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Ticketed events - Book early to avoid disappointment!

Celebrating 50 years of Hip Hop with 5 Elements

Friday 11 August, 12noon – 5pm

Shakespeare North Playhouse

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 A whole day of FREE workshops to explore, create and connect through the mediums of Breaking, MCing, Beatboxing, DJing and Graffiti. It’s perfect for young people aged 11-18. Whether you’re a beginner or a bit more experienced, the artist experts will guide you in being creative, expressing yourself but most of all having fun!

The artists taking part are Graffiti Artist Trik09, Tom Glynn/UC Crew – BBoy, Beatboxer Renegrade, MC Blue Saint and DJ Tommy P-Nuts.

The Crow House, by Circo Rum Ba Ba

Saturday 12 August 12 noon

Sunday 13 August 11.30am

Shakespeare North Playhouse

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A derelict house appears in the middle of the street. The windows are shattered and a keep out sign bars the front door. A furious bird has taken up residency in the chimney and squawks territorially when anyone comes near the house.

A wonderful silent movie inspired show using an eclectic mix of circus, puppetry, musical saw, harp playing and audience participation.

Crowd look at dinosaur

The T-Rex Show

Saturday 12 August, 2pm and 4.30pm

Shakespeare North Playhouse

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This unique, interactive show uses life-like dinosaurs to teach children about the anatomy and life of one the most mesmerizing creatures that have ever roamed our planet. There is also the chance to get up close and personal with these fantastic, realistic beasts.  

Journeys

Saturday 12 August, 3.30pm

Shakespeare North Playhouse

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An afternoon of poetry and conversation with award winning poets Degna Stone, Jennifer Lee Tsai and Hafsah Aneela Bashir sharing poems about childhood, growing up and finding your place in the world.

About the artists

Jennifer Lee Tsai
Jennifer Lee Tsai is an award-winning British-Chinese poet, editor, critic and teacher. She was born in Bebington and grew up in Liverpool. She is a fellow of The Complete Works programme for diversity and innovation and a Ledbury Poetry Critic. Her poetry and criticism are widely published in magazines and journals including Poetry London, The Poetry Review, The Telegraph, The TLS, The White Review. Her debut poetry pamphlet is Kismet (ignitionpress, 2019). In 2019, she was awarded an AHRC scholarship to undertake doctoral research in Creative Writing at the University of Liverpool. Jennifer received a Northern Writers Award for Poetry in 2020. She is a winner of the 2022 Women Poets’ Prize. Her second poetry pamphlet La Mystérique (2022) is published by Guillemot Press.
Degna Stone
Degna Stone is a poet and poetry editor based in northeast England. Their writing pulls toward the dark seam of life, exploring social injustice and the unsettling cracks in society. They are a contributing editor at The Rialto and a co-founder of Butcher’s Dog poetry magazine. They received a Northern Writers' Award for poetry in 2015 and a Hawthornden Fellowship in 2019. Their debut full-length collection Proof of Life on Earth was published by Nine Arches Press in November 2022.
Hafsah Aneela Bashir
Hafsah Aneela Bashir is an award-winning poet, playwright & performer originally from East London. Co- director of Outside The Frame Arts, she is passionate about championing voices outside the mainstream, challenging the gatekeepers of knowledge and increasing diverse representation within the arts. Winner of the Jerwood Compton Poetry Fellowship 2019, she is an Associate Artist with The Poetry Exchange, Associate Artist with Oldham Coliseum Theatre, Supported Artist at The Royal Exchange Theatre and a board trustee of Manchester City Of Literature. Her debut poetry collection The Celox And The Clot is published by Burning Eye Books. She is also the founder and Creative Director of the innovative Poetry Health Service – a free service providing poetry panaceas as a tool for connection and healing with over 80 contributors.
Polari artists

Polari Salon

Saturday 12 August, 5pm

Shakespeare North Playhouse

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Polari and Me: London’s award-winning LGBTQ+ literary salon comes to Prescot. Inspired by the gay slang of the same name, Polari is a celebration of LGBTQ+ words and voices – whether written, spoken or sung. The salon also runs The Polari Prize awards – the UK’s only book awards for LGBTQ+ writing. 

This event features author and host Paul Burston, standup comedian Heleana Blackwell, performance poet Sophia Blackwell and writer and performer Kate O'Donnell.

