Storyhouse has unveiled an inspiring programme of events and activities for children this October half term.
The guest line-up includes poet Benjamin Zephaniah, author Jacqueline Wilson as well as comedian Julian Clary.
The festival – called WayWord – is aimed at families and aims to celebrate the power of words to ignite imaginations.
The half-term programme takes place from Monday 24th October to Sunday 30th October and many of the events are free of charge.
Storyhouse says it has committed to keeping ticket prices for the other events as low as possible.
As well as this, 200 tickets for each event on the main stage – and 10 tickets for each Garret Theatre event – will be reserved for free distribution to low-income families through Storyhouse’s Community Connectors partnership.
Events will take over the main stage, Garret Theatre, Kitchen, The Den and Storytelling Room at Storyhouse on Hunter Street in Chester as well as at other libraries across the borough.
The programme includes stories, workshops, crafting, theatres performances, fancy dress and a Halloween disco.
Suzie Henderson, Storyhouse’s creative director, said: “WayWord is about being playful, creative and surprising – and the programme we have planned for the autumn half term aims to inspire our young audiences and fire their fantastic, fertile, fierce imaginations.
“We’re really pleased to be welcoming headline names like Benjamin Zephaniah, Dame Jacqueline Wilson and Julian Clary along with a host of other brilliant storytellers and thinkers.
“Whether it’s creating stop motion magic, taking a fantastical journey to far off lands, illustrating your own characters or settling down to hear a spooky story, Storyhouse or your local library will be buzzing with creativity.”
What’s on and when
Monday 24th October
The packed week of fun begins on Monday 24th October with Mako Creates Lego Stop Motion and Lego Comic Book Design in the Garret Theatre.
The first event is a creative workshop which is the perfect introduction to the world of stop motion animation, while the second event will give youngsters the skills they need to bring their Lego characters to life in their own digital comic books – including storytelling, photography, image editing and graphic design.
Both are aimed at ages eight and over.
The day then continues with Augmented Reality Colouring in the Kitchen.
This free, hands-on activity is perfect for children who enjoy colouring in and technology and will include colouring in an AR sheet and then using iPads and the power of AR to bring the design to life.
A very special new abridged re-telling of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, especially created for families, will be staged in The Garret Theatre on Monday 24th, Tuesday 25th October and Saturday 29th October – with a final performance on the main stage on the Saturday afternoon followed by a Q&A.
Tuesday 25th October
The Storytelling Room is the location for Julia Donaldson’s The Scarecrows’ Wedding on Tuesday 25th October.
Suitable for young explorers aged one to five, join Story Explorers’ Claire to find clues, read the story and then come together to build a scarecrow.
The session ends with a bubble dance and is free of charge.
Claire will also introduce the tiniest visitors to Storyhouse to the joy of stories in Baby Story Explorers.
This free session in the Storytelling Room – suitable for babies aged up to 12 months – includes singing nursery rhymes, baby signing and bubbles and music.
Meanwhile, youngsters aged seven and up will want to join Julian Clary and award-winning illustrator David Roberts for The Bolds Go Green.
The pair are the writer and illustrator of the popular The Bolds series of children’s books, and in The Bolds Go Green the titular family have decided to do their bit for the planet – even if not all their ‘eco-friendly’ ideas go down well with their neighbours.
This event takes place on the main stage.
In the Garret Theatre meanwhile there’s a chance to meet Mark Powers, the author of the Space Detectives books.
And there are free, drop-in Space Crafts sessions in The Den during the day where children can have a go at making aliens, rockets and flying saucers.
A very special new abridged re-telling of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, especially created for families, will be staged in The Garret Theatre on Tuesday 25th October and Saturday 29th October, with a final performance on the main stage on the Saturday afternoon followed by a Q&A.
(Romeo and Juliet will also be performed on Monday 24th October.)
Wednesday 26th October
The fun continues on Wednesday 26th October.
Lily and the Heron – a story of bravery, courage and magic told through puppetry and music – will unfold in The Kitchen, while Goofus Theatre will be appearing all over Storyhouse during the day with brilliant pop-up theatre and storytelling.
(Lily and the Heron will also be touting to other libraries across the borough during the week.)
