Big-name authors to feature at Worcester literary festival (From Worcester News)

Big-name authors to feature at Worcester literary festival

7:40pm Thursday 27th September 2012 in News By Sarah Davies

TOP authors are set to visit Worcester next month when the city hosts one of the country’s largest children’s literary festivals.

About 2,000 children from schools across Herefordshire and Worcestershire have been invited to take part in the University of Worcester ’s Beeline Storytelling Festival for Children, which will feature authors Jacqueline Wilson and Michael Rosen.

Primary schools from across the two counties will enjoy watching lively and interactive storytelling performances from theatre groups and famous children’s authors during the festival, from October 3 to 27.

Liz Pichon, one of the UK’s rising stars in children’s literature and author of the Tom Gates book series, will be kick-starting the festival at the Hive.

A blend of dance, music, puppetry and projections will be used to engage children with poetry and stories from across the world.

The festival will see the official opening of the children’s library at the Hive by former children’s laureate Michael Rosen at 6pm on Wednesday, October 17. The author of children’s classics such as Going on a Bear Hunt will be holding storytelling sessions as well as signing books.

Dame Jacqueline Wilson, known for her Tracy Beaker series, will appear at the festival on Saturday, October 6, at 2pm at Huntingdon Hall, where she will be launching her latest book in the Hetty Feather series and taking part in three storytelling sessions. She has offered to sign books for every child who attends.

Tickets cost £5.50 and can be bought from the Hive café and from the Worcester Live Box Office.

For the whole festival programme, visit worcester.ac.uk/beeline