The children’s programme has always been an integral part of Marlborough LitFest, but the past two years have, according to the Institute of Government & Public Policy, ‘been the most disrupted years for children for nearly a century’. Promoting the joy of reading and literature to young people has perhaps never been more important than it is now.
As well as the public, ticketed events taking place during the festival weekend, the LitFest also gives local primary schools the opportunity to bring pupils along to free author events and the annual primary schools competition is running as usual. Here is a little more about what Marlborough LitFest 2021 has in store for youngsters:
Free Events for Schools
Every year, LitFest is proud to offer free events with popular authors for invited local primary schools. Since its launch in 2010 the festival has reached more than 3,500 local children with these author talks. This year, Tom Palmer, award-winning author of D-Day Dog and After The War, will be sharing valuable tips for research, planning, writing and editing, as well as introducing his new book Arctic Star to children in Marlborough Town Hall. Natasha Farrant, author of The Children of Castle Rock, will be talking to local primary schoolchildren from Pewsey and the surrounding area about her latest book The Voyage of the Sparrowhawk – a thrilling adventure story that follows an epic and perilous voyage from England to France in the aftermath of WWI.
Ticketed Children’s Author Events
Join Emma Carroll, renowned as the Queen of Historical Fiction and award- winning author of Letters from the Lighthouse and Secrets of a Sun King, as she shares tips for writing and introduces her enthralling new historical adventure, The Week at World’s End. Inspired by her mum’s account of living through the terrifying days of the Cuban Missile Crisis in the 1960s, Carroll’s hotly anticipated new thriller explores life under the threat of war. Suitable for 9+ years old.
Marlborough Town Hall, Saturday 2 October, 2pm, £5
Bestselling children’s author and illustrator, Eileen Browne, has written and illustrated many books for children including Handa’s Surprise and Handa’s Hen, both of which have been translated into over 20 languages. She is a local author who champions female representation and diversity in children’s picture books. Bring your little ones along for a fun-filled hour with Eileen to hear animal sounds from Eileen’s latest book, Handa’s Noisy Night, find out where Handa lives, do some drawing and take part in some music and movement activities.
The White Horse Bookshop, Saturday 2 October, 10.30am, £5, Free for under 5s
Sixth Form Debate
“All that glisters is not gold: Is there still a place for Shakespeare in a 21st-century curriculum?” Sixth formers from St John’s Academy will battle it out in front of a public audience – prepare to have your views challenged!
Marlborough Town Hall, Thursday 30 September ,4.00pm-5.30pm, Live event, tickets required but free event
Reaching Out
The LitFest has always been about encouraging reading and writing for everyone in Marlborough and beyond, whether or not they are regular festival goers. All local primary schools have been invited to enter our annual competition – this year’s is ‘Create a Mini-Book’. Pupils have been shown how to create a mini-book using just one A3 piece of paper and invited to fill the book entirely with their own content; there are six winners’ prizes of £25 book tokens kindly donated by Haine & Smith Opticians to spend in the festival bookshop in Marlborough, The White Horse Bookshop.
Festival programmes are available from The White Horse Bookshop or to view online. The box office opens on 2nd September, for more info: marlboroughlitfest.org
Marlborough LitFest’s children’s events are kindly sponsored by St Francis School, marlborough.news and Hamilton Trust. Prizes for our children’s competition are donated by Haine & Smith Opticians.