ROSCOMMONCHILDREN’SLITERARY FESTIVALWed 8th – Sat 11th June 2016

A Roscommon Arts Centre programme initiative in association with Roscommon Arts Office and Roscommon County Library

Date Event Ages 0 – 2 yrs 3-5 5+ 7+ 9 + Page

Wed 8th Lorraine Francis 2

Wed 8th Alma Jordan AgriKids 3

Thur 9th Young Poets: Gerry Boland 3

Thur 9th Festival & Gerry Boland Book Launch 1

Fri 10th The Magic Bookshop 4

Fri 10th Graphic Comics 5 workshop: Alan Nolan

Fri 10th David Donohue Backward Spelling 5

Fri 10th Bookswap Shop 2 & Sat 11th

Sat 11th Codladh Samh 6

Sat 11th David Donohue Backward Spelling

7

Sat 11th Roadworks 8

Sat 11th Poetry Workshop: Gerry Boland 7

Sat 11th Roald Dahl’s Revolting Rhymes: Wayne O’Connor 6

Sat 11th Snuggly Stories: Majella McGovern 9

As part of the festival, Roscommon Arts Centre offers a small amount of funding to professional theatre makers to create new work for our Bookworms audience through our “First Edition” programme.

This year’s recipient Paul Curley will present “Roadworks” a free, new interactive theatre installation. The 2015 recipient Monkeyshine Theatre Company, makes a welcome return to the festival with “The Magic Bookshop”, our festival show for schools.

1.

INVITATIONFestival Opening & Book Launch

Join us at our festival opening with Roscommon author Gerry Boland, who launches his first book of poems for children, “The Secret Lives of Mothers”.

Thursday 9th June at 6pm Roscommon Library

All Welcome

Bookswap ShopPop along to one of our book swap cafes. Bring along a gently used book of your own and swap it for a different one! Everyone that brings a book to swap gets a free cookie!

Friday 10th & Saturday 11th June Molloy’s Artisan Bakery & The Comfy Café

Creating Storybooks with Lorraine FrancisLearn all about writing and illustrating a picture book, make

sandwiches and enjoy a story with Irish children’s writer and

librarian Lorraine Francis, author of “Lulu’s Tutu”, “The Origami

Bird”, “Pandora’s Lunchbox”, “Save Our Sweetshop”, and

“The Great Trolley Race”.

Wednesday 8th June | Ages: 5 – 7 | In-School Event

BOOKED

OUT

2.

Alma Jordan’s

AgriKids AgriKids is for children who love all things agri! Alma Jordan’s books are all about farm safety and the adventures and exploits of Tom and Sarah and their magical friend,

Mr. Brambles.

Wednesday 8th June | Ages: 5 – 8 | In-School Event

BOOKED

OUT

Young Poets with Gerry Boland These workshops will focus on poetry as Gerry introduces students to poems and then uses these as the basis for writing brand new poems! It sounds difficult, but with Gerry’s expert and encouraging guidance, it’s easy-peasy!

Thursday 9th June | Ages: 7-11 | In-School Event

BOOKED

OUT

3.

Comic Creations with Alan Nolan Author and illustrator Alan Nolan brings his comic workshops to schools. Join in a step-by-step drawing demo, then have the honour of creating your very own ending to Alan’s new book “Conor’s Caveman”, using your very own mini-comic and a bit of flare and imagination!

Friday 10th June | Ages: 9 - 12 | In-School Event

BOOKED

OUT

BOOKED

OUT

David’s sessions usually begin with him reading a short excerpt from one of his Walter Speazlebud books followed by his spelling and pronouncing the names of the children in the audience backwards. This sets the scene for further readings followed by the finale: a backwards spelling competition.

Fiday 10th June | Ages: 5+ | In-School Event

BACKWARD SPELLING

With David Donohue

4.

Welcome to The Magic Bookshop! It’s a treasure trove of wonders where books come to life and stories hop off the pages. Step inside and meet some of the inhabitants of this little shop, hear their stories and maybe even take a little of their magic home with you. This is an interactive theatre experience and audiences are invited to bring their gently used books to swap.

