February 9-14 – Edinburgh: To Kill a Mockingbird at the King’s Theatre
To Kill a Mockingbird is a classic of American literature. Harper Lee’s Pulitzer-winning novel is about racial injustice in a small-town community. The production website says: “Through courage and compassion, lawyer Atticus Finch seeks the truth and his feisty daughter, Scout - a young girl on the cusp of adulthood - brings new hope to a neighbourhood in turmoil.” But you’d best go and experience for yourself the full emotional impact of this moving story.
February 9-22 – London: Imagine Children’s Festival
The South Bank Centre will be taken over by children for the entire two week around half term, with events, talks, and workshops to choose from each day. Have a look at the programme: there’s something for any age and budget. There’s series of events to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Alice in Wonderland and lots of author talks with authors including Judith Kerr, Philip Ardagh and Lauren Child. Many of the events are free.
February 10 – Sheffield: Lifting the Lid Writing Workshop
If your school breaks up early for half term you’re in luck because the Central Library in Sheffield has invited an experienced creative writing tutor to help you create an amazing story about a totally ordinary object. Dig out a weird or everyday object and bring it with you to learn how to construct a myth, documentary report, or incredible truth about it. So get your pen out and sign up – it’s completely free to join.
February 12-15 – Exeter: I Believe in Unicorns at the Exeter Northcott Theatre
Theatre Alibi proved themselves the masters of Morpurgo adaptations when they put on Why the Whales Came in the West End. Their new production, I Believe in Unicorns is the story of Tomas who didn’t like books until he met the Unicorn Lady and heard her magical tales. What happened then is for you to find out. Based on the book by Michael Morpurgo, this spellbinding and moving play is sure to be a hit with the six to 12-year-olds.
February 14-22 – Newcastle: Seven Stories
Trust Seven Stories not to let you down this half term either. With a ton of goings-on you’ll be hard-pressed to make up your mind which to attend. For the duration of half term, they are putting on Fairy Tale Fun, a number of events and activities to take the whole family to fairyland. Plus a performance by the Northumbria University Drama and Applied Theatre students called Lost and Found (19-20/2); Gruffalo storytime on various dates: dances, workshops, and more to help you breeze through those long, cold half term days.
February 14-22 – London: Children’s book swaps
Start off your half-term with a book swap event near you. Charities and arts and literature organisations across the city have teamed up with events venues to offer your children the opportunity to swap out the has-beens of their bookshelves for rising stars. There are a total of 38 top family friendly arts and cultural venues across 17 London boroughs, so for a full list of places and more info, visit the Discover website, head to Facebook, or follow them on Twitter: @LDNChildBkSwap #LDNChildrensBkSwap.
February 14-22 – London: Roald Dahl Picture Book Week
Head to Discover Children’s Story Centre in Stratford for seven whole days of Roald Dahl fun. The centre offers a wide variety of events, from storytime to crafts workshops to author and illustrator visits, that will make every Roald Dahl fan’s heart soar.
February 14-22 – Leeds: Library Fest Leeds
Leeds is stamping out the shhh at this year’s Library Fest. They have put on a ton of events for all ages and budgets to make sure that this half term the library will be a riot! With over 70 events, this festival is guaranteed to have something for everyone. We are most excited about the Super Hero Writing Workshop (14/2), Lego Stories (16/20), and Hogwarts in Leeds (17/2), but decide for yourself.
February 17-20 – Greater Manchester: Space-tastic Holiday fun
The Tameside libraries have banded together to put on a week of stellar fun for children aged 4 and upwards. The stars of these days are the space-themed creative writing workshops for future sci-fi masters as well as crafts and stories events. All events are completely free and don’t need to be booked; have a gaze at the individual libraries’ websites to find your star.
February 17 – 21 – Bristol: A Little Man’s Holiday at the Alma Tavern Theatre
Little Man has never been on an adventure: he’s never found buried treasure or sailed to a mysterious island. Now all that is about to change… The Paddleboat Theatre presents the story of a Little Man about to embark upon a BIG adventure!
February 18 – Cardiff: Slam Workshop with Martin Daws
If your child/teenager is interested in rap, writing, performance, or all three of them, this event with the Young People’s Poet Laureate of Wales is absolutely unmissable. In the evening, Martin Daws will give a performance followed by an open mic night for aspiring spoken word artists. In addition, there will be a late-afternoon workshop for those who are keen to get started in slam poetry. Book your tickets here.
Yet more:
Don’t forget to check your local bookshops’ events pages. Waterstones, Blackwell’s, and Foyles, as well as countless independent bookshops across the country regularly host authors and literary events – and not just during half term!
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