THE ORGANISERS behind the annual Norman Nicholson Poetry Festival have announced the line-up for this year's event. 

The poetry festival in Millom will take place from June 30 to July 2. All events are free except for the Saturday evening event at the Beggar’s Theatre. Norman Nicholson was a poet from Millom who died in 1987. 

This year's headline act will be the current writer in residence at Lancaster University Karen Lloyd. Visitors can visit Norman Nicholson’s home and take see the room he wrote his poems, and partake in a guided walk to Nicholson's locations in his poetry.

All events are free except for the Saturday evening event at the Beggar’s Theatre.

Friday 

2pm – 4pm   Open house at Nicholson’s lifelong home, 14 St George’s Terrace, Millom LA18 4DB.

7pm – 10pm   Social get-together at the Clock Tower, 1st floor bar, Market Square, Millom LA18 4HZ.

Saturday, July 1

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.

2pm – 5pm   ‘Short Films, Wide Horizons’. Screening of two short films about the Cumbrian landscape. Venue: Beggar's Theatre.  

2pm -3.15pm. Session 1: 'Shadow of the Mountain'
Winner of the Osprey Short Film Award at Keswick Film Festival.

4pm – 5pm. Session 2: 'The Girl Who Forgets How to Walk.'
The film (produced by Julia Parks) reinterprets a series of poems by Kate Davis. 

7.30pm – 10pm  ‘Our North Country’ Venue: The Beggar’s Theatre, admission £5 cash only on the door. 

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.

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. 

1100 – 12.30pm and 1pm – 2.30pm Art Workshops for children with Alan Roper. Venue: Haverigg Primary School.

2pm - 3pm  ‘I would make a poem…’  Nicholson’s poetry, Nicholson’s voice. Venue: Haverigg Primary School.

3pm  –  3.30pm  Conclusion. Venue: Haverigg Primary School, Atkinson Street, Haverigg.