Behind The Scenes Of The Fairway Galle Literary Festival: Natasha Thompson 
The Fairway Galle Literary Festival is just a month away and we are all excited! We speak to Natasha Thompson who is returning for her second year as the Festival Manager to talk about behind the scenes of the literary festival. She has worked as a volunteer for 4 years and having worked extensively in hospitality she is skilled in event management. 

You’ve worked as a volunteer for the Festival for over 4 years but what made you decide to take on a major role in organizing when you joined as the Festival Manager in the 2016 Festival? 

I was back in Sri Lanka after being away for a couple of years. I was looking to find something to commit to on a full time basis as I wanted to settle in Sri Lanka again. Geoffrey Dobbs, the Festival founder, had remembered me as a volunteer in previous Festivals and was on the look out for a Festival Manager to take on the 2016 Festival, after the 3-year break. After having an initial interview with him, I already knew it was something I wanted to do – and would be the biggest role of my career so far – also Literature and the Arts are right up my alley - so anything involved in these two fields, I was more than happy to undertake. 

What made you return to the Festival as a manager for the second time? 

The feeling after completing a successful 2016 Festival was incomparable to anything I had overseen before – with such great feedback and overwhelming support from the Sri Lankan communities and our partners – I felt like it would be a waste to not see through what we had reignited – and continue our momentum with a 2017 Festival. Also without a doubt, it was our Festival Team; knowing that the original team that worked together was staying on, was huge incentive to continue. 

What was it like to organize the 2016 Festival? 

As I mentioned earlier, it was the biggest role of my career. It was both the hardest and most rewarding experience I’ve ever had career wise. It was a mammoth task as our Festival Team is so small, but due to my colleagues’ organizational skills, creativity and positivity; we achieved pulling off the 3 week festival in 2016. I owe Amrita, Shiromi, Shyam, and Geoffrey so much, our core Festival team, and do think we were very fortunate to work together and to continue to do so for 2017. 

What was the biggest challenge you faced as the Festival Manager in the 2016 Festival? 

I think it was literally the revival of the Festival. To convince partners both new and old, and the public that we were back and here to stay and to join up with us again and support us. To ensure that everyone knew we wanted to follow through and keep our word by bringing back the Festival. Also the Festival branching out into 3 cities, Kandy, Jaffna and Galle, was a mountainous task and keeping engagement with all 3 cities was a lot of work. But in the end, I feel like we were successful in bringing the magic of the festival to the entire nation. 

You have extensive work experience in the hospitality industry; how has this helped you organize this Festival? 

Growing up around my family’s company, Barefoot and having work experience in there as well as opening our Dutch Hospital store – gave me a lot of skills that helped with the management of the Festival. Also having worked in Australian hospitality for about 4 years and doing an internship at the Four Seasons in the Maldives. However every job helps, both big and small, and I would definitely say the skills you learn waitressing or even bartending stay with you for life. I don’t think people should be so quick to write off those kinds of jobs, as that is where you learn diligence and resourcefulness and resilience, as you do deal with some of the best and worst kinds of people and endure back breaking work for 14 hour shifts! Think hard work is good for you and pays off dividends in our lives. 

What’s your favourite part about organizing this Festival? 

Seeing all the hard work pay off when the Festival comes to life in January! Think that’s definitely the best feeling – it is that much more rewarding knowing how much has gone into something, to see it breathe and come into its own. Also I really do love our team and couldn’t have asked for better colleagues for the last two years and I love how much of a collective effort this Festival is, from the small partners to the big partners, we all contribute and make it happen – and that’s a great thing to see. Finally, I love meeting the authors and participants of the Festival – as I love writing myself, it’s quite inspiring to be around them and to meet and hear so many great minds and speakers in one setting. 

What does the 2017 Festival have in store for the excited festivalgoers? 

We have 110 events! So more events to choose from, which brings more diversity and depth to our programme! I would definitely ask people to keep a look out for a new session being introduced by our Curator, Shyam Selvadurai, called ‘Deep Reads’ – 1.5 hour sessions that will bring a poet and an author together – guaranteed to be incredibly stimulating. Also keep a look out for all our Performances, Tea and Poetry Readings (for all aspiring poets), the Prize ceremonies and all the Free Events. Also we have for the first time ever, a FREE Sinhala Day on Saturday, 14th of January 2017, at the Maritime Museum from 9.30am – 4pm. Anyone and everyone can go for that programme and it guarantees to be a must for all Sinhala lovers! As well as our beloved Children’s Programmes as always on Saturday the 14th and Sunday the 15th of January. 

Check out the programme online at www.galleliteraryfestival.com for further information!