Thursday 27th October
On Thursday 27th October activist, novelist, broadcaster and Storyhouse’s artist in residence Benjamin Zephaniah is live on the main stage to talk about his iconic collections of children’s poetry and stories with some unexpected hosts.
The event is suitable for young people aged six and up.
Box Tale Soup will also visit Storyhouse on Thursday 27th October with two shows being staged in the Garret Theatre.
Catch a beautiful adaptation of Kenneth Grahame’s much-loved classic The Wind in the Willows in the afternoon, while in the evening make a date with their breathtaking new version of Jonathan Swift’s Gulliver’s Travels.
Gulliver comes complete with tales of shipwrecks, undiscovered lands and unheard of creatures, all wrought with the theatre company’s trademark style, unique puppetry and original music.
Friday 28th October
Story Explorers’ Claire returns to the Storytelling Room on Friday 28th October for Room on the Broom.
Find the clues, read the story and then make your own wand. It’s aimed at ages one to five, and Halloween fancy dress is welcomed.
This session is followed by Baby Story Explorers.
Expect fantasy, folklore and a whole lot of nonsense when world famous magical explorer Professor Jigget brings his collection of Storytelling Suitcases to the Garret Theatre on Friday 28th October.
Or why not join much loved children’s author and illustrator Nick Sharratt for a special Halloween Drawalong?
Taking place on the main stage, he will draw spooky characters from a selection of his fun-filled picture books including the hugely popular You Choose, Shark in the Park and Pants series.
There’s also a chance to draw alongside him – just bring pencils, paper and something to lean on.
Meanwhile the creator of CBeebies’ smash hit JoJo and Gran Gran, award-winning author and Early Years expert Laura Henry-Allain, is in the Garret Theatre.
Her powerful book My Skin, Your Skin helps children and adults to have meaningful conversations around race and anti-racism.
Fill Storyhouse with your art in The Big Draw, with free sessions taking place all day in The Kitchen, The Den and the Storytelling Room.
Saturday 29th October
On Saturday 29th October, former Children’s Laureate Dame Jacqueline Wilson is the big draw on the main stage.
Spend the morning learning about how she started her writing career and how she created some of her best-known and loved characters as well as hearing all about her latest book, Project Fairy.
There’s Halloween in The Den on both Saturday and Sunday, packed with Halloween arts and crafts, fancy dress and spooky stories.
A very special new abridged re-telling of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, especially created for families, will be staged in The Garret Theatre on Saturday 29th October – with a final performance on the main stage followed by a Q&A.
(Romeo and Juliet will also be performed on Monday 24th and Tuesday 25th October.)
Sunday 30th October
On Sunday 30th October don’t miss Read Now Write Now spooky storytelling and creative writing workshop in the Garret Theatre.
Finally, get on your ghoulish glad rags for a Funny Bones Halloween Disco in the Kitchen which will be a suitably spooky end to the WayWord week, complete with face painting, games and a marvellous Monster Mash.
There’s also Halloween in The Den on Sunday, packed with Halloween arts and crafts, fancy dress and spooky stories.
Daily (24th-30th October)
Storyhouse’s Favourite Stories – where different members of the Storyhouse team share their treasured tales from childhood – will take place in the Storytelling Room at 2pm daily from Monday 24th October to Sunday 30th October.
Elsewhere
Added to all this, throughout the week there will be arts and crafts, reading challenges, books to loan and lots more in the Storyhouse Library as well as in local libraries across the wider Chester region.
On Monday 24th October the enchanting Lily and the Heron comes to Little Sutton Library at 11am and Hope Farm Library at 3pm.
It then goes on to Helsby (10.30am) and Frodsham (2pm) libraries on Tuesday, 25th October.
Next it travels to Sandiway (11am) and Barnton (3pm) on Thursday 27th October.
On Friday 28th October it will be at the libraries in Lache (10.30am) and Blacon (2pm).
As well as this, Story Explorers (10am) and Baby Story Explorers (11.30am) take place at Neston Library on Wednesday 26th October.
FULL LISTINGS
Lego Stopmotion
Monday 24th October 2022
10am
Garret Theatre
Members: £4.50
Non-members: £5
Lego Comic Book Design
Monday 24th October 2022
12 noon
Garret Theatre
Members: £4.50
Non-members: £5
AR (Augmented Reality) Colouring – Bring Your Pictures to Life!
