Upcoming Events
Treasure Hunt and Book Signing – Darlington, Waterstones
- Saturday 5th July 2025
- Waterstones Darlington – Cornmill Shopping Centre
- 12 noon – 2pm
- Collect your galaxy shards and create some stars! Plus book signing
Join us in store to celebrate local Darlington author Lisette Auton and the release of her latest children’s book, ‘The Starlight Rebel’!
Lisette will be signing copies of her books, and customers can take part in a treasure hunt around our kids section! Locate all the planets hidden in store, decode the secret message, and claim a prize from our booksellers!
‘The Starlight Rebel’ is set in a far-future neon-flooded world where the night sky is all but a faint memory. This immersive sci-fi adventure follows neurodivergent Astrifer Nova – a spirited 11-year-old about to discover the world is far bigger than she ever imagined.
Book Signing – Yarm, Waterstones
- Saturday 12th July 2025
- Waterstones Yarm – High Street
- 12 noon – 1pm
- Collect your galaxy shards and create some stars! Plus book signing
Join us for a signing with brilliant children’s author Lisette Auton as she launches her brand new book ‘The Starlight Rebel’.
Create Your Own Alien Activity and Book Signing – Newcastle, Waterstones
- Saturday 19th July 2025
- Waterstones Newcastle – Blackett Street
- 1 pm -1.30pm FREE Create Your Own Alien bookable activity! See below for how to book.
- 1.30pm – book signing open to all plus collect your galaxy shards and create some stars!
Set in a far-future neon-flooded world where the night sky is all but a faint memory, this immersive sci-fi adventure follows neurodivergent Astrifer Nova – a spirited 11-year-old about to discover the world is far bigger than she ever imagined.
Before signing ‘The Starlight Rebel’ Lisette will hold a design your own alien activity at 1pm. Please rsvp to events.newcastle@waterstones.com to reserve your place.
At 1.30pm Lisette will be signing ‘The Starlight rebel’ her infectious new future set adventure. No ticket or rsvp required for the signing. Copies will be available to buy on the day.
Book Signing – Northallerton, Waterstones
- Wednesday 23rd July
- Waterstones Northallerton – 102 High Street
- 11am – 1pm
- Collect your galaxy shards and create some stars! Plus book signing
Book Signing and Activity Session – Saltburn, Book Corner
- Saturday 26th July 2025
- Book Corner – 24 Milton Street, Saltburn
- 11am – 1pm
- Collect your galaxy shards and create some stars! Plus book signing
Book Signing – Durham, Waterstones
- Saturday 2nd August
- Waterstones Durham – 69 Saddler Street
- 11am – 12 noon
- Collect your galaxy shards and create some stars! Plus book signing
Book Signing and Map Making Activity – Corbridge, Forum Books
- Saturday 9th August
- 10.30am
- Forum Books – The Chapel, Market Place, Corbridge
- Book signing and a free brilliant fun map making story activity!
- Plus collect your galaxy shards and create some stars!
- Contact Forum Books for details and to book a free spot! hello@forumbooksandkids.com
Book Signing and Map Making Activity – Newcastle, Seven Stories
- Tuesday 12th August
- 11am
- Seven Stories – The National Centre for Children’s Books, 30 Lime Street, Ouseburn, NE1 2PQ
- Book signing and a brilliant fun map making story activity!
- Plus collect your galaxy shards and create some stars!
- Click here for details and to book your spot!
Book Signing – Sunderland, Waterstones
- Saturday 16th August 2025
- Waterstones Sunderland – 31 The Bridges Shopping Centre
- 12 noon – 2pm
- Collect your galaxy shards and create some stars! Plus book signing
Join us to celebrate the release of The Starlight Rebel – the newest book from wonderful local children’s author Lisette Auton!
A sci-fi adventure in a neon-flooded world led by out 11 year old protagonist, Astrifer Nova.
Full of heart, quirky characters and lots of action, this story is perfect for fans of Ross Welford!
Lisette will be signing copies in store on Saturday 16th August from 12 – 2pm. We’d love to see you there!
