Ed Vere will be at the Ironbridge Pop Up Festival of Stories on 19th April.
When: 19th April 2014, 11am – 5pm
Where: Enginuity and Coalbrookdale Museum of Iron, Ironbridge Gorge, Shropshire
£: Free
What is it?
A free Pop Up Festival of Stories will be celebrating children’s literature at Enginuity and Coalbrookdale Museum of Iron in Shropshire’s Ironbridge Gorge on Easter Saturday. Children’s writers, illustrators, poets and storytellers will be entertaining and inspiring families during a day of free events, activities and art workshops.
This children’s literature festival with a twist, brings children and families together to enjoy and participate in stories by creating a magical event where play, experiment, creativity and collaboration are celebrated. Children and families can expect to see fantasy author Sarwat Chadda’s interpretations of classic myths, told through roaming performances and monster puppets inspired by Marvel Comics; and novelist Julia Golding’s Arthurian Pavilion, featuring medieval game shows, knights, minstrels and the legendary Round Table. Illustrator Jane Ray’s giant toy theatre will be telling tales of mermaids, firebirds and flying horses, which children will help bring to life on the day.
Other highlights include Mr Big illustrator Ed Vere’s 50s era jazz joint with a cabaret line-up, wacky cocktails and compulsory dressing-up; Katie’s Picture Show creator James Mayhew’s pop-up art gallery, where giant art-works by classic artists come to life, and Illustrator Thomas Docherty’s enormous mobile installation of an enchanted city.
During the day visitors can also enjoy visiting Coalbrookdale Museum of Iron, the Darby Houses and Enginuity, all of which will be open free of charge on the day. Visitors are advised to park at the Ironbridge Park and Ride, a short distance away at the top of Jiggers Bank.
The Ironbridge Gorge pop up is preceded by an extensive outreach programme including 20 days of author workshops in Shropshire Schools and high-profile author events at venues in Telford and Ironbridge. Local children will then have a stake in the festival and encourage their friends and families to come to Ironbridge Gorge on 19th April; helping to build a diverse and loyal audience. At the heart of Pop Up’s work is the conviction that by facilitating pleasurable encounters with authors and their stories, they can ignite imaginations, inspire future readers and writers, and build more literate communities.
This is the first in a three-festival tour, and will be followed by similar events at High House Production Park in Essex on 3rd May and at Swiss Cottage in London on 12th and 13th July. Each Pop Up Festival offers over 100 hours of free events, enriched by a Royal Opera House team creating sets, costumes and other design elements to enhance the commissions.
More info: pop-up.org.uk and www.ironbridge.org.uk