Cause UK

11/09/2026

A major new crime fiction festival is coming to Southampton. Early bird tickets are on sale now for Coastal Crime, 6 March 2027. https://coastalcrime.org/

09/09/2026

🎭 MOZART… BUT NOT AS YOU KNOW IT! 🎶

What happens when Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro meets 1970s Bradford, Yorkshire poetry and Indian classical music?

Mashallah! You get a bold, funny and brilliantly Yorkshire reinvention of one of the world’s best-loved operas. 🌹🎵

Bradford Opera Festival is bringing The Marriage of Figaro to the stage this November, adapted by acclaimed Yorkshire poet and broadcaster Ian McMillan.

🏭 Mozart’s classic relocated to 1970s Bradford
🗣️ Performed with a distinctive Yorkshire voice
🎶 Western and Indian classical music brought together
🇮🇳 Sections translated into Punjabi and Urdu
🥕 And the final act? Set down t’allotment, of course!

Under conductor Ben Crick, Mozart’s music has been reorchestrated for an ensemble of Western and Indian classical musicians, while singer, poet and lyricist Kauser Mukhtar has brought Punjabi and Urdu into the production.

It’s opera rooted in Bradford’s people, humour and multicultural heritage – while retaining the love, power, class and chaos at the heart of Mozart’s original.

📍 Bradford Arts Centre – 17 & 18 November
📍 Slung Low, Leeds – 20 November
📍 Skipton Town Hall – 21 November
📍 Wilton’s Music Hall, London – 23–25 November

Yorkshire opera is heading for world domination. Tha knows. 🎭🙌

Yorkshire Opera IndianClassicalMusic YorkshireCulture BradfordCulture Leeds Skipton LondonTheatre WiltonsMusicHall

09/09/2026

✨ HUGH BONNEVILLE IS COMING TO WHITBY! ✨

We’re thrilled to announce that Downton Abbey and Paddington star Hugh Bonneville is joining Whitby Lit Fest 2026 as a surprise headline guest! 📚🌊

This time, Hugh is taking to the stage in a different role – bestselling children’s author – introducing his latest adventure, Rory Sparkes and the Spy Who Loved Tea. 🕵️‍♂️☕️

Expect storytelling, spies, secret codes and some extremely suspicious cups of tea in a brilliant family event at Whitby Pavilion on Saturday 21 November at 1pm.

And Hugh joins an incredible four-day line-up including:

📚 John Boyne
🔎 Ann Cleeves
🍫 Joanne Harris
🍳 Si King
🎭 Greta Scacchi
🎶 Corinne Bailey Rae
🔪 Mark Billingham & Elly Griffiths
…and many more.

📅 19–22 November 2026
📍 Venues across Whitby
🎟️ Hugh Bonneville: £11 adults / £5 children

Four days of books, big ideas, brilliant conversations, workshops, family events and some of the biggest names in literature and entertainment – all in one of Yorkshire’s most atmospheric coastal towns.

Tickets are on sale now – book early!

Search Whitby Lit Fest for the full programme and tickets.

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13/08/2026

📚 Whitby Lit Fest is back – and the 2026 line-up is HUGE!

We’re incredibly proud to be working with Whitby Lit Fest as it returns for its second year, bringing more than 50 author events across four days to one of Britain’s most atmospheric literary towns. 🖤🌊

From 19–22 November, Whitby will welcome an extraordinary line-up including:

✨ John Boyne in conversation with Steph McGovern
🔎 Vera and Shetland creator Ann Cleeves
🍳 Hairy Biker Si King
📖 Joanne Harris
🔪 Crime-writing legend Mark Billingham
🎭 Actor Greta Scacchi
🎶 Grammy Award-winner Corinne Bailey Rae
📺 Dr Sian Williams, Louise Minchin and Alex Thomson
👻 Plus some of the country’s leading gothic, ghost story and folk-horror writers

There’ll also be poetry, live music, theatre, children’s events, creative writing workshops, publishing panels and masterclasses – all set against the ruined Abbey, cobbled streets and dramatic coastline that have made Whitby synonymous with storytelling. (Cause UK)

Following the sell-out success of the inaugural festival, it’s brilliant to see Whitby Lit Fest growing in ambition and establishing itself as a major fixture in the North’s cultural calendar.

At Cause and Effect, we love helping ambitious cultural events find their audience – and there aren’t many better stories to tell than world-class writers descending on the home of Dracula. 🧛📚

Tickets go on sale 31 August.

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13/08/2026

📚 Durham Book Festival is back – and what a line-up for 2026!

We’re delighted to be working once again with Durham Book Festival, helping tell the story of one of the North’s leading literary celebrations.

Taking place 9–11 October, this year’s festival brings together an incredible mix of writers, performers, broadcasters and thinkers – with stories forged in the North at its heart.

⭐ Pet Shop Boys’ Neil Tennant joins Durham University Chancellor Fiona Hill for an exclusive conversation exploring how the North East shaped his life and work.

⭐ Christopher Eccleston joins poet Jo Clement for a special live recording of the Working-Class Library podcast.

⭐ Acclaimed Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell author Susanna Clarke makes a rare public appearance to discuss her new Durham-inspired novella.

⭐ Bestseller Lucy Foley returns to Durham, with The Hunting Party chosen as this year’s Big Read – and 3,000 free copies heading into communities across the North East.

