The Festival will be headlined by the award-winning author and Writer in Residence at Lancaster University KAREN LLOYD, and also includes the director and cast of the Nicholson-inspired short film SHADOW OF THE MOUNTAIN, Cumbria’s outstanding folk singer and composer STEVE WHARTON, the poets KATE DAVIS and MIKE SMITH, and artist and designer ALAN ROPER.
There’ll also be the chance to visit Norman Nicholson’s lifelong home and take part in a study session in the very room where he wrote many of his poems, plus a guided walk to Nicholson locations.
All events are free except for the Saturday evening event at the Beggar’s Theatre.
This is the full schedule:
 
Friday June 30th
2pm – 4pm   Open house at Nicholson’s lifelong home, 14 St George’s Terrace, Millom LA18 4DB. Drop in, look around, and you might even hear the poet’s own voice (please note, only the ground floor will be open).
7pm – 10pm   Social get-together at the Clock Tower, 1st floor bar, Market Square, Millom LA18 4HZ. For members of the Society, partners, friends and supporters.
 
Saturday July 1st
11am – 12.30pm   Formal opening of the Festival and talk by KAREN LLOYD: Native; Landscape, Literature and Belonging.
 Venue: The Higgins Room, Millom Community Hub, Salthouse Road. LA18 5AB. Doors open 10.30am. Admission free.
Karen is the editor of North Country, the new anthology of writing about the north of England published by Saraband. She has published two award-winning books with Saraband, The Gathering Tide: A Journey Around the Edgelands of Morecambe Bay (2015) and The Blackbird Diaries (2017).  Her most recent book, Abundance: Nature in Recovery (Bloomsbury, 2021) was longlisted for the James Cropper Wainwright Prize for Writing on Conservation in 2022. She has been commissioned by the BBC and her poetry has been published by Wayleave Press and Corbel Stone Press. Her essays and poetry are published on Lit Hub and Ink Sweat and Tears among others.
 
2pm – 5pm   ‘Short Films, Wide Horizons’. Screening of two short films which examine the inter-action of the Cumbrian landscape with human emotions, health, and psychology. The afternoon is divided into two sessions; you may attend either or both.
Venue: The Beggar’s Theatre, Market Square, Millom LA18 4HZ. Doors open 1.30pm. Admission free.
 
Session 1, 2pm -3.15pm.  Shadow of the Mountain
Winner of the Osprey Short Film Award at Keswick Film Festival. We will be joined by the director SIMON PHELPS and members of the cast to discuss the film with ANTOINETTE FAWCETT, who will explain how the production was inspired by a Nicholson poem.
Session 2, 4pm – 5pm. The Girl Who Forgets How to Walk.
The film (produced by Julia Parks) reinterprets a series of poems by KATE DAVIS telling a very
personal story of illness, disability, challenge, and triumph. Screening to be followed by Kate in
conversation with ANN THOMSON, whose MA from the University of Cumbria included a dissertation
on how life-changing illness and disability contributed to the poetry of both Kate and Norman
Nicholson.
 
7.30pm – 10pm   ‘Our North Country’   
Venue: The Beggar’s Theatre, Market Square, Millom LA18 4HZ. Doors open 7pm. Admission £5 CASH
ONLY on the door. Under-18s free. 
Words and music to celebrate our part of the world, featuring KAREN LLOYD and writers whose work
is included in her new book North Country, and the ground-breaking Cumbrian singer and composer
STEVE WHARTON. An uplifting experience to celebrate the roots and culture that we share with each
other – and with Norman Nicholson.
 
 
Sunday July 2nd
 
11am – 12.30pm  Joe Nicholson’s Walk 
A guided walk led by JONATHAN POWELL following the regular route of Norman’s father Joe
Nicholson when he took a break from work in the shop. The walk will take approximately one hour
on good surfaces, pausing at a dozen locations around the town. No need to book, just turn
up. Meet outside 14 St George’s Terrace. 
 
11am – 1pm  Hearing the Words. Two sessions, limited to six participants per session. 
Venue: 14 St George’s Terrace, Millom LA18 4DB. 
Join ANTOINETTE FAWCETT for a meditative deep listening session in Norman's own home, where we will use one of his poems as the main source for the exercise. Put aside all your preconceptions and listen to the words. Bring yourselves and a notebook and writing implement for some reflections on what you sense, feel, think and experience. 
Antoinette Fawcett is a literary translator. She edits Comet, the magazine of the Norman Nicholson
Society. Please note, the sessions will take place on the ground floor and not the attic bedroom as previously published.
 
Session 1: 11am – 11.45am. Session 2: 1200 – 12.45pm. Places are limited to six participants for
each session. Please book in advance by emailing normannicholsonsociety@gmail.com by midday on
Monday June 26th. First come first served. 
1100 – 12.30pm   and   1pm – 2.30pm    Art Workshops for children with ALAN ROPER
Venue: Haverigg Primary School, Atkinson Street, Haverigg LA18 4HA 
A chance to learn from the expert. This is a workshop for children aged 7 to 11, accompanied by an adult. Led by artist ALAN ROPER whose work ranges from graphic design for the Norman Nicholson Society to murals in his home town of Maryport. Alan’s work has also been featured on the BBC TV programme Countryfile. We will use Nicholson’s poem ‘Weeds’ as our inspiration for this workshop. Have a go at art or develop the skills you already possess. There’s no charge and all materials will be provided. Numbers are limited to 10 children per workshop and you must book in advance by emailing normannicholsonsociety@gmail.com, stating how many people (children and adults) will attend, and which of the two workshops you want, by midday on Monday June 26th. First come first served. 
  
2pm  -  3pm  ‘I would make a poem…’  Nicholson’s poetry, Nicholson’s voice. 
Venue: Haverigg Primary School, Atkinson Street, Haverigg LA18 4HA 
The poet MIKE SMITH talks about the day, forty years ago, when he recorded Nicholson reading his own work in Norman’s home. A chance to hear first-hand from someone who knew Nicholson and also to listen to those recordings. In conversation with CHARLIE LAMBERT.  No need to book. 
 
3pm  –  3.30pm  Conclusion 
Venue: Haverigg Primary School, Atkinson Street, Haverigg LA18 4HA 
Reflections and more.  LAURA DAY, our committee member and PhD student researching the poetry and prose of Norman Nicholson, looks back over the festival, picks up loose ends, and ties threads together.
 
ALL EVENTS ARE FREE OF CHARGE EXCEPT FOR THE SATURDAY EVENING ‘OUR NORTH COUNTRY’ EVENT AT THE BEGGAR’S THEATRE WHICH IS £5 CASH ON THE DOOR (UNDER 18s FREE). PLEASE NOTE THAT YOU MUST RESERVE YOUR PLACES IN ADVANCE FOR ‘HEARING THE WORDS’ AND ALAN ROPER’S ART WORKSHOPS BY EMAIL TO normannicholsonsociety@gmail.com BY 1200 ON MONDAY JUNE 26th.
 
All enquiries to normannicholsonsociety@gmail.com