MORE than 40 organisations and groups work together to make the SO: To Speak festival.

Coffee shops and theatres, poetry groups and charities, history projects and libraries sign up to make the festival.

Then there are all the partners, including the Daily Echo and local radio stations who help promote it, and the many volunteers who get involved.

Festival director Charlie Hislop of Southampton Festivals said: "It’s a lot of work, but there is so much willingness to make it happen, and to show off the city, its talented writers and artists, and its heritage.

"So many people get involved which makes it a real community event and a lot of fun. We are so grateful to all the people who help us out."

SO: TO SPEAK EVENTS

Thursday October, 19

Antigone (this production starts on 17th October)

Sophokles' iconic tragedy returns to the stage in this adaptation by Southampton's Maskers Theatre Company.

Maskers Studio Theatre

7:30pm

£9.50

Cheryl Butler in Conversation

Cheryl Butler, Southampton novelist, literary writer, academic, playwright and historian in conversation with James Gough, Director of Culture Southampton. They will be discussing Cheryl's new novel Theatre of the World, her new book about Jane Austen and other works including plays and theatre productions

Central Library

7:30pm

£4-5

Lemn Sissay: Something Dark

A one-man play that tells the story of celebrated performance poet, Lemn Sissay's, upbringing in children's homes and foster care, and the search for his family and true identity.

Nuffield Theatre Campus

7:30pm

£17 (Concessions: £15)

Friday, October 20

Antigone

Maskers Studio Theatre (see Thursday)

7:30pm

£9.50

Southampton Showboat: Whisper, Speak, Shout!

For one night only, Southampton's finest writers and performers will be taking part in this exciting live literary showcase, that will also feature the two SO: To Speak commissioned writers performing their work.

The Stage Door

8:00pm

£5-7.50

Three Monkeys

This month’s Three Monkeys are Davy Jones and the Real Raj, who join resident host monkey Steve Lowis for an evening of 'in the round' songs from three of the city's leading songwriters.

The Art House

8:00pm

£4-8

Saturday, October 21

The Science Room

An exciting, interactive discussion with real scientists. You ask the questions, we find the answers!

The Art House

12:00pm

Free

Regency Tea Party

Join the Friends of Cobbett Road Library for regency-styled food, dancing, games and activities inspired by Jane Austen and the Regency period.

Cobbett Road Library

12:00pm

Free

How Can You And I Be Free In The 21st Century?

Join artists Walter van Rijn, creator of the Being Human font, and Jane Birkin to discuss art and archives, words and images, descriptions and lists, titles and text as art.

Tower House

2:00pm

£5

Antigone

Maskers Studio Theatre (see Thursday)

7:30pm

£9.50

An Evening with Pam Ayres

A guaranteed evening of fun and laughter with the poet, comedian, songwriter and presenter.

Nuffield Theatre

7:30pm

£24

The Pendle Witch

Travel back to 1636 with actress Lexi Wolfe in this spooky show, just in time for Halloween. Discover the struggles of the women locked inside The Witches' Tower of Lancaster Castle.

The Art House

7:30pm

Early Bird - £8.60 Tickets - £11.70 Door - £15

Sunday, October 22

Jane Austen and the Waterman: An Encounter in Southampton.

The world premiere of this new musical play about Jane Austen and songwriter Charles Dibdin, produced by 2Time Theatre. See the possibilities of these two famous figures' paths crossing in Southampton.

The Mercure Dolphin Hotel

2pm and 4pm

Tickets - £12 Door - £15

The Sunday Scratch

A Sunday afternoon of scratch theatre, comedy, and conversation featuring Michelle Madsen with her new show, laughs from the Comedy Lab, and more.

The Stage Door

2pm

£5 (free entry with a ticket to the evening show, RIDE!)

Dementia Friendly Southampton presents Rob Gee in Forget Me Not

Described as "a disturbing masterpiece", this is a must-see. This witty one-man show explores the difficulties of solving a murder while suffering with dementia.

The Art House

6:45pm

Early Bird - £7.60 Tickets - £10.90 Door - £15

RIDE!

A play by John Foster, inspired by the racially-motivated murder of James Byrd. Directed by Charmaine K Parkin and performed by Shaquille John.

The Stage Door

7:30pm

Tickets £10 Door £12.50

Monday, October 23

Taking the Floor at Ford

Women engineers from the former Ford Transit plant in Swaythling tell oral historian Padmini Broomfield about their experiences.

Mettricks Old Town

7:00pm

Free

Writers WLTM...

The Docks is hosting this special SO: To Speak writers' get-together. Make it a date to come along and meet other writers, self-published authors and aspiring novelists. Who knows where it might lead?

The Docks Coffee House

7:30pm

451

All the best words in the best order. This Soto Speak special features Kat Francois and Sea Sharp. Hosted by Ricky Tart.

Nuffield Theatre

7:30pm

(If joining the Open Mic) £3 Tickets £5

Tuesday, October 24

Blood & Valour: A Legend in Comics

Enter the world of legend and comic with readings and illustrations with the creators of the comic book of Southampton legend Sir Bevis

Waterstones West Quay

6:00pm

Free

Cameroon to Cardiff: Eric Ngalle Charles

The extra-ordinary story of a trafficked refugee turned poet and acclaimed playwright. Hosted by Southampton City of Sanctuary and Southampton City Council.

