The Festival of Brilliant 2026 Programme
The Festival of Brilliant is a celebration of children’s books in Biddulph. It takes place on 10th & 11th July 2026 at Biddulph Old Hall. Find out more about the festival here. And check out the programme of brilliant authors, illustrators, poets and performers below – more to be announced in the coming months!
What’s on: Friday 10th July 2026 – for schools (years 3&4) & community groups
Bethan Woollvin
Bethan Woollvin is the author and illustrator of Macmillan Children’s Book Prize-winning Little Red, which was chosen as one of The New York Times Best Illustrated Children’s Books 2016. She graduated with a first class honours degree in Illustration at Cambridge School of Art, and she now lives in Sheffield.
Jenny McLachlan
Jenny McLachlan is the acclaimed author of many books for children and teenagers, including the best selling Land of Roar series. Before becoming an author Jenny was an English teacher, but she now spends her time living by the seaside with her family, writing and drawing, and daydreaming on the South Downs with her dog, Maggie.
Lisette Auton
Lisette Auton delivers a fast-paced, interactive session filled with guessing games, silliness and audience participation. Expect playful moments like “What would you keep in your magic beard?” alongside a round of Miniature or Real featuring Snods Edge and Wallish Walls. Blending fun with insight, Lisette explores creativity and the importance of representation across her books, with a particular focus on her latest title, The Starlight Rebel. The session also includes a quick-fire, ridiculously fun worldbuilding workshop, where participants use just paper, pencils and their imagination to create an entire story through map-making. Suitable for all ages and their grown-ups.
Dr Sheila Kanani MBE
Dr Sheila Kanani MBE is a planetary scientist, EDI consultant, space educator and author, with a background in astrophysics and astronomy research from UK universities. She regularly acts as a science ambassador, visiting schools and speaking at events, and is an advocate for diversity in physics and astronomy. Sheila runs her company Her Place For Space from home, and enjoys walking on her local beach with her family of boys, playing sports, gazing at the stars, reading and eating (preferably reading whilst eating!).
The Magic Lantern
The Festival of Brilliant welcomes back The Magic Lantern; a curious contraption that travels the land with its crew of storytellers, musicians and puppeteers – telling and collecting stories, lighting up woodlands, bringing laughter to doorsteps and creating Magic wherever it goes. Join storyteller Ian Douglas and puppeteer Jo Douglas for wild words and wonderment.
Noisy Noise Noise – Working Boys Club
Noisy Noise Noise is an interactive sound library for noisy children and their grown-ups. With the help of hundreds of very noisy kids, Working Boys Club made this fun, interactive installation to make sure that everyone is seen and heard. There are over 90 books, each of which will, when pressed with a gentle finger, trigger a noise. It could be a song, a film clip, a meme or just something a bit rude and funny! Noisy Noise Noise is produced by Activate Performing Arts, producers of Inside Out Dorset, and was created with funding from BCP Cultural Hub.
What’s on : Saturday 11th July 2026 – for children of all ages and their families
Joseph Coelho
Joseph Coelho (OBE) is an award-winning performance poet, playwright and children’s author who served as the Waterstones Children’s Laureate (2022–2024). Known for his work in diversifying bookshelves and championing public libraries, he has written popular titles like Luna Loves…, Fairy Tales Gone Bad, If All The World Were, and the CLiPPA-shortlisted collection of poems, Overheard in a Tower Block.
Bethan Woollvin
Bethan Woollvin is the author and illustrator of Macmillan Children’s Book Prize-winning Little Red, which was chosen as one of The New York Times Best Illustrated Children’s Books 2016. She graduated with a first class honours degree in Illustration at Cambridge School of Art, and she now lives in Sheffield.
Chris Haughton
Chris Haughton is an acclaimed Irish illustrator and author based in London. Chris’s debut book A Bit Lost was first published in Korean. It has been translated into more than 30 languages and has won 10 awards in 8 countries. His other picture books include Oh No George, Goodnight Everyone, Maybe and SHH! We Have a Plan for which he won, among other prizes, the Ezra Jack Keats Award and the Irish Book Award. His most recent book The History of Information takes readers on a journey through the evolution of knowledge, communication, and information, it is Chris’s first Non-fiction book.
