"I feel like the whole relationship in terms of writers and audience at festivals is changing, " says new programme director and author Liam Browne.

He has created a more inclusive festival, moving away from the passive readings. "The term 'to go to a reading' implies that you just sit there and listen.

I think audiences want to be much more involved."

Three public debates on the topics of war reporting, immigration and religion are guaranteed to get people talking. Browne hopes the debates will also offer people an alternative to the more established forms of news media. "I think that people now are a little bit more wary of various media outlets. They are a little bit more suspicious;

they don't necessarily believe everything that they are told." The debates will give people "face-to-face engagement" and "a form of information that they don't get through the normal channels", as well as the chance to participate and ask questions.

"They go along and they want to hear that individual in front of them telling them, for example, what's going on in Iraq. They may have more faith in that than might be the case with something on television or radio, " says Browne.

Another feature of this year's Dublin Writers' Week is a partnership with the Vancouver Festival.

Canadian writers Alistair MacLeod and Timothy Taylor will write and perform pieces especially for the festival and, in exchange, Irish authors Nuala O'Faolain and Claire Keegan will participate in the Vancouver festival. "The events themselves have almost an ephemeral quality: they happen and then they're gone, " says Browne. "But if you can get writers to write something new because of their involvement in the festival, you have something that's longer-lasting."

The festival's closing event is a celebration of the work of Thomas Kinsella. Poets, writers and critics will join Kinsella at the tribute in the Gate Theatre.

"I think it's very special that we're doing that this year when he's given the freedom of the city."

Dublin Writers' Week will also feature readings by a broad range of writers, including Ross O'Carroll-Kelly creator Paul Howard and bestselling author Lionel Shriver.

Dublin Writers' Week Festival takes place from 13-17 June www. dublinwritersfestival. com Niamh O'Doherty