Central Library

6pm

Free

Entropics Experimental Poetry

This new series of exciting experimental poetry hosted by Sarah Hayden returns for the SO: To Speak Festival! Featuring the extraordinary poetry of Samantha Walton.

Mettricks Old Town

7pm

Free

Southampton to the New World with James Evans

The author of Emigrants: Why the English Sailed to the New World takes us on a journey to discover why people sailed to North America in the seventeenth century and the important role Southampton played.

Central Library

7:30pm

Tickets - £5 Door - £6

Rory McLeod

Experience Rory McLeod’s songs in a fresh and exciting new musical environment, accompanied by The Familiar Strangers.

The Art House

7:30pm

Early Bird - £10.50 Tickets - £12.80 Door - £15.00

Stand Up In The Basement

Some big laughter therapy at the start of the week, staged in the perfect environment for comedy: small, cosy and underground.

Mango No. 5 Basement Bar

8:00pm

£8

Write A Note

Step up to the mic at Write a Note, where Issa Loyaan Farrah welcomes all spoken word performers, and this month's special guest, dramatist, writer and novelist, Eric Ngalle Charles.

The Talking Heads

8:00pm

Free

Wednesday, October 25

Tea with Terry

Popular author Terry Pratchett was living with dementia when wrote his moving Reith lecture. Come along and watch this remarkable speech, and join others in enjoying your favourite Discworld passages.

The Art House

2:30pm

Free

Hush Little Baby with Joanna Barnard

Award-winning novelist Joanna Barnard joins Southampton Central Library's reading group to discuss her new novel Hush Little Baby.

Central Library

6:30pm

Free, but booking is essential

The Touch Network

Be inspired by listening to stories about everyday people overcoming their struggles. Celebrate successes together and help to encourage others to talk about their lives.

Mettricks Old Town

7:00pm

£10 (includes refreshments)

The Original Girl On A Train

Literary blogger Charlie Place in conversation with psychological thriller writer AJ Waines about plots, publishing and book titles.

The Docks Coffee House

7:30pm

£5 (includes a hot drink)

Use Your Words

Join regular host Alex Thornber for an evening of fast words and flowing ale - performance literature, spoken word, stories and personal essays.

Brewdog

8:00pm

Free

Thursday, October 26

We Die Like Brothers: The Sinking of the SS Mendi

Marine archaeologist Graham Scott takes us back to the sinking of the SS Mendi 100 years ago with the tragic loss of over 800 men. The majority were black South Africans sent to the UK to help with the war effort.

Central Library

7:30pm

Tickets - £5 Door - £6

Penny Legg in Conversation

With a string of published non-fiction titles to her name, author Penny Legg will be talking with host Dan Umfleet about her books and making her way as a writer.

The Docks Coffee House

7:30pm

Free

Haunted: The Travelling Talesman

As Halloween gets ever-closer, The Travelling Talesman is here to bring you the spookiest of stories, guaranteed to keep you on the edge of your seat.

The Art House

7:30pm

Tickets £7.70-£9.60 Door £12.50

Friday, October 27

Moving Voices

The open mic night that welcomes musicians, poets and storytellers alike, hosted this month by Tea Poet Syd Meats, with special guest Southampton folk legend, Brian Hooper.

The Art House

8:00pm

Free (suggested donation £5)

Manford's Comedy Club

This month featuring Debra Jane Appleby, Hugh Davies and Stewart Goldsmith.

The Stage Door

8:00pm

£13.75

Flash Fiction Showcase

An evening of sizzling short stories with David Swann and FJ Morris, hosted by National Flash Fiction Day Director Calum Kerr.

Mettricks Old Town

7:30pm

Tickets - £6 Door - £8

Saturday, October 28

CSI Southampton

Crime Fiction meets crime fact. Get inside the police lines and interrogate a panel with both crime authors, Pauline Rowson and Graham Hurley and real-life crime scene investigators.

Central Library

10:30am

Tickets £8 Door £10 (both prices include a £1 book discount)

Words on Wheels

What do you get when you fill vintage buses with poets and storytellers, and an outdoor public poetry contest? A grand outdoor festival finale where anyone can take part.

Western Esplanade

2:00pm

Free

Schlock!

A beautiful and moving exploration of pain, consent, the body and self. Written and performed by Hannah Silva.

The Stage Door

7:00pm

Tickets - £10 Door £12.50

Jon Hart & Maneli Jamal

Award-winning singer-songwriters and finger-style guitarists bring their UK and European tour to Southampton.

The Art House

7:45pm

Tickets £7.70-9.60 Door £12.50

The Anti-Slam

How bad can poetry get? Well, this is a competition to find out! The only event where the worst poem wins. The Anti-Slam promises to make you cringe, chuckle and chortle your way through the evening.

The Stage Door

8:00pm

Early Bird - £6 Tickets - £7 Door - £10

Booking is advised for all events.

Full details and booking for all events can be found at www.sotospeakfestival.org

Places at workshops and children's events are limited: booking is required even when the event is free.

Most on the door payments will be cash only.