The team behind the relaunched Caption Comic Festival, have announced the venue for this year’s much-anticipated event, taking place 16th – 17th August 2025 is Seacourt Hall, a community centre based in West Oxford.
“We’re happy to be able to support the local neighbourhood with Caption,” say the Caption 2025 Organising Committee, comprising Amy Letts, Andy Luke, Vickie Bernard, Emily Brady, Matt Chambers and Baz Renshaw, who continue to pull together their schedule of panels, which currently include…
Broken Frontier’s Six To Watch
Hosted by Broken Frontier’s own Andy Oliver, on stage will be: Cara Brown (creator of Everything’s Fine), Mike Armstrong (Rose Thornhill and the Troll Bridge), Dominique Duong (The Dog & The Cat), and Shane Melisse (They’re Coming Down The Stairs).
The Long And Short Of It
A panel discussing the creation of long and short form comics with guests Beck Kubrick (Dead Girls), Paul Rainey (There’s No Time Like The Present) and Lucy Sullivan (Barking), hosted by Barry Renshaw (Engine Comics).
True Tales – The Stories We Tell
An exploration of autobiographical comics with creators Chris Shepherd (Anfield Road); Lucy Sullivan; Cara Brown and Zara Slattery (Coma) published by Myriad Editions. The panel will be hosted by Barry Renshaw (Engine Comics).
More panelists to be added in the coming months.
Portfolio Reviews Planned
This year’s Caption is taking an educational direction by giving attendees opportunities to speak directly to established creators for guidance and advice on their own projects. They are looking to highlight the way established creators can help up and coming creators, whether in a practical way like storytelling or printing, to more promotional activities with marketing, exhibiting at conventions, and dealing with social media. So for Caption 2025 – Rebirth, alongside the panels mentioned above and valuable networking opportunities with other creators, the team are introducing a limited number portfolio reviews with their volunteer guests.
“These will be 20 minute slots throughout the day, with one on one discussions with established creators who have been exactly where you are and have continued to succeed in their own unique ways,” it’s explained. “The review is informal, without promise of employment, nor bias or agenda – we’re there to help in whatever ways you’re looking for.
“To that end, they are free with a valid ticket for the festival. This is an unique opportunity to spend quality time with professionals. We expect these portfolio reviews to go quickly, so creators can go to https://caption.sumupstore.com/page/portfolio-review-info to find out how they can register their interest when they buy a ticket, with their contact details, preferred professional and a brief paragraph of what type of advice or help they’re looking for.
“We will be welcoming more reviewers to the list closer to the event. One of those is publisher and editor Shane Chebsey of Scratch Comics, home of hit titles such as Hedrek, Dracula The Return, Fully Loaded and Claudia Christian’s Dark Legacies. Shane has been a champion and activist for independent and small press comics for over thirty years in publishing, distribution, and as an organiser of multiple events.”
The other professionals volunteering their time include Lucy Sullivan, Andy Oliver (Saturday only), Beck Kubrick (Dead Girls), Chris Shepherd and Dominique Duong (Saturday only).
To express your interest in a portfolio review or if attendees already have a ticket, then email Caption at captionfest@gmail.com with your ticket reference number, contact details, preferred professional in order of preference and a brief paragraph of what type of advice or help you’re looking for.
• Caption Comic Festival, Saturday 16th – Sunday 17th August 2025 at Seacourt Hall, 3 Church Way, Botley, Oxford OX2 9TH | For more further information go to https://captionfestival.co.uk/about/ or contact them directly at captionfest@gmail.com | Buy Tickets/ Merchandise
As per usual accompanied children under 16 get into Caption free. The team can reserve parking on site for attendees with disabilities and ask that if you need this to please get in touch. “For those who need to bring a primary carer along, the carer gets in free. Seacourt Hall is all one level with accessible toilets and changing rooms for parents with young ones. If you have any special requirement the committee would love to hear from you as soon as possible as to how we can help out.”
British Comics Weirdest Festival?
Caption, an independent comics festival, was born from the Oxford Student Union body and became the longest running UK comics festival from 1992 – 2017 before its hiatus. With its focus on Independent and Small Press, it was instrumental in encouraging many creators starting out, big or small. A goldmine for finding fresh talent and rare publications, including zines and handmade comic books, you could discover unique personal projects by obscure, unsung artists or accidentally bump into your comic heroes.
Unlike commercial comics conventions, Caption has always been non-profit. Its sales table is run by the organizers, allowing creators to roam free and mingle with fans in a relaxed, non-pressured environment. Without barriers, everyone got involved in talks and workshops, naturally networking, swapping tips and making friends with people with a shared interest in comics. 2025 is the year of its return.
The Caption 2025 Organising Committee are Amy Letts, Andy Luke, Vickie Bernard, Emily Brady, Matt Chambers and Baz Renshaw.
• Caption Comic Festival, Saturday 16th – Sunday 17th August 2025 at Seacourt Hall, 3 Church Way, Botley, Oxford OX2 9TH | For more further information go to https://captionfestival.co.uk/about/ or contact them directly at captionfest@gmail.com | Buy Tickets/ Merchandise
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John is the founder of downthetubes, launched in 1998. He is a comics and magazine editor, writer, and Press Officer for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He also runs Crucible Comic Press.
Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine and Overkill for Marvel UK, Babylon 5 Magazine, Star Trek Magazine, and its successor, Star Trek Explorer, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics; and has edited several comic collections and graphic novels, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”, and Hancock: The Lad Himself, by Stephen Walsh and Keith Page.
He’s the writer of comics such as Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs”, with Dave Hailwood.
Categories: British Comics, Comic Art, Comics, Creating Comics, downthetubes Comics News, downthetubes News, Events
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