THERE is less than two weeks to go until Southampton is filled with poetry, fiction, song and theatre at the city’s very first festival of words, SO: To Speak 2015.

Taking place over half term, October 23 - November 1, SO: To Speak’s programme offers a diverse mix of poetry, readings, comedy nights, music, creative workshops, theatre and more, taking place at venues across Southampton.

Events and speakers will include Philip Hoare, Ali Sparkes, Tales of Southampton – telling the legend of Bevis, CSI Southampton, and a celebration of the Spitfire at the Solent Sky Museum with poet Matt West and the wonderful Spitfire Sisters.

As excitement builds, further events acts have been announced which include Southampton’s first Persian Festival celebrating poetry, music and film, an all-day line up of top poets and local musical maestros at the Dancing Man Brewery, and Words in the City – a host of free events in the city centre on October 25 to get the party started.

To add to this eclectic mix of events, local arts organisation ‘element arts’ will be introducing ‘Transported’, a series of unique art installations and performances within shipping containers in Guildhall Square. Working in collaboration with Williams Shipping, the shipping container village will be open throughout the festival.

Charlie Hislop, of Southampton Festivals and co-founder of SO: To Speak, said: “We are less than two weeks from launching Southampton’s first festival of words and we are hugely excited to show everybody what we have been working on over these last months. There is such a dynamic programme on offer, from Amanda Prowse to Shakespeare in a Car Park, that there really is something for everyone. We hope that SO: To Speak will help show what a vibrant and creative city Southampton really is.”

Matt West, of Artful Scribe, added: “SO: To Speak will be a fantastic celebration of Southampton’s creative scene and also offer a great chance for people to try their hand at writing or performing. Over the ten days there are events going on all day, every day, so I would urge anyone who is curious to get involved and go to the events that catch their eye. We look forward to seeing you there!”

For further information please visit www.sotospeakfestival.org or, to purchase tickets, call the Mayflower Box Office on 02380 711811.