WELCOME FROM OUTSIDE
Sarah Bird, Creative Director of Outside
Welcome to the very first Festival of Brilliant! Books and stories have the power to change the world - a core belief that’s brought together a group of local librarians, teachers, authors and readers in order to create a festival celebrating everything that is brilliant about children’s books. Inspired by the fabulous podcast The Island of Brilliant, we want to bring some of its magic to the Staffordshire Moorlands, to share a passion and enthusiasm for books that contain the power to inspire children, enchant them - and forever become a piece of their heart. We’d love you to immerse yourselves in a world of stories, meet some brilliant authors and explore our beautiful site, itself fit for the pages of a fairy tale. We hope that you’ll leave the festival inspiredperhaps you’ll join the Summer Reading Challenge, or even start writing your own adventures. Have a brilliant time!
WELCOME FROM BIDDULPH OLD HALL
Brian Vowles, Owner of Biddulph Old Hall
Welcome to Biddulph Old Hall, which is steeped in ….……………………………….a history that stretches back to the Norman Conquest. Originally the home of the Biddulph ………………………………….family, the site contains a small stone Medieval …………………………………hunting lodge, the ruins of a great Elizabethan mansion built between 1530 and 1580 slighted in the English Civil War and surviving Elizabethan grounds. In 1862 it was purchased by James Bateman, who installed his youngest son Robert as the owner. Robert was a Pre-Raphaelite artist and painted most of his best-known works in the house. He also created the original Victorian gardens that have been recreated over the last 20 years. During the 1960s the Hall was a Buddhist meditation centre and ran retreats and teaching courses. Over the last 20 years the Hall and Gardens have been restored by me, Brian Vowles, my late partner Nigel Daly and his brother David. Please enjoy the wonderful atmosphere and presence of this exceptional piece of our local history.
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. The island’s resident band, the incomparable Ukulele Uff Trio, will be on hand to offer a tuneful serenade or two, and 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… 8+
11:30 BSL INTERPRETED
STEVEN LENTON
Author/illustrator and all round marvel Steven …………………………………………..Lenton will be swimming to shore on The Island of Brilliant to chat …………………………………………..books and provide much-needed snacks. Creator of the Genie and Teeny series, he has illustrated many books, including an adaptation of The Hundred and One Dalmatians. 11:30 BSL INTERPRETED
FRANK
COTTRELL BOYCE
…………………………………………..The Festival of Brilliant can’t believe its luck. Frank Cottrell Boyce (a.k.a. …………………………………………..tireless champion of children’s literature, topnotch writer of much-vaunted and much-loved books and screenplays, hammock-swinger extraordinaire) will grace our stage to talk about 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.
8+ 14:30 BSL INTERPRETED
NADIA SHIREEN
Writer and illustrator Nadia …………………………………………..Shireen is the magnificent talent behind some of the most exciting, …………………………………………..energetic and …………………………………………..certainly funniest books 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.
5+ 13:00 BSL INTERPRETED
THE UKULELE UFF TRIO
FRONTLINEDANCE
Join The Island of Brilliant’s resident band, the Ukulele Uff …………………………………………..Trio, for a tuneful serenade or two. The band is made up 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. Formed in 2014, they have been invited to perform and headline at some of the largest Ukulele and folk festivals across Europe.
ALL AGES
15:15
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 bicycleobsessed 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. 5+
10:00 & 16:00 BSL INTERPRETED
…………………………………………..Join the FRONTLINEdance Explorers Team on their multi-sensory, wondrous adventure, …………………………………………..where you get to help bring stories, with dance, colour, sound and teamwork!
This fully inclusive contemporary dance performance and participatory show is relaxed, accessible and fun!
ALL AGES
17:30 BSL INTERPRETED
DAWN JUTTON AND TRINITY DAVIES
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. Dawn, along with Trinity Davies, the Young Poet Laureate for Staffordshire, will share the influence of this early reading on their lives in a specially commissioned poem for The Festival of Brilliant.
09:45
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.
8+ 10:45
JAMES CAMPBELL
…………………………………………..A live comedy show from James Campbell 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.
6+
12:15 & 16:45
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!
4+ 13:45
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!
7+ 15:15
RUTH HEARSON
Ruth often …………………………………………..describes her job as “drawing baby toes” as she’s spent much of the …………………………………………..last 25 years illustrating books for the youngest of readers. She’s currently working on the 11th book in the incredibly successful ‘Zeki’ series, with 3 books reaching the shortlists for the BookTrust StoryTime Prize and the IBC Baby and Toddler Award. You are invited to take a peek inside her portfolio, paintbox and pencil case as she shares the process of creating illustrations for a picture book.
5+
10:45
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!
5+
13:45 & 16:45 BSL INTERPRETED
JENNIFER COLLIER
MARC JACKSON COMICS
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.
6+
15:15
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!) Jenni works from an old pottery factory in Stoke on Trent and can’t seem to write a book without a ghost in it.
8+
12:15
See a fantastical lighting installation created by Paper Artist
Jennifer Collier in the hall tower, which will also include light shade panels made by library users at Biddulph Library as a celebration event at the start of their 'Summer Reading Challenge'. The artwork has been created from end of life books and recycled papers to truly highlight the magic and wonder of reading
and books.
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.
ALL AGES
10:45, 13:45, 16:45
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 on a mission to protect literature – sadly, their strange little book club is down to its last four members 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! These hardback heroes can’t let such a tragic epilogue come to pass: they need help.
ALL AGES
12:15 & 15:15
THE 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! Wild Rumpus deepen nature connectedness through a programme of projects including festivals, large-scale events, creative interventions, meaningful partnerships and sector development work.
ALL AGES
All-day drop in
GABRIELLA GAY –LOST HAIKU
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.
