Never mind buying your paperbacks at the airport - get your holiday reading sorted before you leave home, then spend five days under the South of France sun talking about books. In a workshop setting with plenty of coffee on hand, we will be engaging with literature of all periods in a spirit of enjoyable enquiry.
Guests receive a short list of five or six main texts to read in advance and the stay is punctuated with plenty of informal chat, exploration of ideas and, on some courses, drama workshops. It should be stressed that while those who have made a scholarly study of literature will be greatly welcomed for their input and ideas, this course is primarily aimed at those whose love of books would encourage them to, say, join a local Book Group where they may find like-minded people who gain inspiration and pleasure from getting together and talking over the themes, the characterisation, the writing techniques, the literary influences upon the author and the personal and social impacts of the (principally) fictional works.
Faculty Information:
Moira Martingale is an established journalist, having worked as a feature-writer and columnist for national and regional newspapers and magazines. She is the author of internationally-published books and her present novel is nearing completion. She has a teaching qualification, an honours degree in English Literature and Psychology, a Masters degree in English Literature and her PhD thesis is currently in progress.
Other Activities:
Christopher and Moira will involve guests in stimulating discussions on 'authorial intent' and the relationship beween the written word and the spoken (or even unspoken) performance of a writer's work.
We will look at the differences in approach between the two genres and then turn to the more methodical matter of how actors prepare for their roles. Then we'll put some of what we have learned into practice.
Get ready to encounter 'Stan the Man' and to indulge in laughter-overload while doing some little bits of serious acting with us. It might just possibly change your life.
Facility Information:
Domaine St. Raymond is a beautiful, spacious house with gardens, a large swimming pool and a tennis court. We have a supply of bicycles - and the road is flat right down to the Canal du Midi towpath! There's table-tennis, a pool table and even a set of boules.
With an optimum of ten guests per weekend, there's a houseparty atmosphere which promises the formation of new friendships or cementing of old ones.
Smart, roomy bedrooms are double or triple-sized. All bedrooms have en-suite shower-rooms and, in the case of the Olive room, an additional bath. All towels and linen are provided and each room has a hairdryer and CD player. Beach towels for use around the pool are not supplied.
Arts courses include breakfasts, lunches and two sumptious dinners with free-flowing wines from a local vineyard - where a degustation has also been arranged for one afternoon.
Help and advice can be given if guests require visits to La Cite at Carcassonne or to the castle sites of Cathar resistance.
Take some French Leave and slip away to the lovely landscape of the Languedoc for some leisurely learning and a large helping of culture.
Notes:
What is included:
- Transfers to / from Toulouse or Carcassonne airports.
- Transport costs to vineyard Domaine La Fort for Saturday wine-tasting. In-house tasting of selected local wines (e.g. Corbieres, Minervois, Malepere) on Thursday evening with our Wine Wizard.
- Transport to and from Rennes le Chateau (on 'The Da Vinci' Drama / Literature course).
- All breakfasts, lunches, afternoon teas. Wednesday Welcome Dinner, Saturday Finale Dinner. Wine is served with all lunches and dinners.
- Coffee, tea and soft drinks freely available.
- Use of swimming pool (weather permitting), tennis court, petanque arena and bicycles.
- Course materials (excluding books).
All costs are subject to confirmation at the time of booking.
Also see Vacation Schools in:
Writers Workshops
Europe
France
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