Lit.com events archive

Lit.Com, North East Lincolnshire's one and only literature and comedy festival is back with a side-splitting and stimulating range of events for all ages.

Now in its fourth year, the festival - organised by North East Lincolnshire Council - will run for just over two weeks from September 30 to October 16 at venues across the region.

The exciting programme features live author events, the very best in UK stand up, film showings, theatre for families, poetry performances and writing workshops not to mention a major exhibition, discussion groups, free-giveaways and design and craft sessions for kids.

Original celebrity chef live

This year's special guest will be original celebrity chef, wine connoisseur and best-selling author Keith Floyd who will be presenting his acclaimed live show 'Floyd Uncorked!'

During the event, Floyd will be recounting his life and providing scandalous tales of fun together with 'no good advice whatsoever'. The audience will also have the opportunity to ask questions and have books signed.

Fans can see him at Grimsby's Hotel Elizabeth on Wednesday October 3 with tickets at £15.

Comedy commotion

Geordie stand up Ross Noble will kick off the comedy on September 30 at Grimsby Auditorium. Tickets to see the funster who has been performing since he was fifteen are priced at £20.

The now well-established The Otherside Comedy Club will present two evenings of quality stand up on Tuesday 2 and Tuesday 16 October, at Grimsby's Hotel Elizabeth.

The first night will be see Jarred Christmas, 'an energetic and surreal Kiwi cornball' take to the stage, along with 'warm, funny and engaging' Irish comic Eddie Naessens, plus support.

Second time around the club hosts Time Out's Best Female Comedian Mandy Knight, who is said to be 'sharp as a knife' and brilliant at improvising. She is joined by 'glamorous, world-travelled rock star' Duncan Oakley, again plus support.
Tickets for the club are £7 and £5 concessions.

If you haven't had your fill in between, hot foot it down to the Parkway Cinema in Cleethorpes where courtesy of the Comedy Store, four great comedians means one great night! Tickets for this event, being held on Sunday October 14 are £9.50.

Poetry please

National Poetry Day will be celebrated in style on Thursday October 4, when Grimsby's Driftnet Poets take to the stage to give live readings of their own quality work on the theme of 'dreams'. Their special guest for the evening will be prize-winning poet and Lancaster University lecturer Graham Mort - who will also be reading, from his latest book, 'Visibility'. Tickets are £10, to also include a buffet.

Many of the Nunsthorpe estate's streets are named after famous poets so Nunsthorpe Library together with Nunny TV will be out and about during the festival asking residents what poetry means to them as well as hosting its own series of readings and workshops.

And Grimsby Writers offer the chance to enjoy live poetry in relaxed surroundings with their exclusive Poems and Pints night on Friday October 12, upstairs at the Wheatsheaf in Grimsby. This event is free, with a cash bar and will also include the launch of the group's latest book, 'More Wicked Takes for Kids'.

Thomas Wintringham Exhibition

A major exhibition will take place at the Fishing Heritage Centre during the festival - War of Words - an exhibition of the life and writing of Thomas Wintringham. A series of related events will also be hosted paying homage to the writer, who founded The Daily Worker (Morning Star) newspaper and was a close friend of both WH Auden and Ernest Hemingway.

Books, books, books

North East Lincolnshire libraries are also host to many events, including 'Booktime' - friendly and informal book group meetings which welcome new members - story-time for under 5s and the opportunity to discuss 'Atonement' in a one-off event hosted at Cleethorpes library.

Cleethorpes Readers group additionally presents lauded Roman history focussed novelist Simon Scarrow who will be reading from his latest release at Hotel Elizabeth on Thursday October 11, with tickets are £3.50, following a launch at Waterstones in Grimsby that day.

Film fans can enjoy a showing of Norman Wisdom movie Bull Dog Breed on October 5 as well as Thomas Hardy Classic Far from the Madding Crowd on October 13 - both screening at Whitgift Film Theatre with tickets at £4.50 and £4 concessions.

Children's nuatical adventure

Children and their families should not miss professional theatre company Tell Tale Hearts when they present exciting nautical adventure Beneath the Waves at the Fishing Heritage Centre on Thursday October 11. Tickets are £5 for children while accompanying adults go free. Then return for Big Draw Day, which is being hosted by community arts group Artlandish who will help families design and create two giant 6' books during this free session.

Free giveaways will also be up for grabs on October 5, as Grimsby library hosts National Bookstart Day. Then the following day at the same venue children and their families can have a go at puppet making again for free in advance of the Fishing Heritage Centre's half term activities.

If that's not enough reading for you Lit.Com is also offering the chance to win the complete Booker Prize shortlist. The entry form can be found on the full colour Lit.Com guide.

For more information or to receive yours telephone Charlotte Bowen on 01472 323382 or email charlotte.bowen@nelincs.gov.uk