Got an event you’d like to see listed on this page? Email all the details to sfx@futurenet.com, putting “SFX Events Calendar” in the subject line.
Until 14 April 2013
Where: Glasgow
What: Alien War 20th Anniversary Return
Terrifying HR Giger-inspired “virtual terror experience” Alien War, first held at The Arches (253 Argyle Street, G2 8DL) back in 1992, returns home with a re-designed show that takes account of the Alien franchise’s latest instalment, Prometheus.
Tickets: £9.50, group ticket (10 people) £8.50 per person (Open to children aged 8+; children under 14 must be accompanied by an adult)
Website: www.thearches.co.uk
Phone: 0141 565 1000
3 February
Where: London
What: The William Hartnell Years
Fantom Film’s second era-themed Doctor Who event of the year celebrates the First Doctor. Guests include companions William Russell, Carole Ann Ford and Peter Purves, plus director John Gorrie. It takes place at the George IV public house (185 Chiswick High Road, W4 2DR), from 11.15am.
Tickets: Adults £40, children £25.
Website: www.fantomfilms.co.uk
Twitter: @fantomfilms
5 February
Where: Edinburgh
What: Christopher Brookmyre signing
An ordinary guy finds himself inside the world of a computer game in Christopher Brookmyre’s new book Bedlam (released on 7 February). He’ll be signing copies at Waterstones’ Edinburgh West End branch (128 Princes Street. Edinburgh, EH2 4AD), from 6:00pm.
Tickets: £3.00.
Phone: 0131 226 2666
7 February
Where: London
What: Laura Lam signing
A runaway joins a magic circus in Pantomime, a new YA book by Laura Lam, released on 7 February. She’ll be signing copies at Forbidden Planet’s London Megastore (179 Shaftesbury Avenue, London, WC2H 8JR), from 6.00-7.00pm.
Website: http://forbiddenplanet.com
9-10 February
Where: London
What: London Anime Con
London Anime Con will be a bi-annual convention in 2013, with events in both February and July. What can you expect? Screenings, videogaming, an artists’ alley, a karaoke lounge, manga/cosplay workshops, bands/guests/singers and much more. Guests include voice actor Caitlin Glass. It all takes place at Rocket Complex (166-220 Holloway Road, N7 8DB).
Tickets: £10 per day on the door, but less if you book online in advance, with a two-day pass available for £15.
Website: www.londonanimecon.com
Email: info@animeleague.com
Phone: 07786 246 049
Twitter: @londonanimecon
11/24 February
Where: London/Leicester
What: Ain’t Afraid Of No Ghost
Can you guess what ‘80s movie this solo comedy show revolves around? Yep, you got it. Subtitled “One man vs the supernatural”, it’s the brainchild of standup Paul Gannon, whose life changed forever in 1984 when he saw Ghostbusters.
Dates:
11 February: Leicester Square Theatre.
24 February: Kayal, Leicester (153 Granby Street, LE1 6FE).
Tickets: £8.50 (Etc Theatre)/£7.00 (Leicester).
Twitter: @paulgannonshow
14-24 February
Where: Glasgow
What: The 2013 Glasgow Film Festival
Obviously, not everything at this event will concern SF and fantasy films, but there will be several strands of programming of particular interest to SFX readers. There’ll a Kapow! superhero strand curated by Mark Millar, and programming by the team from FrightFest, while gaming strand Game Cats Go Miaow! will include a panel of gaming experts reviewing Aliens: Colonial Marines in front of an audience.
Tickets: Until 6 January, early bird tickets are available at the following prices: 5 films for £30; 10 films for £50; 20 films for £90.
Website: www.glasgowfilm.org
15-17 February
Where: Birmingham
What: Eternal Twilight 9
This sparkly-vampire convention takes place at the Hilton Metropole, near the Birmingham NEC. The line-up of guests includes Casey LaBow (Kate), Rami Malek (Benjamin), Judi Shekoni (Zafrina), Patrick Brennan (Liam), Amadou Ly (Henri), and Bill Tangradi (Randall).
Tickets: Standard prices are £88 (adult) and £29 (child).
Website: http://massiveevents.co.uk
Email: info@showmastersonline.com
Phone: 01908 671 138
Twitter: @MassiveEvents
15-19 February
Where: Worcester
What: Evil Rising 2
“Something has been stirring deep within the bowels of the earth. Something truly evil..” in this interactive survival game for over-15s only, which lasts about two hours (with start times staggered between 7.00pm and 9.00pm). Taking place across various locations in Worcester, it involves making your way from checkpoint to checkpoint, chased by zombies, ghouls and ghosts.
Tickets: £20.
Website: www.evilrising.co.uk
Twitter: @EvilRising1
21-24 February
Where: Margate
What: GEEK (Game Expo East Kent)
Featuring over 150 types of videogame plus card games, pinball machines, cosplay and more, this festival’s focus is “meet-make-play” and it takes place at the seaside resort’s Winter Gardens (CT9 1HX).
