5th — 17th September

Festival Festival

Library

Littleport O K B O

Welcome Welcome to Littleport Library’s first literary festival! Join us for a two week celebration of local writers and poets, with a little sprinkling of Roald Dahl, of course. With authors speaking about their work, school visits, book launches, and even a birthday party, there is something to appeal to all ages. Take a look inside - You’re invited!

Since 2015 Arts Alive in Libraries has brought exciting activities to eight libraries in North Cambridgeshire. The project has seen Littleport Library transformed into an art studio, a theatre and a cinema (complete with black-out blinds, bar and refreshments). Events have included: Spooky ghost stories from Robert Lloyd Parry; sing-along film screenings of Grease, West Side Story and Frozen; Graffiti Art with Si Mitchell; poetry workshops with Elaine Ewart; Classical Cabaret from the wonderful Opera Dudes; and magical storytelling and crafts with illustrator Karin Littlewood. Through the project, the library commissioned Chip Colquhoun to produce a special retelling of the Littleport Riots story aimed at younger listeners. The resulting tale, A Little Sport in Littleport, was performed to spellbound audiences earlier this year.

Book your tickets now at Littleport Library or Ely Library

More information from

ely.referral@cambridgeshire.gov.uk

Wednesday 7th Midge Gillies Littleport Library

Friday 9th Benjamin Johncock Littleport Library

Saturday 10th Roald Dahl Birthday Party

Littleport Library

Tuesday 13th Alison Bruce Littleport Library

Thursday 15th John Lyons Littleport Community Primary School

Friday 16th James Nicol Millfield Primary School

Saturday 17th Chip Colquhoun Littleport Library

Festival Programme Festival Programme

Wednesday 7th September 7pm-8.30pm Tickets £3

Midge Gillies, highly acclaimed biographer of the record-breaking pilot Amy Johnson, and Edwardian music hall star, Marie Lloyd, will be talking about her new book Army Wives. Using first-hand accounts, letters and diaries, she tells the fascinating and varied stories of the women who lived through life-changing events: from the Crimea to the British Raj, from the First World War to Afghanistan.

www.rlf.org.uk/fellowships/midge-gillies/

MIDGE GILLIES

Find out how Midge approaches her research and what motivates her to choose her diverse range of ‘subjects’.

www.benjohncock.com

Winner of the Authors’ Club Best New Novel Award 2016, The Last Pilot covers an era of American aviation from breaking the sound barrier to the space race of the 1960s.

Ben has inserted his fiction into the true history of the period, his fictional hero Jim Harrison taking his place among the real-life American heroes of the 50’s and 60’s.

According to The Guardian; ‘a big, muscular novel … is tenderly undercut by the quite different theme of a marriage and a family under unbearable stress’

Hear how The Last Pilot came to be written and about Ben’s adventures in the US researching his forthcoming novel.

Friday 9th September 7pm-8.30pm Tickets £3

BENJAMIN JOHNCOCK

Tuesday 13th September 7pm-8.30pm Tickets £4

In the recently published The Promise – the sixth in the series – we find Gary questioning his position in the force and learn a little more about his back story. Alison loves the twists and turns of classic British crime novels, American pulp fiction, black and white movies and TV crime shows. She’s also a fan of vintage clothes and the rockabilly music scene, of Cambridge and Hawaii, of architecture and old cars.

ALISON BRUCE

Come and find out how she weaves a little of some of these interests into her novels.

Alison’s popular crime series is set in Parkside, Cambridge. We first met Gary Goodhew as an intuitive, intelligent young DC seeking to prove himself, in Cambridge Blue.

What better way to celebrate Roald Dahl’s 100th birthday

than by hearing some of the most exciting, fun and ‘foodie’ bits

from his books?

The readings will be followed by Wormy Spaghetti…

…I mean Birthday Cake and Juice!

David Learner, actor and sweet emporium owner, is perfectly qualified to read about, amongst other things; Wormy Spaghetti

(The Twits), incredible sweets (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory), a huge chocolate

cake (Matilda), and Grannies! (story poem - Little Red Riding Hood)

Firstly, the wonderful A Little Sport in Littleport, specially

commissioned by the Arts Alive in Libraries programme to commemorate the bi-centenary of the Littleport Riots,

has now been published and is yours to keep forever for the sum of just £1.

Master storyteller Chip Colquhoun will be back in Littleport for a double book launch and Storytelling Event

A Little Sport in Littleport Book Launch with Chip Colquhoun

Chip will also be performing one of the tales from his other recently published

book, Cambridgeshire Folk Tales for Children [The History Press],

which answers the question ‘Why is Cambridgeshire so flat?’

www.snailtales.org

Chip will be happy to sign both of his books, while we eat special Book Launch Cake!

Our very own award -winning poet John Lyons will be reading from his latest collection of poems Dancing in the Rain —

Thursday 15th September Poetry at

Littleport

Described by Peepal Tree Press as: ‘A breath of Caribbean fresh air,

these poems are humorous, beautifully crafted, and perfectly

pitched to their audience… ’,

Children will be spellbound by new author James Nicol as he speaks about writing his magical first book The

Friday 16th September Author visit to

James ’ book has already gained

excellent reviews, including this from The Bookseller ;

‘Infused with mystery, adventure and

With thanks to supporters and funders of Arts Alive in Libraries:

‘Simply brilliant!’ ‘A terrific evening’ ‘Marvellous performance’ ‘A great opportunity to try something new’