Examples of some Recent Past Events
Great North Author Tour 2025 – Book Signing – Multiple Locations
Saturday 21st July
- A ridiculous tour on a minibus with 12 children’s authors calling at:
- The Bound – Whitley Bay – 9.30am – 10.15am
- Drake the Bookshop – Stockton – 11.20am – 12.05pm
- Wonky Tree Bookshop – Leyburn – 1.10pm – 1.45pm
- White Rose Bookshop – Thirsk – 2.45pm – 3.30pm
- Little Ripon Bookshop – Ripon – 4pm – 4.45pm
All times approximate! Can’t wait to see you soon for this annual chaos!
Darlo Does Stuff with Words with Lisette Auton
- Where: Darlington Crown Street Library
- When: Wednesday 23rd October
- What time: Doors open at 6pm, event begins at 7pm
- How much: £4 a ticket which includes a free drink
Find out more about the event and book your tickets by clicking this sentence!
Weekly drop-in writing sessions at Darlington Library
Come and write with me! Bring your work in progress or writing prompts waiting for you…
Mondays 29th July, 5th, 12th and 19th August. 11am – 3pm
Find out more by clicking on this link
Book Signing – Waterstones Northallerton
Saturday 7th August – 11am-12.30pm – Waterstones Northallerton, 102 High Street, Northallerton, DL7 8PP
Stadium of Stories at Gateshead International Stadium
- Where: Gateshead International Stadium
- When: Friday 16 August
- What time: drop in 11am to 2pm
- How much: FREE!
There are plenty of things to do at Gateshead International Stadium when Stadium of Stories rolls in. From face-painting to storytelling, and crafting to football, families can pop in to check out over 20 stalls from local businesses, charities and organisations – each with something different for you and your family to try out.
There will also be messy sensory play sessions for little ones, and sports and games for older children.
Everyone’s welcome to this brilliant free event.
We’ll be joined by an award-winning local author too!
Pop along to meet award-winning local author Lisette Auton and find out how she became one of the North East’s most celebrated children’s writers. You might even learn a thing or two about building your very own fictional world!
Lisette is running three 45 minute sessions at 11.15am, 12.15pm and 1.15pm
Find out more and book your free ticket here
Book Signing and Silent Disco – Forum Books
Silent disco to celebrate the end of term! 3pm-5pm Friday 19th July at Forum Books, The Chapel, Market Place, Corbridge, NE45 5AW. Book free tickets with Forum Books here.
Darlington Hippodrome – Lights Up Launch Event
11am 30th July 2024 – FREE event for all the family – FREE tickets available here on Darlington Hippodrome website
Imagine a Story with Southbank Centre
UK National Tour July 2023
Book Signing – Waterstones Darlington
Saturday 6th July 12 noon. Waterstones Darlington – 1-3 Cornmill Centre, Darlington, DL1 1LS
An evening of new writing with Lisette Auton
Darlington Library – Thursday 30th May 2024 – Doors open 6.30pm – Runs 7pm-8.10pm – Tickets free, booking required here.
How to Tell YOUR Story
Tuesday 2nd April – 7.30pm-9pm – Online – Free
Email wbne2020@gmail.com to reserve your place
Federation of Children’s Books Conference
5th – 7th April 2024
Booking and event details here
Beyond the Book with Lisette Auton
11th April – 6pm-8pm – Teesside University
Further details and booking info here
London Book Fair – Reflecting Disability Panellist
12th March 4pm-6pm
Night Classes – Unfolding Theatre
Theatre show premiering at Arc Stockton – 20th-21st March 2024
Details, access info, and ticket booking here
Book signing and launch event at Waterstones Darlington
When: Saturday 18th February 11am – 1pm
Alnwick Story Fest – What would you keep in your beard?
Appearance at Alnwick Story Fest running an interactive workshop about both of my books – what would you keep in your beard and can you tell a story with Fig Archimedes the talking raven?
When: Friday 24th February 12 noon – 1pm
Where: Alnwick Garden Pavillion
Chop, Dissolve, Burn
Alphabetti Theatre & WANCs present a WORLD PREMIERE of Chop, Dissolve, Burn
by Lisette Auton & Richard Boggie
Directed by Paul James
When disabled and non-disabled worlds collide, the consequences can be serious…or seriously funny. Be prepared for macabre humour, the absurd, a soaring soundtrack, a guide dog with a taste for flesh, and a ghostly granny. Please note – this contains adult themes and swearing. It is unsuitable for a young audience.