Tickets: Standard adult day tickets are £14 but concessions, multi-day passes and group tickets are all available from the website.
Website: www.geek2013.co.uk
Email: HQ@geek2013.co.uk
22-24 February
Where: Coventry
What: Redemption 13
This multimedia convention takes-place at the Britannia Hotel, Coventry (Fairfax Street, CV1 5RP). Guests announced so far are Farscape star Virginia Hey and author/horror expert Kim Newman. As well as debates and discussions, there’ll be a pub quiz, a ceilidh, costuming and modelling workshops, fancy dress and cabaret.
Tickets: Adult tickets booked in advance are £70 (weekend)/£40 (one day); Under-18 prices are £20/£15. Under-threes go free.
Website: www.smof.com
Email: info@conventions.org.uk
1-3 March
Where: North Wales
What: Sci-Fi Weekender
Formerly the SFX Weekender, of course! The SFX team is no longer involved with organising the event and will not be in attendance, but we wish the rebranded Sci-Fi Weekender the best of British luck. This year’s Weekender is taking place at a new venue: the Hafan y Môr Holiday Park in North Wales. Guests confirmed so far include Game Of Thrones’ Richard Madden, Brian Blessed and Fifth Doctor Peter Davison. Craig Charles will be DJing again, and Robert Rankin will be hosting some panels.
Tickets: Ooh, that’s complicated! Go and have a gander here.
Twitter: @scifiweekender
2 March
Where: Nottingham
What: Black Library Live!
Immerse yourself in all things Warhammer in the fifth annual celebration of all things Black Library. Guests participating in seminars, signings and Q&A sessions will include Dan Abnett, Andy Smillie, and SFX-escapee Guy Haley.
Tickets: £15.
Website: www.blacklibrary.com
9 March
Where: Sheffield
What: Valiant 4
This Doctor Who event takes place at the Workstation (15 Paternoster Row, Sheffield, S1 2BX). Guests include Paddy Russell, whose Who directing credits include “Pyramids Of Mars”, and Gabriel Woolf, who voiced Sutekh in that story, plus ‘60s companion Anneke Wills and three-time guest star Peter Miles. The panels start at midday and finish at 6.00pm. Before that, there’ll be a free screening of ‘60s movie Dr Who & The Daleks at The Showroom, next door.
Tickets: Adults £40, children (under 14) £25.£25.
Website: www.fantomfilms.co.uk
29 March-1 April
Where: Bradford
What: EightSquaredCon
Celebrating all aspects of speculative fiction, the 64th Eastercon is taking place at the Cedar Court Hotel, Bradford (Mayo Avenue, Rooley Lane, BD5 8HW). The guests of honour are writers Walter Jon Williams, Freda Warrington and Edward James, and artist Anne Sudworth.
Website: www.eightsquaredcon.org
Email: info@eightsquaredcon.org
14 April
Where: London
What: The Peter Davison Years
Another cosy little Doctor Who event from Fantom Films, taking place at the George IV Public House (185 Chiswick High Road, W4 2DR) from 11.15am. Guests were yet to be announced at the time of writing.
Tickets: Adults £40, children £25.
Website: www.fantomfilms.co.uk
Twitter: @fantomfilms
3-5 May
Where: Birmingham
What: Dimension Jump XVII
Run by the Official Red Dwarf Fan Club, Dimension Jump is the only official event dedicated to the series. Craig Charles, Chris Barrie, Danny John-Jules and Robert Llewellyn will all be at the Holiday Inn in the city centre for a weekend of Dwarfy fun. Other guests (yet to be confirmed) will include members of the cast of Red Dwarf X.
Tickets: £80, or £65 for fan club members (kids five and under go free).
Email: info.tordfc@gmail.com
Twitter: @TORDFC
3-5 May
Where: Chipping Norton
What: Utopia
Taking place in the rather ground surroundings of Heythrop Park in Oxfordshire (OX7 5UE), this event celebrates Torchwood and The Sarah Jane Adventures as well as Doctor Who. The guest list includes companions Wendy Padbury (Zoe), Mark Strickson (Turlough) and Anneke Wills (Polly), plus three members of the cast of Tom Baker classic “The Robots Of Death”.
Tickets: Adults £80 (weekend)/£45; children £50/£30,
Website: www.fantomfilms.co.uk
9-11 August
Where: Derby
What: Fantastiq
This new fantasy, sci-fi and horror film and TV festival takes place at Derby QUAD (DE1 3AS), in the city centre. Their plans include a 50th anniversary celebration of Doctor Who, and screenings dedicated to horror legend Peter Cushing.
Website: www.fantastiq.co.uk
Twitter: @FantastiqFest
