Create, Inspire, Imagine at the Isle of Wight Story Festival

Now over three days, the Isle of Wight Story Festival, at Newport's Quay Arts, lets you get lost in stories of all kinds, with authors, poets, actors, illustrators and spoken word artists.

For 2023, guests will enjoy a diverse programme of events with something for everyone — including hands-on activities, talks, storytelling and performances.

IW Story Festival aims to let children and their families create; whether through stories and poems, junk modelling or other crafts; to have fun together and discover new talents.

SIMON FARNABY
SATURDAY 18TH 3.30PM £6
Join Simon Farnaby, as he talks about his The Wizard in my Shed series. Simon Farnaby has written and starred in some of the UK's best-loved family TV such as Horrible Histories, and Ghosts, and films such as Paddington and Paddington 2.The Wizard in My Shed was his first children's book. This series is a hilariously silly, heartfelt adventure with a historical twist, which sees Merdyn the Wild, the world’s greatest Warlock, meet Rose, his twenty-first-century descendent, a totally ordinary girl and her guinea pig Bubbles. In this event, Simon will be sharing some of his script-writing tales and doing a dramatic reading from his latest book, The Warrior in My Wardrobe as well as answering your burning questions!

CERRIE BURNELL
SATURDAY 18TH 1PM
Cerrie Burnell is an author, actor and ambassador. During her time on CBeebies she broke down barriers, challenged stereotypes and overcame discrimination to become one of the most visible presenters on children's TV. Cerrie is the author of thirteen children's books including her first non-fiction title, the award-winning I Am Not a Label; Snowflakes, which she adapted for the stage; as well as the Harper series, which was selected for a World Book Day title.
Session information: 
• A magical introduction to Wilder than Midnight by Cerrie Burnell
• An exploration of fairy tales and reworking them for modern and personal narratives 
• Create your own fairy-tale retelling (interactive activity) 
• Cerrie shares personal stories about growing up and her inspirations 
• Ask Cerrie your burning questions.

JAMIE LITTLER
SATURDAY 18TH 2.30PM
Jamie Littler is an award- winning author/illustrator and creator of the series ‘Frostheart’. He’s worked on many books by brilliant authors, including Danny Wallace and Georgia Pritchett (both of which were nominated for the Laugh Out Loud Book Awards), Phil Earle and Enid Blyton. Frostheart is Jamie’s first foray as an author. It was one of the biggest selling debuts of 2019 and was shortlisted for the Branford Boase Award in 2020. Join Jamie as he delves into how he made his best-selling Frostheart series – from early inspirations to how he writes and draws the books themselves! Grab your pens for a how-to-draw draw- along of a Frostheart character and fire up your imaginations as we create a brand new character together!

GARETH PETER
SATURDAY 18TH 12.15PM
Gareth Peter is an author and stay-at- home dad, living in Nottingham with his partner, two huskies and their two adopted children. In 2018 Gareth was selected as one of ten exceptional finalists onto the Penguin Random House WriteNow mentoring scheme, seeking new voices from under-represented communities. His experience as a parent within a same-sex couple brings a fresh, funny and sensitive perspective to parenting and family life. Gareth will be reading from his published books, My Daddies, Forever Star and Who Will You Meet on Santa Claus Street?, and talking about his writing journey, family and books. A fun and interactive session for all those that love stories.

KIERAN LARWOOD
FRIDAY 17TH 10.30PM
Kieran Larwood is the author of middle grade children's book series The Five Realms and Carnival Of The Lost (Faber). He worked as a Reception class teacher for fifteen years, and now writes full time. He won the 2011 Times Children's Fiction competition with his debut novel, and the 2017 Blue Peter Book Award for Podkin One-Ear, his second book. Kieran’s new book, The Treekeepers is based in Arborven, a city surrounding an extraordinary tree that gives all those living there special powers. When Liska discovers that the tree is under threat, it is her duty to act. So with Lug, whose power over earthworms is dismissed as useless, and a ghost-girl, Elowen, she goes on an epic journey to defeat the worst threat their world has ever known.

NEW FOR 2023
Thursday is aimed at age 12+ and has a very different feel to the rest of the event.
Peta Rainford, author and one of the festival organising group said: “IW Story Festival on Thursday isn’t just for young people who like books. There are plenty of ways to tell a story and we’ve got sessions on everything from songwriting and drama to special effects make-up and cartoons. But there will plenty for people who like books too!”
Here’s some of what to expect on Thursday:

DUNGEONS & DRAGONS WORKSHOP
Ever wondered how to play Dungeons and Dragons? Why not try one of the Story Festival’s introductory sessions.