And that’s just the beginning, with Louise Doughty, Hollie McNish, James Marriott, Sarah Hall, Kayo Chingonyi and many more joining the programme. (Cause UK⁠)

We love working on festivals that put culture, creativity and brilliant storytelling firmly in the spotlight – particularly when they celebrate the extraordinary creative talent of the North.

Tickets are on sale now. 📖✨

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13/08/2026

🩰 Talent exists everywhere. Opportunity doesn’t.

We loved telling the story of 14-year-old Sunderland dancer Belle Collier, who is dancing towards her dreams thanks to a £500 creative bursary.

Belle received support through Culture Start Sunderland’s Ignite Bursary Programme, helping with the very real costs of pursuing her talent – from ballet shoes to lessons and exams.

And she’s certainly making the opportunity count. 🌟

Since receiving support, Belle has achieved:

✨ Pass with Merit in her ballet iPath exam
✨ Pass with Distinction in Musical Theatre
✨ Distinction in Singing
✨ Merits in Grade Four Ballet, Tap and Gold Modern
✨ A performance at Newcastle’s Theatre Royal – with a singing showcase to come this October

Belle is one of 138 young people supported through Ignite, with 172 bursaries worth £82,300 awarded to date. (Cause UK⁠)

As Sunderland Culture CEO Nick Malyan puts it: “Talent exists in every community, but opportunity does not.”

A brilliant example of how relatively small amounts of funding can make a huge difference to a young person’s confidence, ambition and future.

And we’re proud to help tell these important stories. 💛

ArtsAndCulture Dance Ballet SocialImpact PRWithPurpose Photo credit Asadour Guzelian

12/08/2026

At Cause, we've put a lot of work into supporting the Whitby Literature Festival programming team, Fiona Duncan and Adele Duffield, to pull together a stonking line-up.

We're excited to announce authors including John Boyne, Ann Cleeves, Si King, Sian Williams, Greta Scacchi, Peter Oborne, Steph McGovern, Elly Griffiths, Mark Billingham and more.

Alongside an eclectic programme that's a true reflection of the Gothic capital of the UK, There's gothic fiction, ghost stories and folk horror. And lots of books celebrating the coast. As well as poetry, children's authors, workshops, theatre...

We can't wait till November!

As festival Patron Kate Fenton says: "Four days crammed with gripping stories, sparky conversations and revealing interviews. Entertainment, inspiration, wit, wisdom - and fish and chips. What more could any book lover want?"

Tickets go on sale 31 August from the Whitby Lit Fest website. Check out the full press release here:

John Boyne, Ann Cleeves, Si King, Joanne Harris, Mark Billingham, Greta Scacchi, Corinne Bailey Rae and Dr Sian Williams are heading to Whitby The town that inspired Bram Stoker's Dracula and has fired the imaginations of generations of writers is preparing to welcome some of the biggest names in bo...

21/07/2026

Really pleased to support Ripon Museums launch their renovated Workhouse Museum with a packed media call yesterday.

Congrats to all the hard-working team – staff and volunteers – who have put their heart into this brilliant museum experience. Yorkshire grit, with gruel….Ripon Museum Trust

Highlights include:

- An almost full-page photo feature and review in today’s Guardian (page 3!), and Guardian online – so chuffed the Guardian came along to support the story.

- Olivia and BBC Look North who filmed fun scenes in the schoolroom, kitchens and yard – look out for her feature on today’s programme.

- Catherine Turnbull for her always thoughtful pieces – can’t wait to see her review in Yorkshire Living

- Andrew Palmer, who has written a remarkable and moving review of the workhouse experience for Yorkshire Times

- Gerard Binks for a photo essay for the Harrogate Advertiser

- Greatest Hits Radio for dashing down last minute to do short films and interviews

- Chris Lloyd of the Northern Echo for his in-depth interviews

- The Museums Association, who will run a feature in their next Journal.

Alongside the press who came in person – the story has been covered by Stray Ferret, Yorkshire Life magazine, and Mag North.

Also to come: a feature in this Saturday’s Yorkshire Post magazine; a Q&A with the museum director Alexa Vernon in Living North magazine; and this morning Alexa is on BBC Radio York.

Good job I had my porridge for breakfast yesterday!

Thanks to the amazing talents too of photographers, Lorne Campbell (photo below) and James Glossop.

The museum opens to the public today - do check it out!

Revamped Ripon attraction reopens as a more immersive experience telling ‘national story’ of poverty and welfare

20/07/2026

A brilliant project to be part of. 👏

Today, Cause & Effect PR delivered the media launch for the newly transformed Ripon Workhouse Museum, securing national, regional and local media coverage for this remarkable redevelopment.

Opening to the public on 21 July, the museum has undergone a £2.8 million transformation, creating an immersive visitor experience that brings to life the stories of Victorian poverty, justice and survival.

Visitors can step into the shoes of Victorian paupers, vagrants and workhouse children, discovering the powerful human stories behind one of Britain’s most fascinating historic buildings.

We’re proud to have supported the launch of a project that ensures these important stories continue to educate and inspire future generations.

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18/07/2026

Congratulations to who has raised £9,500 and counting for . His epic fundraising challenge started on 5 June. He finished running the full length of the UK from John O’Groats to Lands End today, 18 July. 874 miles in total. To donate go to Rafe’s bio. Thank you so much for your support.