When: Tuesday 20th June – Saturday 8th July 7.30pm (plus Saturday matinee at 1.00pm
Where: Alphabetti Theatre, Newcastle
All information, including about access, and to buy tickets here
Writing the Missing: All At Sea
When: Thursday 14th October 2021 – AVAILABLE TO CATCH-UP NOW
Performance time: 5.30 – 6.30pm. Then available to watch on demand
Where: Online – link here
Cost: FREE
Access: captioned, audio described, BSL
Following the success of Writing the Missing: A River Cycle, Journal Culture Awards winning Performance of the Year, this sequel pushes the bounds of creative access, kindness and care in the continued creative partnership with Rob Irish. Commissioned by Durham Book Festival.
We’d love it if you would meet us at the waves.
Northern Girls
When: Wednesday 20th – Saturday 23rd October
Performance time: 7pm – 8.30pm
Where: TunedIn! Redcar
Cost: £5
Tickets and info available here
Access: Accessible venue – BSL interpreted performance on Wednesday.
I am so proud to be a Northern Girl. I was commissioned to write one of the eight monologues that make up this show. Written, directed and acted by Northern Girls. This is a diverse sucker punch to the gut of all the feels. DO NOT MISS THIS!
The River Cycle: A Disability Arts Showcase with Lisette Auton
Part of Durham Book Festival
In a beautiful, startling and mesmeric lyrical dialogue with her brain, the river and the sea, award winning disabled activist, writer and performer Lisette Auton weaves together character and setting to provoke debate and action: 25% of people in the North East are disabled, why do we not take up that cultural space?
‘Writing the Missing – A River Cycle’ is a new film commissioned for Durham Book Festival which came out of New Narratives of the North East, an ambitious project from New Writing North and the North East Culture Partnership. Lisette was given complete creative control to make the film which includes new commissions from disabled artists Bex Bowsher, Sarah Crutwell and Vici Wreford-Sinnott.
With captions, BSL interpretation and audio description embedded from the beginning, this film shows the power of disability arts; that access is a right, a right which leads to creative freedom, innovation and wonder.
Premiered Saturday 10th September 2020 – 5.00pm-5.45pm
Online
You can watch it for free here
Access – subtitled, captioned and creatively audio described
Little Cog Staging Our Futures Showcase
Celebratory launch party of the work commissioned by Little Cog for the Staging Our Futures commissions.
November 1st
5pm – 6.30pm
Online. Free tickets must be booked in advance here.
Accessibility – captions and BSL interpreted.
Hark! The Sound of Stories
Performing a reading as a part of this online event from Tracks Darlington, blending music and story.
Sunday October 11th 2020
FREE – donations welcome
[ONLINE] Open Courtauld Hour: The Art of Feasting
Performing a commissioned new poem based on work in the Courtauld Institute of Art’s collection as part of their series of digital open hour events. It gives attendees the chance to access, engage and read art and art history through a different lens— revamping and rethinking art historical discussions through food, pubs and poetry. These episodes will platform new perspectives, new ways into art practice, looking at art and reading its history through themes that impact us all.
Thursday 18th June – 8.05pm-9.05pm
FREE but booking is essential via this link
Young Writers’ Day: Writing mystery with New Writing North Young Writers
I’m running a poetry workshop suitable for 12-19 year olds, as part of a writing day of mystery which forms part of The Word’s Write Festival.
Work with Lisette to develop some poems on a whole range of mysterious themes. With creative prompts and friendly advice Lisette will have you writing in no time!
Saturday 23rd May CANCELLED
Full session – 10.30am – 3.30pm
Poetry workshop – 10.30am -11.30am
FREE
The Word, National Centre for the Written Word, Market Place, South Shields, NE33 1JF
All the details you need are in the link above, including access info.
