Welcome!
Yes, we’re nearly back and it’s bigger and better than ever before! For thirty-one days in July, Manchester city centre’s award-winning Lass O’Gowrie will become a one venue fringe festival, hosting an amazing 100+ events.
So what do we have in store for you?
JOHNNY VEGAS and the cast and team behind BBC3’s IDEAL, MR. B THE GENTLEMAN RHYMER, the SCOTTISH FALSETTO SOCK PUPPET THEATRE, authors RAMSEY CAMPBELL and BRYAN TALBOT, FRANK SANAZI, DIVA BLISS and KITTY COUTURE are just some of the talent that make up this year’s amazing Lassfest!
Building on last year’s one venue fringe, the 2011 Lassfest has added an additional ten days to the frivolities with 158 events covering an eye-popping range of genres, including comedy, live music, visual arts, Edinburgh previews, drama, kino and 16mm cinema, literature events and geek culture.
Drama premieres include ‘PRINCESS DEE’ by Carly Tarett – a modern retelling of the Princess Diana story on a South London estate, ‘FINE’ by Michelle Ashton - a new drama piece which enters the lives of a counsellor and his patient, ‘MY FRIEND WILLIAM’ by David Platt – a man’s life and beliefs come into conflict when his son is murdered . Continuing our strong reputation for the visual arts, the festival is proud to feature exclusive exhibitions featuring the art of ZANE SQUIRES, SOPHIE BENNETT and JOJO LOWES.
It wouldn’t be a Lassfest without oodles of geek culture in the form of our famous pubcons and this year we have a series of crackers. First up is VWORP 4 – our annual Doctor Who convention on July 3rd. We’re also looking forward to WARRIORCON – a celebration of 30 years of the legendary Warrior Magazine, hosted by DezSkinn and a host of special guests and IDEALCON – a whole day dedicated to BBC3’s cult sitcom Ideal, arranged with the blessing of Baby Cow Productions and with a host of talent from both sides of the camera. And last, but not least we have our dedicated retro video gaming weekender – IN DA 80s, celebrating the cream of 80’s video-gaming and culture. Expect Commodores, Spectrums, Megadrives, competitions, talks from industry pros, live coding, exclusive Pac-Man and Sonic themed burlesque from Miss Sweet Cherry Kiss and Ginger La Rouge and comedy from Graham Goring and Danny Pensive.
Literature makes a welcome appearance this year in the form of our Pub Fiction series of events, whereby we bring you readings and Q&A’s with some of the region’s best and brightest writing talents. Featured Pub Fiction authors include RAMSEY CAMPBELL, JOHN REPPION, TOM FLETCHER, NICHOLAS ROYLE, AL EWING, BRYAN TALBOT, STEPHEN GALLAGHER, GEORGE MANN and PAUL MAGRS.
Competition also has a great place in this year’s programme. We’ve been overwhelmed with entries for our inaugural LASSFEST FILMFEST competition, whilst the CIRQUE DU LASS variety competition heats begin in June building to a grand finale on Saturday, July 9th. We’re also thrilled to welcome back THE SITCOM TRIALS – a unique writing competition with entered sitcom scripts performed script in hand by our in-house performers and voted on by you, the audience and industry pro’s. Completing the quadrology of events is the Lassfest Open Mic Competition which runs throughout July building to a grand final on Monday, August 1st when we will also have our farewell party.
Completing the line-up is a rich seam of Edinburgh previews and exclusive comedy sets. Talents on display include the high priest of chap-hop MR. B THE GENTLEMAN RHYMER, Edinburgh legends THE SCOTTISH FALSETTO SOCK PUPPET THEATRE, Channel 4 and SAS comedy’s PETER SLATER, singer comedian and uber-meister of lounge FRANK SANAZI, and Manchester stalwarts MICK FERRY, JOHN COOPER and DAMION LARKIN.
The secondLassfest will run for every day of July 2011 and, up until the 16th July will run in conjunction with our good pals and partners, the notpartof Festival. We are also proud to be sponsored by Greene King, Old Speckled Hen and Malevilus Publishing once more.
We believe strongly in an art without risk ethos, with performers either paid direct by the Lass O’Gowrie or we simply provide the space for free, leaving artistes with all takings. In addition, a number of events are being undertaken in support of charity, including Vworp 4 (a Doctor Who convention, nominated charity the Teen Cancer Trust) and In da 80’s (retro gaming weekender, nominated charity the Teen Cancer Trust).
Signing off this year’s programme, Gareth Kavanagh Festival Director said: “As North West Entertainment Pub of the Year, we just felt we had to raise the bar. And come the end of July, fingers crossed, this little pub with big ambitions will have pulled it off!”
