Phantoms at the Phil
About this Event
Thursday 25th June | 7pm
Join Phantoms regulars, Sean O'Brien and Gail-Nina Anderson, with special guest Kris Johnson, for an evening of spooky tales, perfect for midsummer.
After a brief residence elsewhere, Phantoms returned in January 2026 to its spiritual home at the Lit and Phil, where it began in 2004. On this occasion as always, there will be three new stories with a supernatural disposition, read by Gail-Nina Anderson, Sean O’Brien and our special guest Kris Johnson. Our twice-yearly Phantoms evenings in January and June have featured many distinguished visitors, including David Almond, Val McDermid, Anne Cleeves, Manya Wilkinson and Lesley Glaister, all of whom have successfully haunted the ghost-friendly chambers of the Lit and Phil. If you’re looking for a bit of eerie disquiet, you’ve come to the right place.
Gail-Nina Anderson
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Gail-Nina Anderson is a cultural historian, lecturer, journalist and short story writer. Her specialisms include Cinema, the Visual Traditions of The Gothic, and Victorian Art and Culture. Gail-Nina is a popular and frequent lecturer at the Lit&Phil, and lives in Newcastle.
Kris Johnson
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Kris Johnson, originally from America’s Washington state, moved to the UK in 2007 and now lives in York. She received her MA and PhD in Creative Writing from Newcastle University. Her first book-length poetry collection, Ghost River, was published by Bloodaxe in 2023 and was longlisted for The Laurel Prize.
Sean O’Brien
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Sean O’Brien’s twelfth collection of poems, The Bonfire Party, was published by Picador in January of this year. His work has won many awards, including the T.S. Eliot and Forward prizes. His third book of short stories, The Long Glass, was published by Postbox in 2025. He is Emeritus Professor of Creative Writing at Newcastle University and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature.
A LIVE Lit & Phil Event | £5 or £3 concession
(If you would prefer to book directly over the phone, please call the Library Desk team on 0191 232 0192 and they will be happy to help)
Where is it happening?
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
GBP 3.96 to GBP 6.13