Belonging Exhibition at The Dorman Museum, Middlesbrough
An extended exhibition of paintings by David Watson. I was commissioned as one of four poets and spoken word artists to create a piece of work around the theme of Belonging. To do this I worked with Creative Age at MIMA. The commissioned piece is part of the exhibition.
Exhibition runs 8th February – 19th April CANCELLED
Open Tuesday – Sunday, 10.30am – 3.30pm
Free entry and accessible building – info available HERE
The Dorman Museum, Linthorpe Road, Middlesbrough, TS5 6LA
Vital Xposure – Medicine’s Monstrous Daughters
Well that didn’t go according to plan… I’m so very sad we didn’t get to show the world the incredible piece of work the whole team made. I hope we get to come together again, I hope we stay safe, I hope the venues and staff and freelancers are all okay.
Julie McNamara, artistic director of Vital Xposure, wrote about the rehearsal process, it feels even more important now that this testament to this important piece of work is read. LINK TO ARTICLE HERE.
Playing the role of Mad Mary on national tour.
Two plays by Julie McNamara and Omikemi. Directed by Penelope Freeman. Different women. Different times. Same system.
Two powerful plays, inspired by real life events, are woven together across time to expose unpalatable truths about the treatment of people deemed ‘different’ or ‘damaged’ and asks how much of our humanity do we lose in search of the cure?
Together, these plays tell some of the untold stories behind medicine’s ‘magical’ gains.
Age recommendation: 14+
CANCELLED
ARC Stockton, Thursday 19th March
Arena Theatre, Wolverhampton, Thursday 26th March
Northern Stage, Newcastle, Wednesday 1st April
The Key, Peterborough, Thursday 2nd April
Bridport Arts Centre, Bridport, Friday 3rd April
The Old Fire Station, Oxford, Thursday 16th April
Canada Water Theatre, The Albany, London, Friday 17th & Saturday 18th April
Featured Artist at Say Owt Slam #24
Guest performer for Say Owt’s first slam of 2020! After 5 years of slams and being Highly Commended in the York Culture Awards, we’re back for another sizzling slam and entering the decade with energy! Invite yer pals! Invite yer parents! Invite yer enemies!
Slots for slam participants will open in January.
Saturday February 1st – 7.30pm – 10.30pm
Tickets £6 in advance, £7 on the door. Available from The Basement.
The Basement, City Screen Picturehouse, 13-17 Coney Street, York, YO1 9QL
ACCESS: The Basement is fully accessible to all. If you have any special requirements please either let The Basement’s management know in advance via cityscreenyork.basement@picturehouses.co.uk,or inform the staff on the door or on the main box office who will be happy to help.
PopUpPoetry Durham
We’re going to be kind, be creative and play with words to begin the year. PopUpPoetry is gorgeous. Come and share your poems. All welcome. It’ll be a free-rolling smorgasbord of loveliness.
“This month’s Third Thursday with PopUpPoetry Durham: Lisette Auton, disabled writer, activist, spoken word artist, theatre maker and creative practitioner.
Come and join us and Lisette, all-round wonderful person and talented grower of creativity. Sparkles guaranteed…”
Thursday 16 January – 6.30pm
FREE
Old Cinema Launderette, 38 Marshall Terrace, Gilesgate Moor, Durham, DH1 2HX
Lisette Auton Does Stuff with Words at Words Weekend
Half hour spoken word set as part of the Words Weekend Festival
Sunday 8th December – 2.15pm
FREE
Sage Gateshead, St Mary’s Square, Gateshead Quays, Gateshead NE8 2JR
Full access statement can be found by clicking on the link above.
I’m Co-Curating a day of MIMA on tour in London Town!
Saturday 23rd November – 12 noon – 6pm
FREE – just turn up, no need to book
202 Hoe Street, Walthamstow, E17 4BS
Art Assembly is a one-day festival brought to you by Art Fund and Waltham Forest to explore how art can make a difference. Join some of the UK’s leading arts organisations actively making a difference to communities. You’ll experience their pioneering projects first-hand – from bread-baking that brings people together, to theatre that breaks down barriers, to art addressing mental health, climate change and more.
