Wild Seas, Wilder Cities Audiobook Showcase

Pens of the Earth are bringing their Wild Seas, Wilder Cities audiobook showcase to The Lens Studio at Portsmouth Guildhall on Monday 29 June. It's a night of performances and environmental talks built around the release of the audiobook Wild Seas, Wilder Cities, which celebrates local environmental initiatives and our connection to nature through stories, poetry and articles.

The project has a bit of history behind it. It first came out as a paperback in 2024, and the audiobook version was recorded throughout 2025 at Casemates studios in Hilsea, with funding from Portsmouth Creates. The showcase is the live companion to that recording, so you'll hear the work performed rather than just listening to it on your own.

There's a clear cause running through the whole thing: every penny from the night goes to the Solent Seagrass Restoration Project. Pens of the Earth have already raised £5,500 and are working towards a £10,000 target, so the ticket price goes straight to that.

It's open to a general adult and family audience, though anyone 14 and under needs to be accompanied by an adult over 18. Doors open at 18:00 and the evening starts at 18:30, with tickets at £6 from the Guildhall box office.