Crossing The Tees, Teesside’s biggest literary festival is returns between Saturday 8 June and Saturday 22 June 2019.
The event, now in its sixth year, has been programmed entirely by local library services, with support from local councils and Arts Council England, and features a huge range of interactive literary events from author-hosted evenings to writing workshops.
Highlights of the festival include a performance of Where There’s Muck There’s Bras by Radio 4 favourite Kate Fox. The show sold out its performance at ARC earlier this year so this a very exciting second chance for those who missed out.
In Conversation with The Yorkshire Vet: Julian Norton will give people the chance to meet Channel 5 star Julian Norton, who has also written four books and has his own regular column in the Yorkshire Post.
The immensely popular History Wardrobe and Lipstick Library events are also returning this year, with All Writers Large and Small which celebrates the North’s favourite writers from the Brontës to James Herriot, and a chance for young girls to meet author Sufiya Ahmed who will discuss feminism and campaigning for women’s rights, alongside craft activities and competitions.
The Crossing the Tees special of the Electic Kool Aid Cabaret will also make a comeback. Led by Andy Willoughby and Bob Beagrie; this is a special edition of Middlesbrough’s legendary spoken word and music cabaret.
Workshops will be run by a host of experienced writers, including this year’s Poet in Residence, Lisette Auton.
Lisette is an award-winning writer and a creative practitioner, who will lead a range of workshops for people of all ages in schools and libraries throughout the festival. She specialises in working with people whose voices are not usually represented in the mainstream, and designs and delivers unique workshops that make the arts accessible to everyone.
The Crossing The Tees Short Story Competition returns for another year, with opportunities for writers to win cash prizes and have their work published in the Crossing the Tees anthology. 1st Prize £100, 2nd Prize £75, 3rd Prize £50. The competition is free to enter and open to ages 16 and up.
For more information on the festival and events click here.