New festival of stand up, spoken word and storytelling coming to Preston

Kevin Gilday — Kevin P Gilday is an award-winning poet, writer and performer

A new festival is coming to Preston.

SUPERPHONIC is a two-day event featuring stand up, spoken word and storytelling.

Derelict and Enjoy The Show are behind the festival, which will take over UCLan’s Media Factory next week.

On Thursday 29 June, Glasgow’s finest Kevin P Gilday will perform.

Kevin is an award-winning poet, writer and performer. He is the founder of poetry performance collective The Scribbler’s Union and was co-founder of much loved spoken word cabaret night Sonnet Youth.

He has supported artists and public figures such as Akala, Saul Williams, George the Poet, Jackie Kay, Liz Lochhead, Sage Francis, The Silencers and Jeremy Corbyn MP. He has published five books of poetry, with his most recent – Anxiety Music – released by Verve Press in September of 2022 to universal acclaim.

Storyteller Sam Freeman performs on Friday 30 June.

Sam is a writer, director, performer and arts professional. His last tour, Every Little Hope You Ever Dreamed But Didn’t Want To Mention toured around the UK. His directing credits include Chris Chibnall’s Gaffer (Unity Theatre) and the UK tour of Floating (Lives Of Others Theatre).

He has worked for the Stephen Joseph Theatre, York Theatre Royal, Unity Theatre and currently works for Theatr Clwyd.

Across the two nights there will be local support from Heather Biggs, Danny Woods, Sam Heaney, Helena Ascough and Sean the Thought Machine.

Derelict’s Phil Sykes said: “The aim of SUPERPHONIC is to celebrate the fantastic writing and spoken word community that we have here in Preston, while bringing in some great touring artists too.

“We decided to get together with Enjoy The Show to put on a two-day festival and show off what Preston has to offer.”

Producers Derelict and Enjoy The Show have brought artists and performers from all around the world to Preston, and this is their first collaboration.

“We have a fantastic theatre at The Media Factory and want to share it with as many people as possible.

“Preston has a well-established performing arts scene and we are here to make sure everyone can enjoy a great night in the theatre,” Phil added.

Tickets are available from Skiddle. Tickets are priced at £8 (plus a booking fee) per night, or £14 (plus a booking fee) for both nights. Minimum age is 16.