David Morrissey to star in 2011’s Penny Readings

It’s become one of the most-anticipated Christmas events in Liverpool: our annual Penny Readings. This year’s event will be held on Sunday 4^th December at 6pm in the beautiful Small Concert Room at St. George’s Hall.

Now in its eighth year, The Reader Organisation’s all-singing, all-dancing festive end of year bash welcomes Liverpool-born actor David Morrissey as our star reader:

“I'm delighted to be asked to take part in this very special event in my home town, particularly as it marks the start of the celebrations of Dickens’ bicentenary in 2012. I admire how The Reader Organisation are keeping the spirit of Dickens alive through the Penny Readings in what must be the most accessible and fun literature event of the year.”

The Penny Readings follow in the tradition of Charles Dickens, who from the 1840s onwards, travelled across the North West giving readings for just one penny. This year’s Penny Readings will herald the beginning of Dickens’ bicentennial year with a fantastic ensemble of writers, musicians, magicians and readers, of which David Morrissey will be one.

The Ha’penny Readings, an event just for young people aged 8-16, makes a return for a second year too, held on the same day at 2.30pm With trumpets, Santa, comedy capers with Sticky Floor, selected readings for the festive season and special guest, Tommy Donbavand, author of comedy-horror series, Scream Street, it’s not to be missed.  (All children must be accompanied by an adult.)

Sticky Floor

As tickets are in such high demand for the Penny Readings (last year, the tickets had all gone in an hour), this year there will be a public raffle of 100 pairs of tickets (only one pair of tickets available for each person). There are also 100 pairs of tickets available for the Ha’penny Readings, which will be allocated on a first-come-first-served basis.

To enter, please call the Penny Readings Hotline on 07807 106815 or email pennyreadings@thereader.org.uk, leaving your name and contact details, and specify which event you would like tickets for (the Ha’penny Readings for young people at 2.30pm, or the Penny Readings at 6.30pm). The line is open from 9am Monday 14th November until 5pm Friday 18th November (any calls or emails before or after this time will not be entered into the draw). Roger Phillips will draw the first two winners of Penny Readings tickets live on air between 12.30-1pm on Radio Merseyside on Wednesday 23rd November. All winners will be notified by Friday 25th November.

If you're lucky enough to get a ticket, entry to the Penny Readings will cost one pence - just as it did in the 1840s. Entry to the Ha'penny readings costs one half penny - tickets are sold in pairs so there's no need to track down any obsolete coinage!