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WORD ALERT!
A FESTIVAL OF CROSSWORDS, SPELLING AND GRAMMAR PRESENTED BY THE GOOD COPY

NGV International

Free entry

Don’t mind if I clue! Writing school The Good Copy presents a three-day festival of words in boxes. Cryptic lovers, clue enthusiasts and spelling bees unite. Learn about crossword setting with Liam ‘LR’ Runnalls (The Age); solve a David Astle puzzle live with crossword diehards the DA Trippers; try your first cryptic with Chris Black and Siobhan Linde (The Big Issue, The Cruciverbalist); test your spelling onstage with bee queen Karen Pickering; or submit a grammar gripe for the airing of grievances, hosted by Casey Bennetto (KEATING! the musical). Grab a coffee, grab a crossword, get hip to fill squares. Settle in on the bleachers and solve on your own, or get cracking with members of the Collingwood Crossword Club. Word.

Fri 16 Mar, 12pm (Past)

Join crossword diehards the DA Trippers, named after beloved Age crossword setter David Astle, and solve the day’s DA puzzle live. Bring the newspaper and settle in for a demonstration and clue tutorial with master sleuth Antonios ‘AS’ Sarhanis.

Fri 16 Mar, 2pm (Past)

(registrations from 1.45pm)

Get cracking with an introduction to cryptics, hosted by Chris Black (The Big Issue, The Cruciverbalist) and Antonios Sarhanis (the DA Trippers). Beginners and amateur clue sleuths welcome.

Sat 17 Mar, 12pm (Past)

This is your cue to queue for a clue! Get your name turned into a cryptic clue by resident cruciverbalist Liam ‘LR’ Runnalls (The Age), with able assistance from The Big Issue crossword setters Chris Black and Siobhan Linde.

Sat 17 Mar, 12pm (Past)

(registrations from 11.45am)

Place your alphabets. Join bee queen Karen Pickering onstage and test your lexical prowess for the chance to win a copy of the Macquarie Dictionary. (Because nobody can spell everything.)

Sat 17 Mar, 1.30pm (Past)

(registrations from 1.15pm)

Get cracking with an introduction to cryptics, hosted by Chris Black and Siobhan Linde (The Big Issue, The Cruciverbalist). Beginners and amateur clue sleuths welcome.

Sat 17 Mar, 3pm (Past)

(registrations from 2.30pm)

Get a glimpse of the puzzle-making process with The Age’s professional crossword compiler, LR (Liam ‘LR’ Runnalls).

Sun 18 Mar, 10.30am (Past)

This is your cue to queue for a clue! Get your name turned into a cryptic clue by resident cruciverbalist Liam ‘LR’ Runnalls (The Age), with able assistance from The Big Issue crossword setters Chris Black and Siobhan Linde.

Sun 18 Mar, 11am (Past)

(registrations from 10.45am)

Spellers aged five to thirteen are invited to join bee queen Karen Pickering onstage and test their lexical prowess for the chance to win a Macquarie Dictionary. Don’t smell it: spell it!

Sun 18 Mar, 12.30pm (Past)

(registrations from 12.15pm)

A crossword race to sort the nerds from the herd. The puzzle: a US-style quick crossword.

Sun 18 Mar, 1.30pm (Past)

Our finalists step up to their easels. Watch from the sidelines; cheer them on; please do not call out the answers. This inaugural battle of the boxes will be commentated by Jeremy Wortsman and Lara Chan-Baker.

Sun 18 Mar, 3pm (Past)

Broadcaster, musician and word wizard Casey Bennetto airs Melbourne’s grammar grievances. Do you have a problem with dangling participles? A bugbear about business buzzwords? A nominalisation niggle to nominate? Post it in the festival’s grievances box, and Casey will endeavour to ensure every nerd is heard.

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