Date: Friday 5 May 2017 - Sunday 7 May 2017
We invite you to join us for a series of events and workshops for 2017s Southport Festival! Expect an explosion of literature, music, poetry, visual arts, comedy and much more across open spaces and venues.
What’s happening at The Atkinson?
Take a look at our events programme in partnership with Southport Festival, taking place from Friday 5 to Sunday 7 May 2017.
Needlefelting
Friday 5 May, 1pm – 3pm
Free
Southport Contemporary Art will be around helping you to felt and have a go at this delightful craft, from which you’ll have the opportunity to create a small piece of artwork.
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Jean Sprackland & Henry Normal
Friday 5 May, 7.30pm
£12.50
Galleries
Join us for this excellent double bill where both guests will be speaking for 45 minutes. Jean Sprackland has published four collections of poetry. Staring Directly at the Eclipse is Henry Normal‘s first collection of poetry for over twenty years.
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The Jazz of Dudley Moore: Chris Ingham
Friday 5 May, 8pm
£15 / £30 with 2 course meal plus booking fee
Studio
Chris Ingham returns with Dudley, a sixteen-track quartet album of Dudley Moore compositions to Southport. Playing Dudley’s music has been a rather intimate and heartfelt pleasure for all of the performers and they are inviting you to an evening of incredible jazz! Listen here.
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Construction Club
Saturday 6 May, 10.30am – 12.30pm
Free
Discovery Box
For young inventors, creators and builders. Drop in and play with Lego! Ages 5+
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Painting Demos
Saturday 6 May, 11am – 4pm
Free
Galleries
An opportunity to talk to several Southport Contemporary Arts artists and their varying styles and techniques.
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Southport Writer’s Circle
Saturday 6 May, 11.30am – 1.30pm
Free
Theatre Bar
Taking you on a literary adventure, plumbing the depths of your creativity in one of their famous workshop sessions, featuring such activities as ‘Insta-Poem’ and the ever popular ‘Backwards Story’.
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The Nick Cope Show
Saturday 6 May, 1pm – 2pm
£3
Children’s Library
With songs about dogs eating soap and dragons called Keith, the popular Nick Cope performs a special live music gig for children.
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The Scarecrows’ Wedding
Saturday 6 May, 2.30pm
£9 / £7 / £5 (depending on zone)
Theatre
A heart-warming adaptation of Julia Donaldson & Axel Scheffler’s bestselling book is bursting at the seams with Scamp Theatre’s inimitable style (Stick Man, Tiddler & Other Terrific Tales) and promises wit, drama, and wedding bells! Watch here. Ages 3+
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Joanne Harris #Storytime
Saturday 6 May, 2.30pm
£7 / £12.50 afternoon tea / £15 afternoon tea & Prosecco
Studio
A unique live show featuring tales from her book Honeycomb, along with original music and songs.
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Cathy Cassidy
Saturday 6 May, 3pm – 5pm
Free, booking required
Children’s Library
Join the fabulous author Cathy Cassidy for a FREE fun, feelgood event and find out all about her current book, BROKEN HEART CLUB.
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Laugh Out Loud Comedy Club
Saturday 6 May, 8pm
£15 / £17.50 doors / £40 season ticket
Studio
Your dose of comedy is being served up MC Damion Larkin and guest comedians Steve Shanyaski, Jeff Innocent and Tom Lucy! Ages 16+
“Fantastic venue, we went to the laugh out loud comedy gig last night. We were not at all disappointed, crying with laughter. We would recommend this night out to anyone” – Chris, audience member
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Jake
& Elwood (Blues Brothers)
Saturday 6 May, 8pm
£18 / £16 / £14 (depending on zone)
Theatre
Spend an evening in Chicago as they explode on stage for their Soul, Rythm & Blues Extravaganza! Shake Your Tail Feather, Mustang Sally and lots more. You will be totally captivated, out of your seats and dancing the night away… Listen here.
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Big Knit & Weave
Sunday 7 May, 11am – 3pm
Free, just drop in
Foyer
Join Southport Contemporary Arts knitters and Merseyside Weavers’ Guild members, to have a go at working with giant sized needles and yarn and try different sorts of weaving techniques!
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Wayfarers Chorus
Sunday 7 May, 1pm
Free, just drop in
Foyer
Southport very own Wayfarers Barbershop Chorus bring to the Southport Festival a touch of sophistication.
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Brunt Boggart
Sunday 7 May, 2pm
Free, just drop in
Theatre Bar
Local author reads from his award winning tapestry of folktales, myths and storytelling – books will be on sale for signing.
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Rag Tag Misfits
Sunday 7 May, 2pm
Free, just drop in
Foyer
The Rag Tag Misfits are well know travelling troubadours, captivating audiences worldwide with percussive foot stomping music, heartfelt lyrics on life, and how it is, inspired by life on the road. A great chance to see them in concert.
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Untrained-Melody
Sunday 7 May, 3pm
Free, just drop in
Foyer
Regulars at the Bothy Folk Club and Tap and Bottles. Expect great guitar playing and interesting arrangement of folk and blues old and new from the band untrained-melody. The band are Pete Rimmer, Mike Huddart, Bill Hackney and Clive Pownceby
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Dr John Cooper Clarke
Sunday 7 May, 8pm
£27 / £24 / £21 / £18 (depending on zone)
Theatre
His latest show, touring across the UK and Europe this year, is a mix of classic verse, extraordinary new material, hilarious ponderings on modern life, good honest gags, riffs and chat – a chance to witness a living legend at the top of this game.
“John Cooper Clarke uses words like Chuck Berry uses guitar riffs melody and anger, humour and disdain in equal measure. He’s the real deal, really funny and really caustic, the velvet voice of discontent.” – Kate Moss
SOLD OUT
Check out the Southport Contemporary Arts Trail
Please note our booking fee is £1 per ticket for all purchases made online or by phone. A 2% credit card fee is charged for counter sales. There are times when our phone lines become very busy, you can purchase tickets for any of our shows online 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
