Telling Tales, the first family literary festival at Shakespeare’s Globe,
celebrates storytelling with award-winning authors and illustrators.
Monday 13 June 2016
An award-winning literary line-up will gather at Shakespeare’s Globe from 29-31 July for
Telling Tales, Globe Education’s first literary festival for families, to celebrate the art
and excitement of storytelling. Authors and illustrators including the current and former
children’s laureates Chris Riddell, Malorie Blackman, Anthony Browne and Michael
Morpurgo will lead a host of talks, interactive storytelling, workshops in illustration and
creative writing, book signings and Q & A’s. Telling Tales is presented in partnership with
Walker Books UK, Tales on Moon Lane and Great Little Trading Co.
Patrick Spottiswoode, Director Globe Education, said: “We’ve had a stunning response
from this country’s leading children’s authors who are as excited as we are about our first
ever family literary festival. I hope this becomes an annual event which introduces children to
Shakespeare’s stories and to living authors and storytellers who, like Shakespeare, will ‘on
our imaginary forces work’ ”.
Opening the festival on Friday 29 July is BOY. WIZARD. HERO with Fleurble Laffalot, an
interactive event from Bloomsbury celebrating the magical world of Harry Potter. Anthony
Browne will present a special interactive event around his latest picture book Willy’s
Stories, celebrating Shakespeare’s best-loved plays. Continuing the Shakespearian theme,
illustrator and author Marcia Williams will host a storytelling event, retelling Macbeth with
help from the audience, and author and storyteller Vivian French will explore the way
Shakespeare reused stories and invented words, to create a brand new story. Storyteller
Saul Jaffee presents Pyramus and Thisbe, a retelling of Ovid’s classic tale, with musician
Ansuman Biswas. Finally, Sarah Crossan will be in conversation with Damian Kelleher
on literary heroes, inspiration, research and her latest young adult novel, One.
On Saturday 30 July, the festival continues with David Almond’s How Do We Find
Stories?, in which the award-winning novelist shares his writing process. Illustrator Marcia
Williams returns with an interactive event, Mr William Shakespeare’s Plays. Next, storyteller
Giles Abbott presents a riotous storymaking workshop, using Shakespeare’s greatest
works as a springboard, and especially created for visually impaired children. Piers
Torday will discuss the true story behind his award-winning trilogy The Last Wild.
Also on Saturday, Shakespeare Untold’s The Pie Maker’s Tale, a retelling of Titus
Andronicus through the eyes of the Pie Maker, will play in the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse,
after an acclaimed UK Tour. Next, Judith Kerr will be in conversation with Erica Wagner
on the subject of her new book Mister Cleghorn’s Seal. Drawing the day’s activities to a
close, Malorie Blackman will discuss her latest novel Chasing the Stars, which takes its
inspiration from Shakespeare’s Othello.
On Sunday 31 July, Children’s Laureate Chris Riddell presents an illustrated talk, Drawing
Shakespeare’s Bottom, looking at his relationship with Shakespeare right back to his first
encounters at school. Chris Riddell returns in the afternoon in conversation with writer
Nicky Singer to discuss how they transformed Island from a play at the National Theatre to
a children’s book. Nicky Singer will also present a creative writing workshop, encouraging
participants to develop their own storytelling. Marcia Williams returns to present an
interactive Comic Strip Workshop on A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Also taking inspiration
from A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Petr Horáček presents a workshop, at the end of which
children can take home their very own picture book. Closing the festival, Michael Morpurgo
will be in conversation with Emma Rice on his latest book Such Stuff: A Story-maker’s
Inspiration, revealing how his stories begin.
Throughout the weekend, the Globe Storytellers will also be running workshops recreating
Shakespeare’s plays for children of all ages. They will also run play workshops, inviting
families to discover the enduring appeal of Shakespeare’s words and stories for themselves.
Tickets are priced individually for each event, with a discount for multiple bookings, and can
be purchased from Shakespeare’s Globe box office at shakespearesglobe.com or on +44 (0)
20 7401 9919.
ENDS
EDITORS’ NOTES
For more information please contact Press & PR Office Globe Education on 02079021468,
or Jo Philpotts on [email protected].
Judith Kerr is best known for When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit, The Tiger Who Came to Tea
and the Mog series. Judith received an OBE for services to literature and Holocaust
education in 2012. In December 2015 Mog’s Christmas Calamity, published in association
with Sainsbury’s, raised over one million pounds for Save the Children’s literacy campaign.
Erica Wagner is a critic and author, and former literary editor of The Times.
