The Argus: fringe_2011_logo_red_thumb"It's all about stories and encouraging people to tell them.”

So says literary host and salonnière Damian Barr about the newest addition to the Brighton Festival Fringe programme.

The Hendrick’s Horseless Carriage Of Curiosities is pulling up outside the Jubilee Library for the final ten days of the Fringe, with a programme celebrating both original work and some of the greatest writers in the world.

“It seemed to me that there were lots of writers and people who love books living in and around Brighton,” says Barr.

“I had worked with Hendrick’s on and off over a couple of years – they support the literary salons I host in London. It made sense to bring it to Brighton.”

The carriage of curiosities has a packed programme of workshops and performances, and is also an appropriate site-specific venue for Bite-Size Plays latest production in the Echoes Of Brighton series.

Last Fringe saw the company bring the stories of the chocolate poisoner, blind busker and racing tipster Ras Prince Monolulu back to life at the Old Courtroom.

This year another famous Brighton character, Magnus Volk, will be talking about his seafront railway and experiments with electrickery every hour on the hour from noon to 6pm.

Barr will be launching proceedings tonight with a literary salon featuring special guests Polly Samson and Jonathan Kemp.

New writers can take part in a Flash Fiction Slam tomorrow or Poetry Slam on Sunday. Alternatively, they can have their work analysed at an hour-long story surgery with the help of a published writer in association with New Writing South.

Alison MacLeod is the expert on hand on Monday, while Stella Duffy casts her critical eye on Tuesday and crime writer Sue Walker takes residence on Friday.

Tickets cost £25 and have to be pre-booked for a one-on-one session.

For the thicker-skinned writer there is the chance to brave the “Writer’s Den” of industry judges today from noon, with publishers from Colman Getty PR, Conville And Walsh Literary Agency and Myriad Editions all set to shoot from the hip on submitted opuses. Entry is free.

Plus there is an evening programme of Wilde cabaret from tomorrow to Monday from 10pm, and performances of terrifying tales by the master of the macabre Edgar Allen Poe from Saturday, May 28, to Monday, May 30.

“It would be good if we could bring the carriage back over successive Fringes,” says Barr.

“By providing a real landmark venue perhaps it will encourage more people to do literary events at next year’s Fringe, and make the literature programme even bigger.”

* Various times and prices. Call 01273 917272.