We’ve brought Ireland’s greatest living raconteur to Calgary for one special interactive evening! This intimate experience includes a multi-course dinner, prepared by Park by Sidewalk Citizen chef Stefan Gusztak, followed by an interactive conversation with beloved novelist, dramatist, screenwriter, and Booker Prize winner Roddy Doyle, hosted by One Yellow Rabbit’s Denise Clarke.

Launched by 2024 City of Calgary Award winner Michal Lavi eight years ago, the Tzavta Dinner Salon—’Tzavta’ is the Hebrew word for the act of sitting together and sharing food and conversation among friends—aims to provide an intimate space to nurture conversation and the exchange of ideas. Salons take place in the award-winning Park by Sidewalk Citizen restaurant in Memorial Park and feature a menu created in collaboration with the featured guest, inspired by the bustling food markets of the Mediterranean and made with local ingredients. George Saunders, Chigozie Obioma, Susan Casey, and Max Porter are just a few of the authors Sidewalk Citizen has presented in partnership with Wordfest.

WHAT TO EXPECT

• Multi-course dinner
• Geared for audience participation
• Come curious and open
• Pop-up bookstore, featuring The Woman Behind the Door and Doyle’s fantastic backlist
• Post-show signing and author selfies

ABOUT HOST DENISE CLARKE

Denise Clarke is a theatre artist who works as a choreographer, actor, director, playwright and teacher. She is the Associate Artist and a permanent member of the One Yellow Rabbit Theatre Ensemble. She is also the director of the OYR BeautifulYoungArtist program. She published The Big Secret Book in 2019. Clarke has also written/directed several pieces including The Erotic Irony of Old Glory, Touch, Breeder, So Low, Permission, Featherland, Sign Language, A Fabulous Disaster, Smash, Cut, Freeze, Wag, Room 333. She will appear in Rita Rebetskya’s Don’t You Feel  later this October at the 2024 Fluid Fest  and will offer her new Salon in January for the 2025 OYR High Performance Rodeo.

Clarke was awarded the Lieutenant Governor of Alberta Distinguished Artist Award in 2007 and the City of Calgary Mayor’s Distinguished Artist Award in 2011. She received an Honourary Doctorate from the University of Calgary in May 2013 and was appointed a member of the Order of Canada in December 2013.

This show is part of Wordfest’s Imaginairium festival, Oct. 15 to 21, 2024. Connect with 50+ of the world’s most arresting writers, thinkers, activators and inspirers, gathered just for you in Calgary, Canada. For more info: wordfest.com