About the artists

Paul Burston
Paul Burston is the author of six novels and four non-fiction books and the editor of two short story collections. His novels include The Closer I Get, The Gay Divorcee, Lovers & Losers and Shameless. Paul is the curator and host of award-winning LGBTQ+ literary salon Polari and founder of The Polari Prize book awards for LGBTQ+ writers, based at The British Library. In 2016, he featured in the British Council’s Global List of ‘33 visionary people promoting freedom, equality and LGBT rights around the world.’ A Rainbow List National Treasure and former AIDS activist with ACT-UP London, he is one of the subjects of Alexis Gregory’s critically acclaimed verbatim play Riot Act. His bestselling memoir, We Can Be Heroes, is published by Little A and has been described by Russell T. Davies as “brutally honest… wonderful” and by Bernardine Evaristo as “a compelling and hugely enjoyable memoir about a fearless life lived to the full.”
Sophia and Heleana Blackwell
Sophia Blackwell is a performance poet, novelist, radio host and non-fiction writer. Her third poetry collection The Other Woman was long listed for the Polari Prize. Her latest book, The Poetry Writers' Handbook, was published by Bloomsbury in 2022. She makes LGBTQ+ radio shows for Resonance FM and has performed at Glastonbury, Wilderness and WOW festival along with other festivals around the UK. Heleana Blackwell is a stand-up comedian and 2023 Max Turner Prize semi-finalist. She performs observational comedy about West Indian mothers, hunting for a wife and what to do when your bank thinks you're more vanilla than you are in real life. "Heleana is incredibly funny and an absolute joy to watch on stage" - Maria Shehata Together, Sophia and Heleana are the married lesbian comedy duo Wife Material. (www.wifematerial.co.uk)
Kate O’Donnell
Kate O’Donnell is a performer and theatre maker. In 2016 she founded Trans Creative arts company with the tagline “telling our own stories”. In 2017 she initiated Manchester's first trans arts festival Trans Vegas giving a platform to 300 trans artists. Her theatre work includes: the award-winning “Big Girl’s Blouse”, acclaimed one woman show ‘You've Changed’, playing Feste in Twelfth Night & Electra in Gypsy, both at the Royal Exchange. Kate has directed Transpose at the Barbican two years running. She’s currently curating a Trans Vegas take over for Manchester international festival 2023 and programming Trans Filth and Joy for Meltdown Festival at the Southbank Centre with Milk Presents.

Tales from the Vicarage

Saturday 12 August, 7.30pm

Shakespeare North Playhouse Sir Ken Dodd Performance Garden

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Readings, humour and conversation with Reverend Richard Coles and guest Lady Anne Dodd.

Reverend Richard Coles is a writer and broadcaster. Regularly appearing on radio and TV, he was co presenter for Saturday Live on Radio 4 and has appeared on QI, Have I got News for You and Would I Lie to you. He has won Christmas Masterchef and Celebrity Mastermind twice and captained Leeds to victory in Christmas University Challenge. As a contestant on Strictly Come Dancing he scored a lamentable low mark for his Paso Doble. A multi instrumentalist he was a member of the chart topping 80’s bands Bronski Beat and the Communards. He writes regularly for the Sunday Times and is the author of half a dozen bestselling books.

Sir Ken Dodd and Lady Anne Dodd

 Lady Dodd first met Sir Ken when performing with him in his Christmas show at The Manchester Opera House in 1961, as one of the legendary Bluebell Girls.  After a successful career in personnel at British Airways, she decided to return to her showbusiness roots to help produce and organise Ken’s tours. From 1980 onwards she spent every year on the road with him playing piano, guitar and flute and singing as Sybie Jones, whilst running the team backstage and offstage to support his legendary comedy career.  A unique opportunity to hear some special Doddy backstage stories with Richard, in the theatre garden which Lady Dodd helped to create and proudly bears Sir Ken’s name.

Masala Monsoons and the Mango Sun

Sunday 13 August, 1.15pm

Shakespeare North Playhouse

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Indian Stories & Music for all ages. Storyteller Emily Hennessey & sitar player Sheema Mukherjee take us on a wild, music-filled ride through myths and folktales of India. Hold on to your hats!

Got Your Nose By Tin Arts

Sunday 13 August, 3pm

Shakespeare North Playhouse

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Be a part of the Great Conk Census. The Nostrillas are here to find the finest nose to add to their collection. Will you help them pick it? Sargeant Snoot, Monsieur Atchoo, Mia Buttonnose and Al Picket are all on the scent…it’s snot a job to be sniffed at!

This family friendly inclusive dance performance features an integrated cast of disabled and non-disabled dancers as well as a BSL interpreter. The dance piece includes elements of street theatre and audience participation.

This performance will also take place in Prescot Town Centre at 4.30pm – no tickets required.

Carl Hunter

Sometimes Always Rarely: Carl Hunter Masterclass and in Conversation

Sunday 13 August 1.30pm

Shakespeare North Playhouse

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A rare film making masterclass and in conversation with award winning director Carl Hunter, hosted by broadcast journalist and writer, Stephanie Power. Carl will be discussing the making of Sometimes Always Never, scrabble scores and life on the road as bass player with the legendary Liverpool chart topping band The Farm. This is event is generously supported by ICE. 

Sometimes Always Never – Film Screening

Sunday 13 August, 11.30am

Shakespeare North Playhouse

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Alan is a stylish tailor with moves as sharp as his suits. He has spent years tirelessly searching for his son, Michael who stormed out over a game of scrabble. With a body to identify and his family torn apart, Alan attempts to identify an online scrabble player who he believes may be his missing child. Starring Bill Nighy, Jenny Agutter, Tim Mc Innerny and Sam Riley. Directed by Carl Hunter. Screenplay by Frank Cottrell Boyce with music by Edwyn Collins. Produced by Hurricane films. This screening is followed by Q and A with the films director Carl Hunter.  

Please note: some event timings may be subject to change.