What's On.We are excited to bring you a wide range of FREE activities from
Friday 28th February to Sunday 8th March 2020 |
Big Read Inspiration TheatreBringing 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! Located in the Nicholsons Shopping Centre in the unit opposite to Dorothy Perkins. |
Big Read StopA 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. |
Big Read ArenaOpen 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 |
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
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Friday 28th Feb
7.30pm—8.30pm Cox Green School Theatre Booking essential |
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.
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SORRY - SOLD OUT
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
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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….
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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.
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Big Read Stop, Nicholson Centre
Festival Events
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Friday 28th February
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.
Saturday 29th February
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.
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’.
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).
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.
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.
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.
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Sunday 1st March
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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Wednesday 4th March
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.
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Using our Intuition to Create a Future Worth Living For
Mary Nonde 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.
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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.
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
Saturday 7th March
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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Sunday 8th March
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.
Magic Carpet Story Telling
Ruth Humphreys Interactive Magical tales and original stories to build self esteem, encourage cooperation and kindness.
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.
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