ALL AGES
13:45
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.
ALL AGES
All-day drop in
JEAN ATKIN
FOR GENTLE PROGRAMMING
JULIE MOSS STORYTELLING
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!
ALL AGES 11:30
THE READING FAIRY
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.
ALL AGES
16:00
MATT BUCKINGHAM
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. Reading Fairy is divided into four stages linked to age and development.
EARLY YEARS AND UP 13:45 & 14:30
STAFFORDSHIRE MOORLANDS FAMILY HUB
Matt Buckingham …………………………………………..is an author and illustrator whose books include the best-selling picture book series Bright …………………………………………..Stanley, Nobody Laughs at a Lion!, The Not So
Abominable Snowman, and Peek-a-boo Penguins. Join Matt for a gentle story session with a drawing activity where the audience helps create characters in a collaborative workshop. Matt is the coowner of Muddy Publishing, based in Stoke, who have a stall in the Marvellous Makers area of the festival.
EARLY YEARS AND UP 13:00
………………………………………….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.
………………………………………….EARLY YEARS AND UP 13:45 & 14:30
THE STAFFORDSHIRE LIBRARIES AND ARTS TEAM
Come and find ………………………………………….representatives from Biddulph, Leek and Cheadle libraries where ………………………………………….you will be able to sign-up for this year’s Summer Reading Challenge, Marvellous Makers, as well as join in with story sessions, take part in lots of lovely crafting and try on some book character hats!
PARTNERS IN CREATIVE LEARNING
Have a go at achieving an Arts ………………………………………….Award for Families ‘Discover ’ by taking park in Partners in ………………………………………….Creative Learning (PiCL)’s festival activity. Also, joining the PiCL team will be artist, Jennifer Collier, offering a fabulous free art activity making a beautiful Paper Watering Can created from end of life books and recycled papers inspired by Biddulph Old Halls beautiful gardens. PiCL design and deliver creative learning projects in schools, communities, classrooms, public spaces, community venues, pop-up shops and online.
STALLS
Lovely Little Sparrow
Wreaths by Jane
Wanda Coyne Collection
STALLS
Art by Rose Muddy Publishing
FOOD VENDORS
Hyacinth Ice Cream Van
Jacob Pizza
Shakes on The Rocks
Ginger Cat Coffee
Bakingat17
Howe and Co Fish and Chips
STALLS How Brave Is The Wren Marc Makes Comics The Reading Fairy
13
WHAT’S ON: FRIDAY 12TH AT THE FESTIVAL OF BRILLIANT
Free programming for Schools and Community Groups
CHRISTOPHER EDGE
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
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.
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
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.
RUTH HEARSON
You’re invited to take a peek inside Biddulph based ……………………….Children’s book illustrator Ruth Hearson’s 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.
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.
TIT FOR TAT: BOOKS!
Join cartoonist Marc Jackson (Beano, The Phoenix, Hey Kids Comics and GOOF) as he ……………………….teaches you about his favourite thing to make: COMICS!
BOOKS! is a high energy show ……………………….featuring acrobatics, firejuggling, eccentric absurdity, terrible puns and books.
THE SITE
………………………………Biddulph Old Hall and gardens is a beautiful site made up of mainly grass areas with some gentle slopes, ………………………………paving and gravel pathways.
………………………………You can see a video of the terrain and area by scanning this QR code
TOILETS
There is an accessible toilet located close to the entrance. There will be signage on toilet doors encouraging people to only use them if they need access facilities.
There is an Accessoloo changing places unit on site.
Inside Accessoloo there is: full-sized changing table, toilet, ceiling tracking hoist.
For more information please email hello@outsidearts.org or come to the information tent.
PROGRAMMING
Where BSL is provided you will see “BSL” next to the programme description, much of the programming on The Brilliant Stage has an interpreter
FRONTLINEdance - This fully inclusive contemporary dance performance and participatory show is relaxed, accessible and fun, also BSL interpreted.
QUIET TIME
In need of a rest? Head to “The Secret Garden”, a tent of gentle programming, or find a shady spot in the beautiful hall gardens.
OUTSIDE are committed to removing barriers.
We have a flexible approach and are interested in hearing your ideas. If you want to chat about what would help you to get the most out of the experience please feel free to contact us.
In advance of the festival, please email hello@outsidearts.org.
If you are at the festival, please head to the information tent and we would be happy to talk about your experience.
We want to work out the best version of “The Festival of Brilliant” with you. Please come and talk to us – we are listening.
ADDRESS
Biddulph Old Hall
Biddulph
Stoke-on-Trent
ST8 7SQ
TRAVEL
Parking is available at Biddulph Old Hall at a cost of £5 per car. Please car share where possible.
Tickets to be purchased along with festival tickets or can be purchased separately at a later date via the ticket link. The main entrance track to Biddulph Old Hall is on Overton Road and will be clearly signposted.
A free local festival bus service will be in operation in the surrounding area, and a timetable and route plan will be shared with ticket holders closer to the event.
It is possible for anyone attending the festival to use the off-road path to access the event. This runs from alongside the Talbot Pub and will be clearly marked and marshalled on the day.
TICKETS
Tickets for Saturday cost £5 per person (free for children under 3) for the whole day.
For all tickets and more information about Friday and Saturday programming, go to outsidearts.org
If you are not able to book online, we can support with ticket booking: contact hello@outsidearts.org
DOGS
No dogs (other than assistance dogs) will be permitted on site for the duration of the festival.
PHOTOGRAPHY & FILMING
You are welcome to take photographs and videos of the festival site and programmed events for personal use.
Photography and videography by OUTSIDE will be taking place during the event.
By booking tickets, ticket holders consent to being photographed/filmed to promote OUTSIDE and its projects.
With thanks to…
