gill adams’ contract with the bbc ended in the same month. the blokes, however, had achieved a level of self-determination and success and decided to continue. they applied for and were awarded city arts funding which enabled them to take part in humber mouth, the annual hull literature festival. their first ‘independent’ show was counter act, an evening of eight short plays performed at the dorchester hotel, hull, on 13 november 2003. the group has continued, in subsequent years, to make regular contributions to humber mouth.