Teesside’s largest book festival Crossing The Tees will return this year between 3 – 20 June with the addition of a literary film festival taking place at ARC.
Crossing The Tees, now in its second year, is organised by library services throughout the Tees Valley and events will take place at libraries across Stockton, Middlesbrough, Hartlepool, Thornaby, Billingham and Darlington.
The festival is programmed entirely by the library services with support from local councils who together have programmed a wide range of events for book and film fans to get involved with.
Highlights this year include; talks and discussions with authors, poets and writers, fashion through-the-ages performances, workshops to help budding writers and plenty of opportunities to chat with professional writers from the region and beyond.
Susan Lewis, Milly Johnson and Simon Scarrow are just a selection of some of the celebrated authors who will be sharing their own experiences and giving tips on how to make the journey from developing ideas to getting work published. Poets John Hegley and Kate Fox will deliver discussions on poetic writing techniques plus there will be a range creative writing sessions to take part in.
The festival also provides a platform to showcase new up-and-coming writing talent from the region. Schools across the Tees Valley will also have the chance to take part in school-specific events.
This year ARC will host the first Crossing the Tees Film Festival as part of the literary celebrations between 10 – 18 June.
Cinematic classics will be brought back to life on ARC’s Cinema screen including the 1971 film version of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, the timeless romantic comedy Breakfast at Tiffany’s and Robert Mulligan’s To Kill A Mockingbird.
Recently released Suite Française and Insurgent are also part of the film festival and a unique version of Ridley Scott’s Teesside inspired film will provide the film festival highlight when Bladerunner: The Final Cut is screened on Sat 13 June at 8pm.
Each event is priced differently and booking is essential unless otherwise stated.
Further information and tickets for all Crossing the Tees events can be purchased online, via ARC’s Box Office in person, or by calling 01642 525199.
All dates, prices and general information on events can be found here.