IN OUR WORDS

Tigerboat Tales: Story Sessions

Date: Fridays 2/9/16/30th May and 6/13/20th June
Time: 10.30-11.30am and 1.15-2.15 pm

Location: Central Library, Guildhall Square, Portsmouth
Cost: Free
Age: 2-5 Years old

Interactive story sessions for little adventurers, telling traditional stories with puppets, props, and lots of fun!

Graphic Novel Workshop with Saolmey Doku and Lewis Hancox

Date: Saturday 3rd May
Time: 11am

Location: Portsmouth Comic Con @ Portsmouth Guildhall
Cost: Free with Portsmouth Comic Con Ticket
Age: 13+

Join graphic novelist and authors Saolmey Doku and Lewis Hancox in a one off workshop event at Portsmouth Comic Con.

Fantasy Interrupted

Date: Sunday 4th May
Time: 12:30pm

Location: Portsmouth Comic Con,  Portsmouth Guildhall
Cost: Free with Portsmouth Comic Con Ticket
Age: 13+

There’s no one way to write fantasy and we love that! Nikki from The Bookish Mindset chats to authors Claire Linney and Zen Cho about their works.

Storytelling Workshop: Time Tub Travellers

Date: Sunday 4th May
Time: 11am

Location: Portsmouth Comic Con @ Portsmouth Guildhall
Cost: Free with Portsmouth Comic Con Ticket
Age: Years 4/5/6

Join author Claire Linney for an interactive session that brings historical settings to life in a fictional and creative way.

The Rise of Romantasy

Date: Saturday 3rd May
Time: 12:30

Location: Portsmouth Comic Con,  Portsmouth Guildhall
Cost: Free with Portsmouth Comic Con Ticket
Age: 13+

Romantasy is on the rise! Nikki from The Bookish Mindset chats to authors Esmie Jikiemi-Pearson and Stephanie Burgis to uncover it’s secrets.

Exhibition – The Black Out Poetry Project

Date: Friday 30th May
Time: 1-3pm (turn up anytime)

Location: The Greenhouse Victoria Park
Cost: Free
Age: All welcome 

Join us to celebrate the incredible works created by participants in The Black Out Poetry Project.

Queer Book Club Launch!

Date: Friday 9th May 2025
Time: 6.30-8.30pm

Location: Spinnaker Tower’s Cafe
Cost: Free!
Age: 18+

The launch event of Ink & Identity with guest speaker; Sacha Coward, author or Queer as Folklore

An Evening with Poet Laureate Simon Armitage

Date: Monday 14th July 2025 
Time: 19:30

Location: New Theatre Royal, Portsmouth
Cost: Not available yet
Age: 11+

Join the Poet Laureate for this very special evening of readings, audience Q&A and book-signing. A former student in Portsmouth, Simon Armitage’s numerous awards include the Queen’s Gold Medal for Poetry and an Ivor Novello for song writing…

The Ugly Duckling – Easter Storytelling and egg hunt!

Date: Wednesday 9th April 2025
Time: 1.30-2.30

Location: Milton Village Hall – Portsmouth
Cost: £5 per child
Age: 4 -10 years

The Ugly Duckling is retold by Rachella the Storyteller – using beautiful puppetry, mime and music to tell a traditional tale in a new and exciting way to inspire little ones! Followed by games and an Easter Egg hunt!

Climate Fresk Workshop

Date: Thursday 17th May 2025
Time: 1:30 – 4:30pm

Location: The Greenhouse Victoria Park
Cost: Free
Age: 16+

A playful & collaborative workshop to teach you the fundamental science behind climate change and empower you to take action

Writing Herstories of Portsmouth 2

Dates:
Thursday 15th May
Thursday 22nd May
Thursday 5th June
Thursday 12th June
Thursday 19th June

Time: 18:00-20:00

Location: Online
Cost: Free
Age: 18+

This series of five life writing workshops will encourage stories of women’s activism and agency in Portsmouth and surrounding area. Resulting in publication.

Writing Herstories of Portsmouth 1

Dates:
Tuesday 13th May
Tuesday 20th May
Tuesday 3rd June
Tuesday 10th June
Tuesday 17th June

Time: 14:00-16:00pm

Location: University Of Portsmouth
Cost: Free

This series of five life writing workshops will encourage stories of women’s activism and agency in Portsmouth and surrounding area. Resulting in publication.

The Black Out Poetry Project

Date: Monday 14th April
Time: 13:00 & 19:00

Date: Tuesday 15th April
Time: 14:30
Location: The Greenhouse Victoria Park
Cost: Free
Age: All are welcome but suitable for ages 8+ accompanied by adults

Unleash your creativity and take part in celebrating Portsmouth’s literary Heritage with the Black Out Poetry Project.

Pirates Love Underpants at the New Theatre Royal

Date: Tuesday 8th April
Time: 13:30

Date: Wednesday 9th April
Time: 10:30/13:30

Location: New Theatre Royal, Portsmouth
Cost:
Adult £18.00
U16 £16.00
School/Group 10+ £14.00
Age: Secondary, Adult

Join our swashbuckling party of pirates on their quest to find the fabled Pants of Gold for the Captain’s Treasure chest!

My Favourite Cake

Date: Saturday 29th March
Time: 17:00-21:30
Location: St Simon’s Church, Waverley Rd, Southsea, Portsmouth, Southsea PO5 2PW
Cost:
Concessions £25
Standard £30
Solidarity £40
Age: Any

Join us for an unforgettable evening of film, food, and culture at this Iranian-Themed Cinematic Dining Event. This unique gathering combines a screening of the award-winning Iranian film My Favourite Cake with an authentic Persian feast, live music, and immersive décor inspired by the beauty of Iranian gardens. My Favourite Cake, described by The Guardian’s Peter Bradshaw as a “wonderfully sweet and funny film” and a “compelling rebuke to…

Farm Boy at the New Theatre Royal

Date: Saturday 29th March
Time: 14:30/18:30

Date: Sunday 30th March
Time: 14:30

Location: New Theatre Royal, Portsmouth
Cost:
Adult £17
Child £14
Age: Secondary, Adult

Following successful UK tours and a critically acclaimed run in New York, Michael Morpurgo’s compelling sequel to ‘War Horse’ returns to the stage in this delightful, family-friendly show combining drama, storytelling, and original music…

The invaluable support of South Western Railway and Stagecoach South, whose generous contributions ensured that children from across Portsmouth could attend the launch event…

IN OUR WORD is a year-long festival of literature, literacy, and storytelling – launches with over 350 children at Fratton Park with famous author…