A multi-character spoken word performance in the role of The Crip Mistress alongside other disabled artists in a Cabaret of Crip Culture
Wednesday 6th November – 7.00pm
Pay What You Decide – Age 18+ – SOLD OUT – waiting list available by phoning ARC on 01642 525199
ARC, Dovecot Street, Stockton-on-Tees, TS18 1LL
Accessible venue and relaxed performance
Supporting the incredible Ralph Dartford at the launch of his book, Recovery Songs.
Thursday 17th October – 7.00pm – 9.00pm
FREE/Pay What You Decide
Slung Low Working Men’s Club, The Holbeck, Leeds, LS11 9QX
Supporting Kate Fox at a wonderful spoken word night curated by Tony Gadd of Gong Fu Poets.
Monday 14th October – 7.30pm
£5.00
Ceddesfeld Hall, Rectory Row, Sedgefield, TS21 2AE
Open Studios in September at Cove Park
As part of my 2019 Early Careers Residency for Literature I will be giving a reading from work that has been written here. There are also open studios – a chance to see the incredible work produced by artists on residency at Cove Park.
Saturday 21st September – Open studios Noon – 4.00pm – Reading 3.00pm
FREE
Cove Park, Peaton Hill, Cove, Argyll and Bute, G84 0PE, Scotland
Gateshead Summer School: In the Frame
Ready for a summer bursting with ideas? New Writing North runs three-day Summer Schools across the North East, where young people aged 12-19 work on exciting creative writing projects with professional writers and artists. It doesn’t matter if you’re an experienced writer or just want to try something new; if you’ve got an interest in creative writing then these Summer Schools are for you. For our first Gateshead Summer School we will be taking inspiration from works of art to create our own film stories! After looking around the Shipley Art Gallery for hidden stories to excite our imagination, we will make our own pieces of spoken word poetry with masterclasses from writers John Challis and Lisette Auton. Then, on the final day, we will use these to have fun making our own short films.
Wednesday 31st July – Friday 2nd August 11.00 am – 4.00pm
FREE – but tickets must be booked here
Shipley Art Gallery, Prince Consort Road, Gateshead, NE8 4JB
Fabulous night of spoken word, music, stories and comedy.
Monday July 29th – 5.30pm – 10.30pm
£3.00
Wheelchair accessible venue with accessible loo.
Station East, Hills Street, Gateshead, NE8 2AN
The Little Shed of Forgotten Dreams at Hartlepool Waterfront Festival
Installation and living museum with activities and events for everyone
Saturday 20th July – Sunday 21st July
FREE – Pay What You Decide Donation
Hartlepool Waterfront, Marina, The Highlight, TS24 0XT
Hartlepool Waterfront Festival
Family friendly spoken word set
Saturday 20th July – 1.30pm – 2.00pm
FREE – Pay What You Decide Donation
Hartlepool Waterfront, Marina, The Highlight, TS24 0XT
York Disabled Writers Group – for SAY OWT
A fun session full of writing exercises, open to anyone identifying as disabled. Suitable for curious beginners to seasoned scribblers.
Sunday 23rd June – 1pm-3pm
FREE – all event info, access info and travel cost help here
York Explore Library and Archive, York Central Library, Library Square, York, YO1 7DS
Poetry Workshops as Poet-in-Residence – Crossing the Tees Book Festival
Sometimes creating a wealth of new material to draw upon is the hardest part of being a poet. This session will show you quick fire exercises to develop new ways of looking at the world and creating new work. You’ll write a wealth of new beginnings within the session, and also take away a unique toolbox of techniques to use at home. This workshop is suitable for someone who has just begun writing poetry or has done so for years.
Multiple dates and venues:
Wed 12th June – 6.30-8.30pm – Community Hub Central, Hartlepool
Sat 15th June – 2-4pm – Acklam Community Hub
Wed 19th June – 2-4pm – Crown Street Library, Darlington
Thurs 20th June – 2-4pm – Redcar Library
£5 – tickets available here or phone ARC Box Office on 01642 525199
Poetry Masterclass as Poet-in-Residence – Crossing the Tees Book Festival
As poets we end up gathering notebooks full of fragments, knowing that they are worthy of our ink, but not quite knowing where they belong. This workshop will use these fragments as our foundation to create new work and introduce new forms and methods to find them a home. Suitable for those who have been playing with words for a while, this workshop will be excellent for those poets seeking to hone their poetry techniques to place in competitions and for publication. Please bring your notebooks!
