Actor and artist Johnny Vegas is taking part in Carnival of Creativity in St Helens

One of the town’s most famous sons is taking part in a Carnival of Creativity in St Helens this month.

Actor, comedian, and artist Johnny Vegas will reveal his favourite reads in front of a live audience at St Helens Library for the event, organised by the council as part of ‘Arts in Libraries’.

The carnival will bring together performers and tons of fun and family-focused activities for the imaginative festival which will take place at different venues on Saturday, August 31.

There’ll be events and activities at the World of Glass Museum and St Helens Library, as well as St Mary’s Market, and the Town Hall.

Other popular acts will include rising musician and storyteller, Marco Woolf, and poet and performer Paul Cookson; while events will range from a pop-up cinema, a family cabaret, and more.

Councillor Kate Groucutt, St Helens Borough Council’s cabinet member for business, leisure and culture, says: “Carnival of Creativity promises to be an unforgettable day of excitement and creativity in St Helens town centre.

“Our borough has a rich history when it comes to culture which should rightly be recognised at every chance, with Carnival of Creativity being this year’s big opportunity to celebrate the artistic talent we have living and visiting here.”

And here are some of the things you can look forward to – and where!

St Helens Library

The library stage will showcase a range of events that happen regularly as part of the Arts in Libraries programme, from meet the author events, family-friendly performances, music performances, open mic events and seasonal cabarets. 

Carnival of Creativity events include:

• 10-11am – Paul Cookson, poet and performer, and ‘average ukelele player’ 
• 1-2pm – Family Cabaret with performances by North West artists 
• 2.30pm-3.30pm – Dream Setting by Marco Woolf
• 4-5pm – Desert Island Books with special guest Johnny Vegas. Johnny, who currently has an exhibition, Metamorphosis, with Emma Rodgers at the Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool – will select and talk through six books that are important to him and his life

World of Glass 

Auditorium: Between 10am and 4.45pmLucem House Community Cinema will take over the World of Glass auditorium with a range of films which celebrate the heritage and achievements of people from St Helens, films for sports fans, and films that tell stories. The films are free with no tickets required and are suitable for all ages.

Garden: The garden will be a space for play and imagination for all the family from 10am to 3.30pm. As well as theWorld of Glass outdoor play area, there’ll be craft and reading activities inspired by Zog and The Snail and the Whale films screening at Lucem House Community Cinema Takeover in the auditorium, children can make fairy doors with artist Tracey Peacock, and there’s free face painting.

The Hot Glass Studio

There’ll be a chance to see the resident glass blowers in action and take part in a sound and projection making activity with artist David Bixter at various times throughout the day.

The Sankey Suite

The World of Glass’s Sankey Suite will be a quiet zone from 10am – 3.30pm, with the chance to
work with a writer and illustrator on an idea for a children’s picture book, and join in creative writing activities and short poetry readings.

In the World of Glass PC Suite there will be a photography workshop and walk. Booking is preferred for the events between 10.15am and 2pm.

St Mary’s Market

St Mary’s will play host to a Makers Market with artisan craft stalls and creative activities from local makers between 10am-4pm, and will complement the monthly pop-up market in Church Square.

There will also be a Creative Making Zone and a Community Performance Zone with choirs, bands and dance groups from across St Helens. 

Walkabout Performers

Throughout the day walkabout performers will move through the carnival at World of Glass and St Mary’s Market.

St Helens Town Hall

The event will finish with a live music gig between 7pm and 10.30pm at St Helens Town Hall headlined by electric pop band Stealing Sheep – who opened the Eurovision Village stage in Liverpool last year – and alternative/indie act TVAM.

To find out more about the event click here.

Find out more about Johnny Vegas and his latest exhibition in the Walker Art Gallery here.