Friday 10th June | Ages 5 + | €3 | 10am, 11.15am & 12.30pm | Roscommon Arts Centre | Pre-Booking Essential Tel: 0906 625 824

Author and illustrator Alan Nolan hosts a workshop which consists of a short introduction into how he developed a love of books, comics, drawing and all things design. This is followed by a stepby-step drawing demo of one of his characters that the children can join in with. There is a mini-comic for each child based on Alan’s new book Conor’s Caveman – the group read the comic together (there’s a mystery happening), the comic is unfinished and the participants get to finish off the comic using their imagination and creativity!

Friday 10th June | Ages 9-12 | 3.15pm | Roscommon Library

The Magic Bookshop Monkeyshine Theatre Company in

association with Roscommon Arts Centre

Graphic Comics Workshop With Alan Nolan

5.

ROALD DAHL’S REVOLTING RHYMESwith Wayne O ConnorStoryteller and Artist Wayne O Connor re-imagines these fairytales in a suitably revolting manner! As the words tell the tales, Wayne draws the pictures in this energetic performance. Wayne is a Sligo based Illustrator originally from Wexford who now works predominantly in the field of games and gaming.

Saturday 11th June | Ages: 5 - 9 | 10am | Gleesons Townhouse

Early Years Music:

Codhladh Sámh

Join us for a truly unforgettable traditional music experience celebrating the forgotten lullabies of yesteryear. A trio of musicians and singers delight and enchant tiny audiences with a selection of favourite traditional lullabies. Angelic voices, music and gently moving projections will captivate babies and bring parents and carers on a trip down memory lane through gentle songs of slumber.

Saturday 11th June | 0 – 12 Months: 10am | 12 – 18 Months: 11.30am | Babies Free | Adults €10/€5 | Roscommon Arts Centre

6.

David started spelling backwards when he was “neves” and never looked“kcab”. He has published three books about his backwards-spelling hero, Walter Speazlebud. Now you get to see his quick mind at work as he reads from one of his books, spells just about any word you throw at him backwards and take part in his backwards spelling competition!

Saturday 11th June | Ages: 9 - 12 | 10am & 11.30am | Library

BACKWARD SPELLING

With David Donohue

POETRY WORKSHOP with Gerry BolandIn this hands-on (hint: bring a pen and a copybook!) workshop, Gerry will use some of the poems from his new collection to trigger new ideas and new poems from participants. It sounds tricky but actually it’s pretty easy, once you get the hang of it. And with Gerry’s enthusiastic and expert guidance, original and funny poems are just waiting to be created!

Saturday 11th June | Ages: 7 - 11 | 3pm | Gleesons Townhouse | Pre-Booking Essential Tel: 0906 625 824

7.

We are looking for audiences to “road test” FREE our brand new interactive theatre experience....

ROADWORKS We’ve invited “Bake!” performer Paul Curley and designer Ger Clancy to create a new show for this year’s Bookworms.

This innovative installation, invites kids to interact with the set and draw on their innate ability to read, tell and create stories. How do images and signs compare to spoken word and written text in telling stories? Limited to 30 kids per show, pre-booking advisable.

Saturday 11th June | Ages: 5 +| 12pm, 1.30pm & 3pm | Adm: Free | Roscommon Arts Centre Pre-Booking Essential Tel: 0906 625 824

Roscommon Arts Centre | ‘Time to Play’ resource-sharing & mentorship initiative

8.

The perfect story-telling treat for little ones! Come along and snuggle down on a rug for a cosy afternoon story with plenty of puppets to add to the fun!

Saturday 11th June | Ages: 3 - 5 | 4pm | The Pepper Mill Restaurant

Festival Venues This year’s festival venues will be easily identifiable as they will all have red balloons flying outside! They are:

Roscommon Arts Centre • Roscommon Library

The Comfy Café • The Peppermill Restaurant

Molloy’s Artisan Bakery • Gleeson’s Townhouse

Booking Information

Most events are free, but you do still need to pre-book some, as capacity is limited. Information Tel: 0906 625 824.

Snuggly Stories with Majella McGovern

In association with

9.

Design: Darragh Kerrigan Creative