NORTHERN Accent returns to Otley Courthouse this month for an interactive literary event featuring three acclaimed writers.

Writing with a Northern Voice, on Saturday, March 21, will be an evening of poetry and prose with John Godber, Helen Cross and Peter Sansom.

The writers will read from their work, talk about their relationship with the North of England and how it has shaped their careers, and take part in a question and answer session.

Courthouse centre manager Rachel Savage said: “We are really excited to be hosting this event.

“This performance is a real celebration of local writing and poetry and I really hope many people who may or may not be familiar with these writers will come along and hear their work.”

Born in Upton, John Godber is an internationally renowned dramatist known for his wry, observational comedies.

He has written more than 50 plays and has been estimated to be the third most performed playwright in the UK – behind only William Shakespeare and Alan Ayckbourn.

The winner of an Olivier Award for Up ‘n’ Under and the recipient of seven Los Angeles Critics’ Choice Awards, he has become one of the UK’s most respected writers, with his plays Bouncers and Teechers both being included in the National Curriculum.

He also has extensive experience in writing and directing for TV and film, with his credits including Brookside, Grange Hill and his show Odd Squad, which won two BAFTAs.

Helen Cross, meanwhile, is an esteemed author of novels and screenplays. Her books are all set in Yorkshire and take influence from the landscape in which she grew up.

Her first novel, My Summer of Love, won the Betty Trask Award in 2002 and has been made into a critically acclaimed and BAFTA Award-winning film with Emily Blunt.

She is currently working on the film adaptation of her most recent novel, Spilt Milk, Black Coffee.

Poet Peter Sansom’s books include On the Pennine Way and Everything You’ve Heard is True – a Poetry Book Society recommendation.

His poems have been commissioned by The Guardian, The Observer and Radio Three. He is the director of The Poetry Business, a poetry publisher and writer development agency in Sheffield, and editor of The North magazine.

Presented by the Small Venues Network as part of the Northern Accent tour, Writing with a Northern Voice starts at 7.30pm and costs £9 or £7 in advance, or £10 or £8 on the door.

For tickets or more details visit otleycourthouse.org.uk, call (01943) 467466, or pop into the Courthouse on Courthouse Street.