More than 300 science fiction fans will be heading for Coventry in England from 25 to 27 February 2011 for the Redemption science-fiction convention. Redemption has been running every other year since 1999 and is one of the longest running fan-run conventions in the UK.
There will be panels and debates on all areas of science fiction, including books, comics, TV and film. This will be a fannish event concentrating on activities that let people join in rather than just sit in an audience and listen. As at the previous Redemptions, games will form a major part of the convention. Role playing games and board games will feature alongside quizzes and competitions. Other events will include workshops, panels, debates, masquerade, drinking and so on, run by fans for fans.
Britannia Hotel
As with Redemption 09, Redemption 11 will be held at the Britannia Hotel on Fairfax Street in Coventry. This city centre hotel is opposite Coventry bus station and a short taxi ride away from the railway station. The hotel joins onto the famous Coventry Cathedral, a popular tourist attraction. In fact, the hotel’s restaurant opens out onto Cathedral Square.
Redemption Guests Of Honour
Though Redemption always has a small number of guests, the convention is not geared towards the guests but towards fan run activities. As such, guests are chosen that can fit in with such a programme and join in with panels and workshops. Though there is mostly an actor guest, this is not always the case. Writers, make-up artists, special effects people and others with an interesting story to tell or skills to share usually make up the bulk of the three or four guests invited each time.
The first guest announced announced for Redemption 11 is Doctor Who and Blake's 7 writer Ben Aaronovitch. There will be more guests and when they are announced this page will be updated.
History of Redemption
The first Redemption was held at Ashford in Kent in the last weekend of February 1999. Since then it has been held every two years. Redemptions 01 and 03 were also held in Ashford. Redemptions 05 and 07 were held in Hinckley, Leicestershire. Redemption 09 was the first to be held in Coventry, the venue for Redemption 11.
The early Redemptions were billed as joint Blake’s 7 and Babylon 5 conventions but always had a programme that was far more widespread than just the two shows. To reflect that, Redemption now bills itself as a multimedia science-fiction convention and has a programme that while biased to television science fiction covers the genre in all areas from books to comics and from games to films.
Redemption Charities
Any surplus funds at the end of each Redemption are given to charity. So far, each Redemption has supported equally the same two charities – Asthma UK and The Woodland Trust. The amount raised for these charities has grown with each convention and at the last one – Redemption 09 – a total of £4000 was raised and was split evenly between the two. Redemption 07 raised a total of £3400.
Steve Rogerson - Steve Rogerson is a UK-based writer specialising in television, technology, sports and beer.
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