Jenny McLachlan
Jenny McLachlan is the acclaimed author of many books for children and teenagers, including the best selling Land of Roar series. Before becoming an author Jenny was an English teacher, but she now spends her time living by the seaside with her family, writing and drawing, and daydreaming on the South Downs with her dog, Maggie.
Marc Jackson
Join cartoonist Marc Jackson (BEANO, The Phoenix, Hey Kids Comics and GOOF) as he teaches you all about his favourite thing to make, COMICS!! You’ll learn the basics, and a little more, about comics themselves and how to create funny characters to go inside them. All skill levels are welcome.
Matt Buckingham
Join author and illustrator Matt Buckingham for a gentle story session with a drawing activity where the audience helps create characters in a collaborative workshop. Matt is the co-owner of Muddy Publishing, based in Stoke, who have a stall in the Marvellous Makers area of the festival.
Charlotte Rowley
Charlotte is a headteacher at a primary school with a passion for writing. She loves poetry in particular and will be sharing her love for rhyme, as well as her published work with us at The Festival of Brilliant. Join her for a fun poetry workshop and discover your love for writing!
Kieran Larwood
Calling all Dungeon Runners! There’s a space for a new team of heroes – this is your chance to enter the leagues and fight your way to the top! Join award winning author Kieran Larwood for this a-maze-ing, puzzle-solving event! Put your skills to the test, create your own characters and embark on an adventure, as you find out whether you have what it takes to become a Dungeon Runner…
Lisette Auton
Lisette Auton delivers a fast-paced, interactive session filled with guessing games, silliness and audience participation. Expect playful moments like “What would you keep in your magic beard?” alongside a round of Miniature or Real featuring Snods Edge and Wallish Walls. Blending fun with insight, Lisette explores creativity and the importance of representation across her books, with a particular focus on her latest title, The Starlight Rebel. The session also includes a quick-fire, ridiculously fun worldbuilding workshop, where participants use just paper, pencils and their imagination to create an entire story through map-making. Suitable for all ages and their grown-ups.
E.L. Norry
Join E L Norry on the adventure of a lifetime with Robyn, Will and Scarlet, three unlikely school friends who learn they can take on the world when they stick together. Discover the inspiration behind Emma’s incredible books, discover your own creativity and learn how every one of us has a story inside. Emma Norry is a thrilling talent, who, having been through the care system herself, brings Own Voices heart and authenticity to this extraordinary adventure.
The Magic Lantern
The Festival of Brilliant welcomes back The Magic Lantern; a curious contraption that travels the land with its crew of storytellers, musicians and puppeteers – telling and collecting stories, lighting up woodlands, bringing laughter to doorsteps and creating Magic wherever it goes. Join storyteller Ian Douglas and puppeteer Jo Douglas for wild words and wonderment.
Noisy Noise Noise – Working Boys Club
Noisy Noise Noise is an interactive sound library for noisy children and their grown-ups. With the help of hundreds of very noisy kids, Working Boys Club made this fun, interactive installation to make sure that everyone is seen and heard. There are over 90 books, each of which will, when pressed with a gentle finger, trigger a noise. It could be a song, a film clip, a meme or just something a bit rude and funny! Noisy Noise Noise is produced by Activate Performing Arts, producers of Inside Out Dorset, and was created with funding from BCP Cultural Hub.
BOOKBOOSTER FACTORY
Cat and Mouse Theatre, stars of Glastonbury Festival and The Eden Project Present: BOOKBOOSTER FACTORY.
Everyone joins in as American director Marty Beilsperg and master raconteur Charles Bexley Heath create a high-energy “Greatest Hits” of children’s literature. Watch as icons like Frodo, Alice, and The Gruffalo find themselves trapped in all the wrong stories in this unpredictable literary mash-up. Immersive theatre at its best.
Gabriella Gay
Join poet Gabriella Gay in the Garden of Dreams for a fun and friendly drop-in workshop. Explore the magical grounds, sit and daydream, and give poetry writing a try. All ages and skill levels welcome.