Scotland, China, and now our city – theatre company Trick of the Light will return to Tauranga for Escape.

The Wellington-based theatre company is set to thrill when performing at Tauranga’s much anticipated biennial readers’ and writers’ festival, Escape.

The Escape festival’s programme was launched last night and tickets go on sale today.

The launch revealed festival goers can expect a packed and diverse programme of literary talks, panel discussions, workshops, and live performance across three days from October 18-20.

While boutique in size, Escape is inarguably big on delivery, celebrating ideas, thinkers, writers and storytelling.

It will feature celebrated prize-winning authors, powerful local and national writers and speakers, and the afore-mentioned innovative theatre company.

This time Trick of the Light will deliver the Suitcase Show. The company’s show, The Bookbinder, was a big hit at the Tauranga Arts Festival many years ago.

Escape festival literary programmer Gabrielle Vincent says other returning popular events will include the Sunday Speaker Series, Wham Bam Tauranga Poetry Slam, Zinefest, and Morning Tea with a celebrity. 

She expects the morning tea event to be especially popular this year. “National treasure”, former broadcaster, now author, Judy Bailey will share her wisdoms about “finding health and happiness as we age”.

Items new to the festival will also feature and the Escape line-up can boast a Dame or two.

Susan Devoy. Photo: Matt Klitscher/supplied.

One of those, Dame Susan Devoy, will be one of the stars of the inaugural Into the Night event.

“Join us for a special evening of celebrating local authors, storytellers and artists. Travel the literary loop around various inner-city venues and learn more about these creatives and their writing,” says Gabrielle.

“Venue hop or stay in one place; the choice is yours. The night will culminate in a fun-filled literary quiz.”

The local authors presenting at Into the Night include Dame Susan, Anne Tiernan and Lee Murray.

Other locals to feature during the festival are Claire Mabey (whose new novel is on the bestseller charts) who will run a workshop, and award-winning investigative reporter Jared Savage.

Jared will be one of three journalists on the panel at a Coffee with the Headlines event.

Successful internationally, but new to Tauranga, this session will involve journalists discussing the news of the day and turning a critical eye on current events.

Julie Paama Pengelly. Photo supplied.

Escape also includes the chance to enjoy a cooking demonstration and chat with lively and engaging chef, Sam Low; to hear Tauranga Moana’s Julie Paama Pengelly( Ngāi Te Rangi, Te Moutere o Matakana) speak about the powerful resurgence of moko; and how about hearing another take on NZ’s most famous cold-case murders?

“Escape’s events are set to expand your thinking, left your spirits and ignite curiosity,” Gabrielle says.

To view the full Escape programme see taurangafestival.co.nz

Escape tickets are available through the website, Baycourt and Eventfinda.