Prescot will be transformed into a celebration of creativity, comedy and imagination this August as the Serious Nonsense Festival returns with a packed programme of free entertainment, live performances and family activities.
Taking place on Friday 21 and Saturday 22 August, the festival will bring theatre, music, circus, workshops and street performances to Prescot town centre and Shakespeare North Playhouse.
Inspired by Knowsley’s connection to nonsense poet Edward Lear, who lived and worked at Knowsley Hall, and Prescot’s Elizabethan heritage, the festival celebrates the town’s unique history while showcasing some of the most exciting performers from across the UK.
Serious Nonsense Festival brings two days of entertainment to Prescot
The festival will open on Friday 21 August with pop-up performances, family activities and workshops taking place across the town.
On Saturday 22 August, visitors can enjoy a full day of free entertainment, including performances from Pop Vox Choir, Strawberry Fields Ukes, Mr Swing’s Dance Orchestra, Flat Pack Opera and Manchester rapper and spoken-word artist OneDa.
One of the biggest highlights will be BLOCK by internationally acclaimed dance-circus company Motionhouse. The large-scale outdoor performance combines giant moving structures, acrobatics and gravity-defying choreography to create a spectacular show for audiences.
The festival will also see Shakespeare North Playhouse host a range of special events, including workshops inspired by Edward Lear, interactive theatre sessions and live performances.
Celebrating community and Prescot’s heritage
The Serious Nonsense Festival has become a major fixture in Knowsley’s cultural calendar, bringing residents and visitors together through free entertainment and creative experiences.
Cllr Shelley Powell, Cabinet Member for Communities and Neighbourhoods, said: “The Serious Nonsense Festival has become one of Knowsley’s most loved cultural events, bringing together residents and visitors for a celebration of creativity, community and fun.
“We’re delighted to welcome another fantastic programme of performers to Prescot and look forward to seeing thousands of people enjoying everything the festival has to offer.”
The festival promises a weekend packed with live music, comedy, theatre, circus and family activities, with visitors encouraged to explore Prescot and discover the stories, performances and surprises waiting across the town.
Friday 21 August
Prescot Town Centre
11.30am – 4pm
- Pop-up performances and family activities throughout Prescot
- Flat Pack Opera – opera performances bringing history and music together in a unique way
- Bicycle Bistro – Tudor Tea Party from Circo Rum Ba Ba, featuring an acrobatic tea party performed on a bicycle
Shakespeare North Playhouse
2pm and 4pm – Holly Mallett Rhythm Workshops
Visitors can join Holly Mallett, known for playing Moxy in CBBC’s Andy and the Band, for an interactive rhythm workshop using body percussion and everyday objects to create music together.
Saturday 22 August
Prescot Town Centre
11am – 6pm
Visitors can enjoy performances throughout the day including:
- Pop Vox Choir – community choir performing popular songs
- Strawberry Fields Ukes – ukulele performances featuring Beatles classics
- Flat Pack Opera – comic and energetic opera performances
- Baked A La Ska – high-energy ska performances
- Mr Swing’s Dance Orchestra – classic swing music from the 1930s through to the Rat Pack era
- OneDa – Manchester rapper and spoken-word artist blending hip-hop, drum and bass and poetry
- BLOCK by Motionhouse – large-scale dance-circus performance featuring acrobatics and giant moving structures
- Queen of Hearts – family street theatre combining aerial performance, comedy and acrobatics
There will also be a range of walkabout performances across the town, including Bicycle Bistro – Tudor Tea Party, Bard Women, Damsels in Distress, Knightly Nonsense, The Aristocrats, Treemendous and Hodman Dodmanott and Sally Forth.
Shakespeare North Playhouse
- 11.30am and 1.15pm – Potty Plants with Edward Lear and Foss, His Curious Cat
- 12pm and 2pm – Glamazon Workshops
- 3pm and 6pm – The Rogue Shakespeare Experience
- 7pm – Glamazon Prime
The Serious Nonsense Festival takes place on Friday 21 August and Saturday 22 August at Prescot Town Centre and Shakespeare North Playhouse.
You can book here.
