The Festival of Brilliant 2024 Programme

The Festival of Brilliant is a celebration of children’s books in Biddulph. It takes place on 12th & 13th July 2024 at Biddulph Old Hall. Find out more about the festival here. And check out the programme of brilliant authors, illustrators and artists below!

View The Festival of Brilliant 2024 Programme flipbook HERE.

What’s on : Friday 12th July 2024

Christopher Edge

Dare you visit the Black Hole Cinema Club? Warning: have your popcorn at the ready before you get swept INTO the movie marathon of a lifetime… It’s time to find out if you save the day before the end credits roll! The fate of the world depends on it. Join author and director Christopher Edge as you navigate prehistoric monsters, lost cities, super spies and impossible missions, and discover if you have what it takes to be the hero of your own film.

James Campbell

A live comedy show from James Campbell for children age 6-11 that’s perfect for anyone who wants to swap being an Eco Worrier for being an Eco Warrior. Based around his latest book Don’t Panic! We CAN Save The Planet is a unique eco comedy stand up show in which children’s comedian and author James Campbell inspires children to do something about the climate crisis, pollution and ducks with swords.

Jenni Spangler

Where do writers get their ideas? Are some people born talented? What if people  don’t like my work? Join author and illustrator Jenni Spangler for this interactive session as we explore what it means to be creative, and answer some important questions like ‘how long does it take to write a book?’ (ages) and ‘what does history smell like?’ (terrible!)

Kate Slater

Find out how illustrator Kate Slater makes her characterful wildlife illustrations using all sorts of paper scraps in this interactive session full of your favourite creatures! Collage your own beautiful bird to take home.

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.

Rashmi Sirdeshpande

Discover how fascinating factual books can be in this uplifting and interactive talk based on How To Be Extraordinary  and How To Change The World  by Rashmi Sirdeshpande and Annabel Tempest. Learn about real-life heroes and world-changers. Think about what it means to be extraordinary and what makes every single one of us amazing. And explore the power and magic of teamwork and activism and the huge difference we can make when we work together.

Ruth Hearson

Biddulph based children’s book Illustrator Ruth Hearson is over the moon about being involved in The Festival of Brilliant where you’re invited to take a peek inside her portfolio, paintbox and pencil case as she shares the process of creating illustrations for a picture book.

Samantha Baines

Meet Samantha Baines, comedian author of Harriet Versus the Galaxy and The Night the Moon Went Out! and find out about being an author, wearing a hearing aid and writing your own jokes in this interactive talk. Samantha will also give her top tips for creating new alien worlds like Planet Rombadibumbum, where aliens have two bottoms and Planet Tea, a place where biscuit loving aliens sail their teacups across the tea sea! Create your own planet and the aliens that live there, in this fun, arty workshop.

The Magic Lantern

The Festival of Brilliant welcomes 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 a weekend of wild words and wonderment.

Tit for Tat : BOOKS!

BOOKS! is a high energy show featuring acrobatics, fire-juggling, eccentric absurdity, terrible puns and, of course, books. Presented by four bedraggled book enthusiasts, traveling from town to town – forced between the margins – on a mission to protect literature. Sadly, their strange little book club is down to its last four members (largely due to their dangerously immersive reading habits) and it is vital for them to recruit more radical reading enthusiasts to support their wordy worthy cause. Without new members, the book club might close for good! Libraries, along with their precious volumes, may disappear forever! (You may take a moment to gasp in horror). These hardback heroes can’t let such a tragic epilogue come to pass. But they need help.

What’s on : Saturday 13th July 2024

View The Festival of Brilliant 2024 Programme flipbook HERE.

The Island of Brilliant

For the past year, Nadia Shireen and Frank Cottrell Boyce have been marooned on The Island of Brilliant, unable to leave before they’ve finished reading the enormous piles of children’s books stacked up on the beach. Now, though, they’ve discovered that the island has a secret anchor tethering it to the sea bed, so they’ve cut adrift and will be washing-up at The Festival of Brilliant for a live recording of the popular podcast they’ve been making each month to pass the time. Followers of the podcast will know that they’ve been buoyed up by occasional visitors from the world of children’s books, and this time is no exception – author/illustrator and all round marvel Steven Lenton will be swimming to shore to chat books and provide much-needed snacks. Meanwhile the island’s resident band, the incomparable Ukulele Uff Trio, will be on hand to offer a tuneful serenade or two.

Frank Cottrell Boyce – the new Children’s Laureate

The Festival of Brilliant can’t believe its luck. Frank Cottrell Boyce (a.k.a. tireless champion of children’s literature, top-notch writer of much-vaunted and much-loved books and screenplays, hammock-swinger extraordinaire) will grace our stage to talk about his his latest book The Wonder Brothers and the podcast that’s been such an inspiration to the festival itself. Expect nothing less than magic from one of this country’s very finest of fellows.

Nadia Shireen

Writer and illustrator Nadia Shireen is the magnificent talent behind some of the most exciting, energetic and certainly funniest books being published for any age today. Her Grimwood series is brilliantly bonkers, and her picture books (including Barbara Throws A Wobbler and Geoffrey Gets the Jitters) are as gorgeous as they are affecting. Of late she’s been sharing an island with Frank Cottrell Boyce but will make the most of a brief respite ashore to thrill the daylights out of The Festival of Brilliant audience.

Steven Lenton

Steven Lenton is a multi award winning author/illustrator and the creator of the Genie and Teeny series. He has illustrated many books, including an adaptation of The Hundred and One Dalmatians and Octopus Shocktopus by Peter Bently, Shifty McGifty and Slippery Sam series by Tracey Corderoy and Dino Dad by CBeebies star Andy Day.

