MAIDENHEAD'S BIG READ
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What's On.

We are excited to bring you a wide range of FREE activities from 
Friday 28th February to Sunday 8th March 2020
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Big Read Inspiration Theatre

Bringing bestselling authors, sporting heroes, prominent politicians, influential journalists and stars of the screen to share their stories and lives with the public. 

Check out the schedule below to see who we have speaking when... and don't forget to book your place
as the number of seats are limited!

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Located in the Nicholsons Shopping Centre in the unit opposite to Dorothy Perkins.
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Big Read Stop

A place to relax, unwind and curl up with a book, magazine or comic, a place to let your imagination run wild!

In this space you can enjoy the Big Read 
bookshop and get your hands on the latest best seller, as well as bring your old books and swap them in our book swap area for a new read!

Located in the Nicholsons Shopping Centre in the unit next to Dorothy Perkins.
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Big Read Arena

Open the lid on one of our special chairs and pull out a book. Read to yourself, to your friends, or with one of our volunteer readers.             

Located in the Nicholsons Shopping Centre in the main square.

​Running on 29th February, 1st March, and again 7th & 8th March only from 11am - 3pm
                                 

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​Remember all events are free for everyone to attend as our  aim is to inspire, enthuse and entertain people of all ages through literature and the arts.  However we do ask that you still book to attend the events so we know numbers in advance as capacity is limited at some venues.  Check out the full programme below and then book your tickets!

Festival Highlights

Why I Love Reading
Rt Hon Theresa May MP

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Friday 28th Feb
7.30pm—8.30pm

Cox Green School Theatre

Booking essential
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​Character Storytelling
Sat 29th Feb & 7th March

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Join the Highway Rat (29th Feb) and Zog (7th March), and settle down to hear a their story.
SORRY - SOLD OUT
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Drop Everything and Read
Thursday 5th March, 10am

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Wherever you are!
Drop everything and pick up a book for just 5 minutes.  

​Lets get all of Maidenhead reading at the same time!

Once Upon a Bus Storytelling
​29th Feb, 1st, 7th & 8th March
 

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11am -3pm
​Boy & The Boat Status, Maidenhead High Street
Booking essential
Experience the magic of storytelling on the magical ​​Once Upon a Bus, where stories come to life.  Sessions last around 30 minutes and are completely free.

Bookstart Bear
Sat 29th February @ 1.30-2pm
Sat 7th March @ 1-1.30pm

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Meet Bookstart Bear, give him a hug, get a free book and tell him about your favourite story….

Nicholson Centre Main Square

Pop-up Book Shops
29th Feb - 8th March

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Pop into the Big Read Stop and browse the many books available from Usborne Books and The Little Bookshop Cookham. 
Big Read Stop, Nicholson Centre
CLICK HERE TO BOOK YOUR PLACE AT ANY OF THE EVENTS
Click here to download the programme

Festival Events

Friday 28th February
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Why I love reading
Rt Hon Theresa May MP


We are thrilled that the Rt Hon Theresa May MP can join us at this year's Big Read.  She will be sharing her best loved books with us all and explaining why they meant so much to her.

  • Audience: All Ages
  • Venue: Cox Green School Theatre
  • Time: 7.30pm (doors open at 7pm)


Saturday 29th February

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Storytelling & Creative Workshop
Lisa Buddin


Lisa will share the inspirations behind the characters in her book, Five Cat Magic. Children will be invited to bring their own characters to life in this interactive workshop.
  • Audience: 7 - 12 year olds
  • Venue: Inspiration Theatre, NC
  • Time: 10am

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Illustration and character design workshop
Stephanie Jayne


Stephanie will be illustrating sketches for children's books as well as telling unique and quirky stories of her own based on her recently published rhyming book, ‘Eleanor Hurl the Peculiar Girl’.
  • Audience: 4 - 7 year olds
  • Venue: Inspiration Theatre, NC
  • Time: 11am

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Anyone can be a writer!
Patricia Elliott


Patricia will talk about why she finds writing so exciting, what inspires her novels and how you can find your own ideas, as well as offering some top tips for story-making. Plus a reading, if time permits (Bring paper and something to write with, if you like).
  • Audience: Teens & Adults
  • Venue: Inspiration Theatre, NC
  • Time: 12pm 

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My Favourite Things!
Coral Rumble


Come along to this fun session, where you will be able to encourage your child to interact with poems and simple stories.  When the joy of reading is experienced at a young age, motivation to read becomes much stronger.