Monday 10th June – 6pm-8pm
£5 – tickets available here or phone ARC Box Office on 01642 525199
Stockton Library, Stockton-on-Tees, TS18 1TU
An Evening with Lisette Auton
Hosting a celebratory night of Disability Arts – quiz open mic, comedy, music, spoken word and poetry. Food and drink inc. licensed bar. BSL Interpreted.
Saturday 1st June – Doors open 7pm – Event begins 8pm
FREE but tickets must be booked in advance here along with all event info
Thought Foundation, Clarity House, Durham Road, Birtley, DH3 2TB
Let’s Discuss Disability
Exhibition of artists exploring disability through creative practice.
Preview Thursday 2nd May – 6pm – 9pm
Exhibition runs 2nd May to 14th June – opening hours see website
Thought Foundation, Clarity House, Durham Road, Birtley, DH3 2TB
Tees Women Poets do Feminist Book Fortnight
Gloria Steinam, Roxane Gay and Frida Kahlo walk into a bookshop… Sisters of TWP collective share original poems written in response to feminist texts
Thursday 9th May – 7pm
Free but places limited. RSVP to books@drakethebookshop.co.uk
DRAKE Bookshop, 27 Silver Street, Stockton-on-Tees, TS18 1SX
Mondo Bongo
Poetry, Spoken Word & Music
Saturday 6th April – 7pm-9.30pm
Free
The Bread Bowl Cafe, Queens Road, Richmond, North Yorkshire, DL10 4AE
Poetry Jam
Poetry & Spoken Word
Thursday 4th April – Doors open 7pm. Event 7.30pm-9.40pm
Free
Waddington Street Centre, 3 Waddington Street, Durham City, DH1 4BG
No More Nowt Happens Showcase
Music and Spoken Word
Friday 29th March – 5pm-7pm
Free
Dawdon Youth and Community Centre, Queen Alexandra Road, Seaham, SR7 7NH
Creative Writing Workshop with shared food
February 28th – 3.30pm-7pm
Free – booking essential
Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art, MIMA, Centre Square, Miiddlesbrough, TS1 2AZ
Spoken Word Night
February 26th – 7pm-9pm
£3.00
Black Hall Community Centre, Hesleden Road, Hartlepool, TS27 4LG
Artists Emerge! – for Disability Arts Online
Twitter Q&A for emerging artists – funding, finding your tribe, making it pay…
February 20th – 2pm-4pm
Twitter – #ArtistsEmerge
Launch of EP with Archipelago
Sunday 9th December – 7pm
The Bridge Hotel, Castle Square, Newcastle, NE1 1RQ
Are we in an era post Disability Art?
Panelist at International DaDaFest Liverpool
Monday 3rd December – 11am-1pm
The Bluecoat, School Lane, Liverpool, Merseyside L1 3BX, UK
PopUpPoetry Durham – Third Thursday
Leading a poetry workshop – all welcome
Thursday 18th October – 4.30-6.30pm
Free
St Chad’s College, 18 North Bailey, Durham, DH1 3RH
Lemn Sissay presents Creative Future Literary Awards – part of London Literary Festival
Reading as a prize winning poet
Friday 26th October – 6.45pm
£5.00
Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, London, SE1 8XX
Performance of residency collaboration with Archipelago
Thursday 11th October – 7.30pm-11.00pm
Free
Cobalt Studios, 10-16 Boyd Street, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, NE2 1AP
Occupation by Pauline Heath produced by Little Cog
Theatre – Movement Facilitator
Wednesday 26th September – 1.30pm & 7.00pm
Pay What You Decide
ARC, Dovecot Street, Stockton-on-Tees, TS18 1LL
Arch Remarks
Spoken Word Performance
Monday 24th September – 7.00pm-10.30pm
£3.00
Station East, Hills Street, Gateshead, NE8 2AN
Lisette Auton Does Stuff With Words 