Chris Riddell is a prolific writer and illustrator for both children and adults and the current
Children’s Laureate. He has won the prestigious Kate Greenaway Medal twice, and is
nominated in the 2016 award for The Sleeper and the Spindle, written by Neil Gaiman. Nicky
Singer’s first children’s novel Feather Boy was adapted for TV, winning a BAFTA for Best
Children’s Drama. In 2012, her play Island premiered at the National Theatre, and in 2015 it
was published as a novel with illustrations by Chris Riddell.
Michael Morpurgo is a best-selling children’s author who was appointed Children’s Laureate
in 2003, a post he helped to set up with his friend Ted Hughes in 1999. The theatrical
production of his novel War Horse opened at the National Theatre in 2007 and continued
until May 2016. A film adaptation directed by Steven Spielberg followed in 2012. Emma Rice
is Artistic Director of Shakespeare’s Globe and previously worked with Michael on 946, the
stage adaptation of his book The Amazing Story of Adolphus Tipps. 946 will run at the Globe
from 11 August, as part of Emma’s inaugural Wonder Season.
Malorie Blackman was awarded an OBE for services to children’s literature in 2008 and was
Children’s Laureate from 2013-2015. The success of Noughts & Crosses led to three further
novels, a novella, a graphic novel edition and an RSC adaptation for stage. Her latest novel,
Chasing the Stars, was released in April 2016.
Anthony Browne is a former Children’s Laureate. His latest book Willy’s Stories is
nominated for the 2016 Kate Greenaway Medal, an award he has won twice previously. He
was the first British illustrator to win the Hans Christian Andersen Award since 1956 when he
was awarded the prestigious accolade in 2000.
David Almond’s many award-winning novels for children include Skellig and Kit’s
Wilderness, and in 2011 he received the Hans Christian Andersen Award.
Celebrated young adult author Sarah Crossan’s latest book, One, won the Children’s
Choice Award and the YA Book Prize, and has been shortlisted for the CILIP Carnegie
Medal. Damian Kelleher is an author, journalist and editor, creative director of The Reading
Agency’s Summer Reading Challenge, and former editor of the Young Telegraph.
Writer and illustrator Marcia Williams has created over thirty children’s books, and is
particularly well known for her comic-strip retellings of classics, including the bestselling
Bravo, Mr William Shakespeare!
Piers Torday’s first book for children was The Last Wild, which was shortlisted for the
Waterstones Children’s Book Award. Its sequel The Dark Wild won the Guardian Children’s
Fiction Prize.
Acclaimed author Vivian French has written more than 250 books, including the recent and
critically acclaimed picture book The Most Wonderful Thing in the World.
Petr Horáček’s many children’s books include A Greedy Goat and Suzy Goose. He was
shortlisted for the Kate Greenaway Medal in 2012.
The award-winning Giles Abbott is the UK’s only blind professional storyteller, and is
Storyteller in Residence for the Last Tuesday Society.
Saul Jaffee is a professional storyteller, whose one-man show Merrick, The Elephant Man
won critical acclaim at the Edinburgh Festival and in New York. Ansuman Biswas is a
musician with an international, inter-disciplinary practice who has toured with Bjork and been
a soloist with the London Symphony Orchestra.
FULL LISTINGS
Friday 29 July
Sam Wanamaker Playhouse
12 – 1
BOY. WIZARD. HERO
£8
2–3
The Tempest with Globe Storytellers
£7
4–5
Pyramus and Thisbe: Star-Cross’d Lovers with Saul Jaffé and Ansuman Biswas.
£7
6–7
Sarah Crossan in conversation with Damian Kelleher
£8
Nancy Knowles Lecture Theatre
1.30 – 2.30
Anthony Browne: Willy’s Stories
£6
3–4
Marcia Williams: Bravo, Mr William Shakespeare!
£6
4.30 – 5.30
The Merchant of Venice with Globe Storytellers
£6
Watkins Rehearsal Room
12.45 – 1.45
The Tempest for 4-8 year olds
£10 (Adult goes free)
2.15 – 3.15
Vivian French: Working with Words
£10 (Adult goes free)
3.45 – 4.45
The Tempest for 9 – 12 year olds
£10 (Adult goes free)
Saturday 30 July
Sam Wanamaker Playhouse
12 – 1
David Almond: How Do We Find Stories?
