The Lakes International Comic Art Festival’s Opening Night is always a spirited bit of fun – and this year’s, taking place Friday 26th September at The Old Laundry in Bowness-on-Windermere, will be no different, as assorted comic creators take a swipe at world events!

Donald Trump’s first few months in office have served to confirm many people’s worst fears. In the months and years to come, literally anything could happen. But at a time when increasing numbers of US political cartoonists are being censored or sacked for the mildest criticism of the President, how do you fight back?

Well, in partnership with the National Cartoonists’ Society of America, LICAF plan to find some of the answers, with the help of the world’s very best cartoonists in a game of two halves.

The You Couldn’t Make It Up! Opening Night event takes the form of a quick live draw extravangaza, MCed by Bill (Futurama, The Simpsons) Morrison, of the National Cartoonists’ Society of America, and featuring guests from Iceland, the UK, Finland, Morocco and more.

Cartoonist Martin Rowson then bowls in, with his completely new show, “Trumped”, drawing on insights from his 40 years in frontline journalism and the thousands of cartoons about British, US and global politics he’s produced for Byline Times and The Guardian, and almost every other publication you can think of. 

He tells us he’s hellbent on having a lot of desperately needed fun, too.

Expect cartoons. Expect jokes. Expect radical analysis, some ranting… And many startling insights! And, apparently, you can probably expect food-based action painting, too. (Wait, whjat?)

The evening ends with LICAF’s Awards Ceremony, featuring the Sergio Aragones International Award for Excellence in Comic Art.

• You Couldn’t Make It Up! 7.30pm Friday 26 September 2025, The Old Laundry Theatre, Bowness-on-Windermere | Tickets available here from TryBooking

Presented in association with the NCS