The Ukulele Uff Trio

The Ukulele Uff Trio is comprised of Chris ‘Ukulele’ Uff on ukulele, Pete Price on guitar and ‘Brother’ Bill Leach on Hawaiian guitar. They specialise in obscure and wonderful 1920s/30s jazz, Tin Pan Alley songs and traditional Hawaiian music, performed with a skill and authenticity that is rare today.

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!

Christopher Edge

David Gibb

Join author and songwriter David Gibb for a musical adventure. He’ll be sharing his hilarious songs and stories including his most recent book Two Wheels, a warm and heartfelt story of a little boy with a bicycle-obsessed dad learning to ride a bike of his very own. He’ll also be discussing his most recent musical for families and children Luna Loves Loves Library Day adapted in collaboration with Children’s Laureate Joseph Coelho.

Dawn Jutton

Staffordshire Poet Laureate Dawn Jutton doesn’t remember a time when she was not reading; her childhood was peppered with stories of friendship, mysteries and adventure. She will share the influence of this early reading on her life in a specially commissioned poem for The Festival of Brilliant.

Ella Kasperowicz

Ella Kasperowicz is the illustrator of the hilarious book A Stinky History of Toilets. You sit on it every day, but how much do you really know about your toilet? Discover the history of pooping and peeing in this frankly disgusting non-fiction book as Ella shows you how she went about creating her stinky illustrations!

Ed Vere

One growing elephant. One smallish lifeboat. One BIG dream… Join award-winning author-illustrator, Ed Vere, for a salty story time session celebrating his brand new picture book, The Elephant and the Sea – a lyrical tale celebrating big elephants in small boats, large waves… and big pinches of bravery and determination. Ed will be bringing his crayons and will show you how to draw Gabriel. You can join in with Ed and see how easy it is to draw a seafaring elephant!

FRONTLINEdance

Join the FRONTLINEdance Explorers Team on their multi-sensory, wondrous adventure, where you get to help bring to life two stories, with dance, colour, sound and teamwork! This fully inclusive contemporary dance performance and participatory show is relaxed, accessible and fun!

Gabriella Gay – Lost Haiku

I’m writing Haiku
Leaving them out in public
Share if you find one

Have you ever found a Haiku poem lost in the wild?   Would you like to release a Haiku for someone else to find? Hanging from a branch, tied to a window frame, hiding under a rock – find these thoughtful poems lost in unexpected places. Stop to read them, take a snap, Will you find them all?  Join writer Gabriella  Gay to create your very own poem and hide a Lost Haiku for someone else to find.  

James Campbell

Jean Atkin

Jean Atkin has worked as a poet in education and community since 2010, making poetry with people of all ages and backgrounds, and in many different places, including museums, schools and healthcare settings -  and also outdoors in woodlands, hillsides and botanic gardens.  At The Festival of Brilliant Jean will be offering Poetry on Demand – a poem provided just for you on request!

Jenni Spangler

Julie Moss

Julie Moss is an emerging storyteller from the Staffordshire Moorlands. Telling folk tales from around the world, children and adults will get lost in the mischief and wonder of story.  Expect ear worms, exploding monsters and a good Jack story. Join storyteller, Julie Moss, for mischievous tales, silly stories and maybe a few wise words. 

Marc Jackson

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.

Ruth Hearson

Biddulph based children’s book illustrator Ruth Hearson is over the moon about being involved in The Festival of Brilliant where you’re invited to take a peek inside her portfolio, paintbox and pencil case as she shares the process of creating illustrations for a picture book.

The Magic Lantern

Tit for Tat : BOOKS!

Wild Rumpus : The Brilliant Neverending Story

We’re writing the longest, most wondrous tale together at The Festival of Brilliant this summer. We challenge our whole audience to add a line. We’re expecting our story to be full of courage, brave hearts, bright eyes, wondrous creatures, dastardly villains, and every other outpouring of our collective imagination. Stake your claim on our very own neverending story!

Staffordshire Libraries

Staffordshire Libraries and Arts Team are thrilled to be part of The Festival of Brilliant. Representatives will be around from Biddulph, Leek and Cheadle libraries. Come and find us in the Marvellous Makers tent where you will be able to:

Sign-up for this year’s Summer Reading Challenge – Marvellous Makers.
 Join in with a story session
 Design your own crown and be part of Biddulph Old Hall Royalty
 Design your own book character mask
Help us to decorate our very own cardboard Biddulph Old Hall  
Try on some book character hats and take a photograph in our photo frame
Find out what’s happening at your local library

Staffordshire Moorlands Family Hub

Join the Family Hub team in the Secret Garden tent for a magical storytelling session for younger ones and their families. The Staffordshire Moorlands Family Hub is a virtual space where you can find a wide range of support and services for children, young people and families.

Reading Fairy

Created by early reading experts, Reading Fairy classes for babies, toddlers and pre-school children lay the foundation for learning to read and loving books for life. At The Festival of Brilliant they will be showcasing an Alphabet Reading Fairy session for Story Stars – any age is welcome to join at this occasion.

Biddulph Old Hall History Walk 

Enjoy a tour of the Hall and learn about the history of the buildings, the ruins, and the occupants of the house. You will also hear the exciting story of Robert Bateman and the love of his life Caroline Howard, intertwined with Nigel and Brian’s journey in restoring the Hall. The tour lasts around an hour and a half. 

And… Character Costume walkabouts!

View The Festival of Brilliant 2024 Programme flipbook HERE.