motion outside St. John’s, and set them ablaze. In the dark field above the rocks she met rock star Kelly Jay of the band Crowbar. He told her about a song he had written about Motion and introduced her to an Angel. Helene made love to the Angel and 45 years later her son Mo arrives in St. John’s to find the father he never knew. The Crowbar lyrics pounding in his head.”

The cast includes David, Des Walsh, Sandy Morris, and one of our authors – who also happens to be an accomplished actor.

Stay tuned to find out who that might be……

Noah Hamilton is a true showman who finds deep joy in connecting with his audience. Over his short career, he's become one of the most beloved and multi-talented musicians in Western Newfoundland. Last year, Noah charmed Woody Point audiences at our New Voices event, Spring Thaw Concert Series and during Christmas at the Point. Can you tell we just can't get enough? We're really looking forward to seeing Noah take the Writers Festival main stage this year.