I’m thrilled to be at next year’s DREAM BIG Children’s Festival in Adelaide! I’m on the schools program, running some Spontaneous Storytime sessions.
What is a Spontaneous Storytime? That’s where the kids write it, I draw it, and nobody knows what happens next, including me. In these live, laugh-out-loud storytelling sessions, I take the stage with a blank page and one mission: to hand creative control straight to the audience. Your child’s ideas, no matter how bizarre, random, or brilliantly unhinged, create the story. DATES: Wed 19th, Thurs 20th and Fri 21st May TIMES: 10am, 11:30am and 1pm each day LENGTH: 1 hour AGES: 5-12 (reception to grade 6) AUSLAN interpreted sessions available on Friday 31st upon request.
Perth’s Awesome Festival is coming up, and I’ve got a bunch of events on!
Plus, book launches for Amazing Astro Animals! LET’S DO THIS!!
PERTH, Sept 29-Oct 3: STELLARPHANT STAGE SHOW
The incredible stage show of Stellarphant is back as part of this year’s Awesome Festival! If you missed it back in May, now’s your chance.
Full of laughter, heart and imagination, Stellarphant takes audiences on a cosmic adventure about determination, equality and following your dreams. Adapted for the stage by Clare Testoni, this uplifting production reminds us that heroes come in all shapes, sizes and species.
DATE: Sept 29 – Oct 3 WHEN: various times WHERE: Heath Ledger Theatre, WA State Theatre Centre, Perth TICKETS: $10. Get your tickets here.
Join me for a laugh-out-loud session where the kids are in charge.
Bring your weirdest and wackiest ideas for stories, because I’ll mash them into the funniest Franken-tale you’ve ever heard — which I’ll also illustrate, live!
Suitable for ages eight and up.
DATE: Thurs October 1st, Fri October 2nd WHEN: 10-11am, 12-1pm WHERE: State Library of WA TICKETS: $10 for kids; free for their adults – get your tickets here
Climb aboard the Story Wheel (aka the Fremantle Esplanade ferris wheel) and treat the young people in your life to their own private 10-minute story time experience with one of WA’s leading writers for children.
Day 1 (Oct 5th): – Jeanette Stampone (10-11am), – Gabriel Evans (11-12pm, 1-2pm), – Deb Fitzpatrick (12-1pm).
Our pirates – Hector, Captain, Stringbean, Jerry Hattrick, Pearl and Puss – are having lots of adventures in the Port City.
Follow the map to track down what this pirate crew is getting up to.
Start your own adventure at Fremantle Town Hall where you’ll be able to collect your Totally Lit Trail Map and then follow the map through the city to find pirate treasure. Every stop on the journey unlocks one of six pieces in the story.
Presented by City of Fremantle and Totally Lit. Artwork created by James Foley.
See off the school holidays in artistic style by joining James Foley for a draw-along.
DATE: Friday 10th October WHEN: 10am – 11am WHERE: The Lane Bookshop TICKETS: general admission FREE; ‘Book Lover’ $35.00 (includes admission and a hardback copy of Amazing Astro Animals by James Foley, RRP $34.99)
Please note, parents and carers do not need to buy a ticket if they are attending with children.
FREMANTLE, Oct 11: SPONTANEOUS STORYTIME @the big book market
On Sunday, 11 October, Fremantle/Walyalup will host the Big Book Market – an opportunity for book lovers of all interests to discover new titles and great bargains.
This is a free, all ages event.
The day will also include live sessions: 11.30am-12.30pm: James Foley – a story time and live illustration challenge featuring the pirate crew from the Totally Lit Trail. 1.00-2.00pm: Peter Murphy and Fred Rhea – live music and storytelling inspired by their book, Fremantle to Freedom. 2.30-3.15pm: Poetry readings, details TBC
Things to note: – Live presentations will take place in front of the sloping grassed area in Walyalup Koort – so why not pack a picnic, bring a blanket and settle in for a few hours? – In the event of bad weather the Market and live events will relocate indoors to Fremantle Town Hall.
Presented in Walyalup Koort thanks to City of Fremantle
This one comes from a session at the State Library of NSW last weekend. I was joined by my author-illustrator bud Sean E Avery (creator of Frank’s Red Hat and Friendly Bee) who provided the live illustrations!
We had some fantastic ideas from the kids in the audience; check out the story below.
‘MEG WYNNE THE PIG-UIN’
Sunday October 26, 10:30am-11:30am
In which a half-pig, half-penguin called Meg Wynne – who spends most of her time diving underwater to catch cabbage fish – decides to chase her long-held dream of flying through the sky.
I ran some improv storytelling sessions at the Awesome Arts Festival this week – where the kids came up with the ideas, and I illustrated them live! Huge thanks to all the amazing young storytellers who came along and offered up madcap characters, preposterous plot points and epic endings.
Session 1: ‘Luca the Heartbroken Toaster’
Wednesday October 1, 11:15am-12:15pm
In which Rosita, the sea star-girlfriend of Luca the Toaster is kidnapped by the evil Captain Bob, the intergalactic Butter Pirate. Captain Bob is called a Butter Pirate not because he steals butter, but because his body is a chunk of butter. Captain Bob flies off into space in his ship, the Blendar 1, with Rosita in a cage beside him.