MAKING WORDS WITH ADAM GATERELL
Adam Gaterell is a high energy performance poet of 20+ years experience, performing regularly at the Isle of Wight Festival, Bestival and other festivals and venues around the country. He also runs comedy nights, does wedding ceremonies and coaches young people in spoken-word/poetry projects. He also facilitates comic book, spaceship and monster making workshops. Plus he is occasionally quite funny too. Adam will take a group of young people on a journey through a workshop where everyone will create a new word and then a short piece of poetry surrounding it.

HORRIFIC MAKEUP EFFECTS BY MASTER OF DISGUISE
Do you want to look your worst, frighten your friends or look less like the living? This hands-on introductory course will help you grasp how to produce some quick and effective special effects techniques (and try them out on yourselves too!)
Makeup and tools are provided for the session. Please bring an old top to wear as fake blood will stain clothing.
Attendees should check they do not have allergies to using latex or body paints (or feel free to bring a victim to work on instead). Robin is the founder of 'Master of Disguise' and also started the Isle of Wight Cosplayers group.

AUTHOR TALK: HEXED AND TWICE HEXED BY JULIA TUFFS
Jessie Jones has just discovered she's a witch, but she still has to deal with the patriarchy. After a summer of surfing, sunbathing and fine-tuning her new witchy skills, Jessie starts Year 11 feeling hopeful. She feels like her life-ducks are finally in a row - and at school, she has her sisterhood of Summer, Libby and Tabitha supporting her. Callum Henderson and his toxic masculinity minions have eased off enough for it the girls to feel like they can breathe again, so this year should be a breeze, right? Julia Tuffs is an ex Islander and the book is based on the Island. It deals with some taboo subjects like periods and bullying.

HOW COMICS ARE CREATED BY RUSSELL SHEATH
Russell is a comic book writer and content creator who has worked for some of the most recognisable names in comics and media, including Image Comics, IDW, Titan, Commando and Mark Millar’s ‘Millarworld’.

Peta Rainford, author and one of the festival organising group, said:

“We’re really excited about this year’s lineup. It’s not just about the fabulous headliners — we’ve got such a fun and exciting range of events and hands-on workshops. We hope lots of families come along, try new things and discover new authors."

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS - CHECK WEBSITE FOR UP-TO-DATE TIMINGS

THURSDAY 16TH
1pm & 4.30pm Dungeons & Dragons (workshop)
1.30 & 4pm Creaturama workshop £4 Anthony James (workshop)
2pm Making words £3 Adam Gaterell (workshop)
3.15pm How comics are created £4 Russell Sheath (talk) 
Sandown and Lake Youth Forum film - Free (film)
4.30pm Julia Tuffs Hexed £4 (author talk)
Songwriting £3 JC Grimshaw (workshop)
6pm Horrific Makeup Effects £3 Robin Flux from Master of Disguise (workshop)
7pm His name is Zak Theatre performance £4 Apollo Youth Theatre

FRIDAY 17TH
10am Rhymetime Free Library Service
REcycled, REinvented Creatures - Free - Teresa Grimaldi (craft workshop) Kieran Larwood ‘Treekeepers’ £4 (author talk)
11.30am Milly’s marvellous mistakes £3 - Peta Rainford(author talk)
12pm - Planet Full of Plastic £4 Neal Layton (author talk)
House on Hare Hill £3
Jules Marriner (author talk)
1pm Catch a falling star Free Lauren Fry (workshop)
The Lighthouse Keeper £5 (Theatre Performance) Joe Plumb The King’s Pants £4 - Nicholas Allan (IW Story Festival patron)
2.30pm Medicine Tales £3 Holly Medland (storytelling) 
Craft workshop £3 Mandy Bangeter
3.30pm Life on the Sea £3 Miss Ann (Drama workshop) 
Right Time, Right Place £3 Felicity Fair Thompson
4.15pm Author Forum Free

SATURDAY 18TH
10am Storytime Free Library Service
Story Stitches £3 Julia Gwynne (storytelling workshop) 
Get crafty with nature £3 Kathy Grogan (craft workshop)
Laura Ellen Anderson Journey to Weatherlands (author talk)
11am The Hungry Shark Debbie Webb (author talk)
12pm My Daddies £4 Gareth Peter (author talk)
Let’s illustrate comics £3 - Meg Hewison (workshop)
1pm Cerrie Burnell Wilder than Midnight £6 (author talk)
RECycle, REinvent creatures Free (craft workshop)
2.30pm Jamie Littler Frostheart £4 (author talk)
Tales with legs £3 - Sue Bailey (Storytelling)
3.30pm Simon Farnaby in conversation £6
Rocket Works Independent Arts STEAM (workshop)

www.iwstoryfestival.com