In addition to some poems, Coral will be using her storybooks, 'The Adventures of the Owl and the Pussycat' and 'Mustafa's Jumper'. Please encourage your child to bring along one of their favourite things, e.g. a toy. 
​
  • Audience: 4 - 7 year olds
  • Venue: Maidenhead Library
  • Time: 1pm

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Orang-utan Apes and Rainforest: Global Environmental Issues
Leysa Henderson

This session will focus on the global issues that inspired Leysa to write her books. Focusing on rubbish, waste and plastics. 
​
  • Audience: 8 - 12 year olds
  • Venue: Inspiration Theatre, NC
  • Time: 2pm 

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Seances, spooks and spiritualism – the supernatural influences behind The Lost Ones
Anita Frank


Anita Frank discusses how a grieving nation’s obsession with life after death during the First World War and her own family ghost stories inspired her to write The Lost Ones.
  • Audience: Adults
  • Venue: Maidenhead Library
  • Time: 3pm

Sunday 1st March

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Illustration with Creative Writing Workshop
Fiona Cradduck


Come and have fun drawing! The children will draw book characters and they will be guided in how to illustrate a short poem or story in a concertina book.

Fiona will also be making her signed published books available for purchase at a special price.
  • Audience: 4 - 7 year olds
  • Venue: Inspiration Theatre, NC
  • Time: 11am 

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A guidance to build fantastic stories... Find Your Story with Kate Poels

Learn how to come up with cool characters, super settings and powerful  plots to bring your story to life. Interactive creative writing with prompts to get young authors going and plenty of guidance to build fantastic stories.
​
  • Audience: 7 - 12 year olds
  • Venue: Inspiration Theatre, NC
  • Time: 12pm 

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Meet 'My Mood Stars'
Wendy Woo


Wendy is delighted to be able to tell her stories at this event and share her tactile toys. She is sure children will love her books centred around her toys as much as she does!
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  • Audience: 4- 7 year olds
  • Venue: Inspiration Theatre, NC
  • Time: 1pm 

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Demystifying Asian food and Culture
Pamela Chen


Through talks and demonstrations, Pamela demystifies the delights of Asian cuisine and provides a fascinating insight into eastern culture – bringing Asian food to the western table under the brand Pamela Chen’s Asia.
  • Audience: Adults
  • Venue: Inspiration Theatre, NC
  • Time: 2pm 

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The Place Where You Are Needed Most
Ric Casale


Our towns and cities are the places that have the greatest influence over life on Earth. The single biggest cause of global warming – the urbanisation of humanity – is potentially the principal solution.

What’s missing is a guide for those brave enough to take a step forward, for those who want to make life better in their local  community, but also understand the need for more fundamental  system change. We cannot wait for others to lead the charge towards a more prosperous yet sustainable future. 
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  • Audience: Adults
  • Venue: Inspiration Theatre, NC
  • Time: 3pm

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The Adventures of Charly Holmes
Tim Walker


​Tim will give a talk on how he and his daughter devised and wrote the Charly Holmes book series, with readings. Suitable for readers aged 9+ and parents.
  • Audience: 9+
  • Venue: Inspiration Theatre, NC
  • Time: 4pm

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CLICK HERE TO BOOK YOUR PLACE AT ANY OF THE EVENTS

Wednesday 4th March

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The Early Dark Ages - Where History Meets Legend
Tim Walker


Historical fiction author, Tim Walker, will give a talk on his award-winning historical book series, A Light in the Dark Ages, and introduce the latest book in the series, Arthur Dux Bellorum.

Tim will describe how he researched the post-Roman period and his efforts to find evidence of a real historical Arthur hidden behind the
legend. Suitable for teens and adults.
​
  • Audience: Teens & Adults
  • Venue: Cookham Library
  • Time: 7.30pm

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Using our Intuition to Create a Future Worth Living For
Mary Nonde
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The genius inventor Albert Einstein said: “The Intuitive Mind is a sacred gift and the Rational Mind is a faithful servant.”

In this talk we’ll explore how to reach deep within for guidance and clarity to follow your heart’s lead in creating your one wild and wonderful life. It will show how inspiration and purpose can come from facing hardship like a phoenix rising from the ashes.