Monday 24th October 2022
2.30pm
Kitchen
Free, drop in
Romeo and Juliet
Monday 24th, Tuesday 25th and Saturday 29th October 2022
3.30pm – 24th October / 10.30am and 5.30pm – 25th October / 10am and 2.30pm – 29th October
The Garret (except: Main Stage for 2.30pm on 29th October)
Members: £9 / £7 under 16s
Non-members: £10 / £8 under 16s
Young Storyhouse Members £5
Storyhouse’s Favourite Stories
Monday 24th – Sunday 30th October 2022
2pm
Storytelling Room
Free, drop in
Lily and the Heron
Monday 24th, Tuesday 25th, Thursday 27th and Friday 28th October 2022
Little Sutton Library – 24th October at 11am
Hope Farm Library – 24th October at 3pm
Helsby Library – 25th October at 10.30am
Frodsham Library – 25th October at 2pm
Sandiway Library – 27th October at 11am
Barnston Library – 27th October at 3pm
Lache Library – 28th October at 10.30am
Blacon Library – 28th October at 2pm
Free, drop in
The Scarecrow’s Wedding
Tuesday 25th October 2022
10am-11am
Storytelling Room
Free, bookable
Baby Story Explorers
Tuesday 25th October 2022
11.30am
Storytelling Room
Free, bookable
Julian Clary and David Roberts: The Bolds Go Green
Tuesday 25th October 2022
2pm
Main stage
Members: £9 adults / £7 under 16s
Non-members: £10 adults / £8 under 16s
Young Storyhouse Members: £5
Mark Powers: Space Detectives
Tuesday 25th October 2022
2pm
Garret Theatre
Members: £4.50 (one adult free with each child)
Non-members: £5 (one adult free with each child)
Space Crafts
Tuesday 25th October 2022
10am – 4pm
The Den
Free, drop in
Lily and the Heron
Wednesday 26th October 2022
11am
Kitchen
Free, drop in
Story Explorers
Wednesday 26th October 2022
10am
Neston Library
Free, bookable
Baby Story Explorers
Wednesday 26th October 2022
11.30am
Neston Library
Free, bookable
Pop-Up Theatre
Wednesday 26th October 2022
All day
Across Storyhouse
Free, drop in
Benjamin Zephaniah: Live on stage
Thursday 27th October 2022
11am
Main stage
£5
The Wind in the Willows
Thursday 27th October 2022
2.30pm
Garret Theatre
Members: £5 children / £8 adults / family ticket £21
Non-members: £6 children / £9 adults / family ticket £25
Gulliver!
Thursday 27th October 2022
7.30pm
Garret Theatre
Members: £8 under 25s / £10 adults
Non-members: £10 under 25s / £12 adults
Room on the Broom
Friday 28th October 2022
10am
Storytelling Room
Free, bookable
Baby Story Explorers
Friday 28th October 2022
11.30am
Free, bookable
Professor Jigget’s Story Suitcase
Friday 28th October 2022
11am and 1pm
Garret Theatre
£4.50 (one adult free with each child)
Nick Sharratt’s Halloween Drawalong
Friday 28th October 2022
2.30pm
Main Stage
Members: £9 adults / £7 under 16s
Non-members: £10 adults / £8 under 16s
Young Storyhouse Members: £5
Laura Henry-Allain: My Skin, Your Skin
Friday 28th October 2022
3.30pm
Garret Theatre
Members: £4.50 (one adult free with each child)
Non-members: £5
The Big Draw!
Friday 28th October 2022
All day
Kitchen and Storytelling Room
Free
Jacqueline Wilson: Project Fairy
Saturday 29th October 2022
11am
Main Stage
Members: £9 adults / £7 under 16s
Non-members: £10 adults / £8 under 16s
Young Storyhouse Members: £5
Halloween in the Den
Saturday 29th October – Sunday 30th October 2022
11am – 4pm
The Den
Free, drop in
Read Now Write Now
Sunday 30th October 2022
1:30pm-3pm
Garret Theatre
Members: £4.50 (one adult free with every child)
Non-members: £5 (one adult free with every child)
Funny Bones Halloween Disco
Sunday 30th October 2022
2pm
Kitchen
Free