£8
2–3
Macbeth with Globe Storytellers
£7
4–5
Shakespeare Untold: Titus Andronicus
£7
6–7
Malorie Blackman: Reimagining Shakespeare
£8
Nancy Knowles Lecture Theatre
1.30 – 2.30
Marcia Williams: Mr William Shakespeare’s Plays
£6
2.30 – 3.30
Piers Torday: The Last Wild
£6
4.30 – 5.30
Judith Kerr: In Conversation with Erica Wagner
£6
Watkins Rehearsal Studio
12.45 – 1.45
Macbeth for 4 – 8 year olds
£10 (Adult goes free)
2.15 – 3.15
Giles Abbott
£6
3.45 – 4.45
Macbeth for 9 – 12 year olds
£10 (Adult goes free)
Sunday 31 July
Sam Wanamaker Playhouse
12 – 1
Chris Riddell: Drawing Shakespeare’s Bottom
£8
2–3
A Midsummer Night’s Dream with Globe Storytellers
£7
4–5
Shakespeare Untold: Titus Andronicus
£7
6–7
Michael Morpurgo in conversation with Emma Rice
£8
Nancy Knowles Lecture Theatre
1.30 – 2.30
Marcia Williams: Comic Strips – A Midsummer Night’s Dream
£6
3–4
Nicky Singer and Chris Riddell: Island – An Arctic Adventure
£6
4.30 – 5.30
The Merchant of Venice with Globe Storytellers
£6
Watkins Rehearsal Room
12.30 – 1.30
Nicky Singer: Creative Writing
£10 (Adult goes free)
2.15 – 3.15
Petr Horáček: Illustration – Picture Books
£10 (Adult goes free)
3.45 – 4.45
A Midsummer Night’s Dream for 9 – 12 year olds.
£10 (Adult goes free)
Tickets can be purchased through Shakespeare’s Globe box office.
Phone
+44 (0) 20 7401 9919
In person
Mon-Sat 10am-6pm (8pm on performance days)
Sundays
10am-5pm (7pm on performance days)
Online
www.shakespearesglobe.com
Walker Books UK
Home to books for all ages, Walker Books UK publishes many award-winning authors,
illustrators and brands including Anthony Horowitz, Cassandra Clare, Lucy Cousins, Anthony
Browne, Polly Dunbar, Patrick Ness and Where’s Wally? Walker Books UK is part of the
vibrant international Walker Books Group that includes Candlewick Press in America,
Walker Books Australia, the Walker Group Licencing division, and Walker Productions,
developing Walker content for other media platforms, including Hank Zipzer for BBC. The
Walker Books Group enjoys a unique ownership structure which includes all of its
employees worldwide and more than 150 authors and illustrators. Walker is the world’s
leading wholly independent publisher of English-language children’s books.
Further information can be found at www.walker.co.uk
Tales on Moon Lane
Tales on Moon Lane is an award-winning children's bookshop in Herne Hill. This familycentred bookshop has children at the heart of everything they do. As an independent
bookshop they go the extra mile to give better service.
Great Little Trading Co
Great Little Trading Co is an award-winning British business which designs and makes a
unique collection of high-quality products that young families really need. Our modern British
furniture and room accessories create the perfect spaces for children to grow, play, learn and
sleep. Our co-ordinating designs and colours make decorating simple. We make parents’
lives easier with smart storage that helps organise, stack and store children’s toys, clothes
and books. And we make childhood more fun with award-winning wooden toys that
encourage imagination, play and development. We make furniture that adapts and grows to
suit the changing needs of your family. Our products look good in every room and are made
to outlast children's early years to be useful and beautiful long after they’ve flown the nest.
Everything we make, makes a happy home.
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The Sam Wanamaker Playhouse: The candlelit Jacobean theatre at Shakespeare's
Globe opened in January 2014. The Playhouse hosts concerts and other events
throughout the summer season. Its main indoor theatre season runs from October to
April.
Globe Education: One of the largest arts education departments in the UK; each year,
over 100,000 people of all ages and nationalities participate in its public events,
workshops and courses. Globe Education also runs extensive outreach programmes for
students and teachers in the Southwark community, nationally and internationally.
Globe Exhibition & Tour: Open to the public all year round, the Globe Exhibition and
Tour explores the life of Shakespeare, the London where he lived, and the theatre for
which he wrote.
Globe On Tour: The Globe’s productions tour extensively in the UK and internationally.
Tours for the 2016 season include: The Two Gentlemen of Verona, The Flying Lovers of
Vitebsk and The Merchant of Venice.
Globe Player: A brand new online platform offering full-length HD films of over 50
Shakespeare productions at the Globe to rent or buy.
Globe On Screen: Shakespeare's Globe on Screen returns to cinemas in 2016, bringing
highlights from the 2015 theatre season to cinemas worldwide. Globe on Screen 2016
will feature The Merchant of Venice, Richard II and Measure for Measure, all captured in
'live' high definition. For more information contact [email protected]
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Globe Shop: Stocks a variety of products, including theatre season-specific
merchandise. All profits go towards supporting our educational mission.
The Swan Bar and Restaurant and the Foyer Café Bar: Open all year round, for
reservations and more information please call 020 7928 9444 or visit loveswan.co.uk
The Shakespeare Globe Trust: Registered UK charity No. 266916. Shakespeare’s
Globe receives no regular public subsidy.