The talk will demonstrate the intuitive function is a good one to call upon in times of crises and is available to everyone. It’s just we’ve forgotten how to use and we’ve never been taught at school.

  • Audience: Teens & Adults
  • Venue: Bakedd, Maidenhead
  • Time: 6.30pm 


Friday 6th March

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Days Gone By... 150th Anniversary of the Advertiser:
Past, Present and Future
Martin Trepte & James Preston


A glimpse into Maidenhead's past through the Advertiser's photographic archives as a celebration of its 150 years serving the local community. 200 pages of history, starting in the 1860's.

  • Audience: Teens & Adults
  • Venue: Maidenhead Heritage Centre
  • Time: 6pm 
CLICK HERE TO BOOK YOUR PLACE AT ANY OF THE EVENTS
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Saturday 7th March

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My Favourite Things!
Coral Rumble


Come along to this fun session, where you will be able to encourage your child to interact with poems and simple stories. When the joy of reading is experienced at a young age,  motivation to read becomes much stronger.

In addition to some poems, Coral will be using her storybooks, 'The Adventures of the Owl and the Pussycat' and 'Mustafa's Jumper'. Please encourage your child to bring along one of their favourite things, e.g. a toy.
​
  • Audience: 4 - 7 year olds
  • Venue: Inspiration Theatre, NC
  • Time: 11am

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Your time to sing
New Maidenhead Choir


New Maidenhead Choir is a group for anyone who loves to sing.  All abilities are welcome and at this session we encourage everyone to join in, or simply stop and enjoy the music!
  • Audience: Children & Adults
  • Venue: Big Read Arena, NC
  • Time: 11.15am​

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2020 Vision: Collaborative Planning & Placemaking
Charles Campion


Too often planners and architects assume the professionals know best. In this talk, Charles demonstrates that collaboration in planning and placemaking is essential to creating thriving communities, and well designed, sustainable places. Participation is enabled through  Charrettes, an internationally adopted methodology.

These interactive multi-day workshops, first held in the USA in 1967, as a way for architects and planners to bring the public into the design process, tapping into a wealth of local knowledge and creativity.

  • Audience: Teens & Adults
  • Venue: Inspiration Theatre, NC
  • Time: 12pm 

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Space Stories - the first child Astronaut
Sue Palmer


Michael May wants to be the first child astronaut. Come and hear about his attempt to follow his dreams and learn about real life astronaut training and what's going on in space right now.

  • Audience: 7 - 12 year olds
  • Venue: Inspiration Theatre, NC
  • Time: 1pm 

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The Early Dark Ages - Where History Meets Legend
Tim Walker


Historical fiction author, Tim Walker, will give a talk on his award-winning historical book series, A Light in the Dark Ages, and introduce the latest book in the series, Arthur Dux Bellorum.

Tim will describe how he researched the post-Roman period and his efforts to find evidence of a real historical Arthur hidden behind the
legend. Suitable for teens and adults.
​
  • Audience: Teens & Adults
  • Venue: Maidenhead Heritage Centre
  • Time: 7.30pm

Sunday 8th March

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Rubbish, Plastic and Waste: Global Environmental Issues
Leysa Henderson


This presentation will be on the global issues that inspired Leysa to write her books. Focusing on rainforests, endangered species and the global impact. 
  • Audience: 8 - 12 year olds
  • Venue: Inspiration Theatre, NC
  • Time: 11am    ​

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Magic Carpet Story Telling
Ruth Humphreys


Interactive Magical tales and original stories to build self esteem, encourage cooperation and kindness.
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  • Audience: 2 - 7 year olds
  • Venue: Inspiration Theatre, NC
  • Time: 12pm 

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Chula The Fox
Tony Perry


Tony will talk about his book Chula the Fox as well as its connections to Britain. He will share how the story came to life and its relevance to young people today. He will also talk how this spurred on his current projects which he hopes will add a new dimension to British history.
​
  • Audience: Teens & Adults
  • Venue: Inspiration Theatre, NC
  • Time: 2pm 

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CLICK HERE TO BOOK YOUR PLACE AT ANY OF THE EVENTS
Download Programme of Events



​Get involved in The Big Read today....

  • Home
  • About
  • What's On
  • Book Tickets
  • Authors & Illustrators
  • Design Competition
  • News
  • Sponsorship
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy