The Serious Nonsense Festival

Almost 15,000 people visited Prescot for the Serious Nonsense Festival.

From Friday 19 – Sunday 21 August, Shakespeare North Playhouse and Prescot Town Centre were packed with nonsense for the massive three-day adventure that celebrated Edward Lear, best known for his literary nonsense, and who has a significant connection to Knowsley.

The weekend featured sell out performances from renowned writers including Frank Cottrell-Boyce, Michael Rosen, Sarah Asuquo, John Dougherty and Lemm Sissay, as well as fantastical street performances.

From the sublime to the ridiculous there was something for the whole family to enjoy, from giant birdcages and a 50 ft sperm whale to an extraordinary 'Hippochondriac Hippopotamus' and the smallest Hotel in the world!

The Serious Nonsense Festival was the latest event as part of Knowsley’s year as Liverpool City Region Borough of Culture and was, yet again, another hit with local residents and visitors alike. Significantly, the feedback from local businesses was fantastic too, with many feeling a positive impact from the number of people in Prescot over the weekend.