Award-winning author AL Kennedy will headline later this month at Europe's largest annual student arts festival, hosted by the University of Warwick. 

SPLAT-Fest will take place on campus from 21 to 25 June and promises to be a celebration of student performance, literature, art and theatre present both within and outside the University. 

The annual event, currently in its sixth year, is organised by the student body and includes a variety of events including performance, art, theatre and new to this year, literature. 

Live performance is the key to the festival, ranging from cabaret to late night cinema, dancing competitions to comedy nights. Confirmed events include The Wizards of Warwick magical debut, the Almost Acoustic concert and special guest Al Kennedy, who will previewing her Edinburgh festival performance in the Arts Centre on the evening of Monday 22 June. A L Kennedy is Associate Professor in the Warwick Writing Programme. 

With permission from the Mead Gallery's curator to use Toby Patterson's Artist Pavilion on campus, previously commissioned to stand outside the London Assembly, the Arts category of the festival has already improved from the outstanding standard revealed last year. Events this year include Doodle-a-thon and an Art-Soc Masterpiece as they recreate Andy Warhol's Marilyn Monroe on a large scale.

SPLAT-Fest presents Writers Panel Discussion, a lively debate about the state of contemporary theatre and playwriting with Director Tom Cornford, Playwright Amanda Whittington, and writer Paula Gil.  This exciting event marks the festival's brand new inclusion of literature-based events. 

With recent successful productions at Coventry's Belgrade Theatre and the National Student Drama Festival under its belt, there will be a number of performances from the University of Warwick's student drama. The programme includes Musical Theatre Warwick's production of Wicked, which will be learnt, rehearsed and performed in a weekend, and the infamous Vagina Monologues. There will also be an adapted production of The Boy in Darkness, also to be shown at the Edinburgh Fringe festival. 

• For more information, visit the SPLAT-Fest website.
  

Notes to editors

For more details, contact Kelly Parkes-Harrison, Communications Officer, University of Warwick, 02476 150483, 07824 540863, k.e.parkes@warwick.ac.uk