Posted on Thursday 20th March 2025
The Festival of Brilliant will be returning to Staffordshire Moorlands this summer, following the huge success of last year’s event.
Children’s Laureates will appear alongside a stellar line-up of authors, illustrators, poets and performers when it returns to Biddulph Old Hall on 11 and 12 July.
This year’s festival features Children’s Laureates Frank Cottrell Boyce and Joseph Coelho, author/illustrator Nadia Shireen and spoken word artist Steven Camden (aka Polarbear).
There will be a host of interactive readings, talks, workshops, storytelling sessions and creative activities taking place in the magical grounds of Biddulph Old Hall. Festival goers will be wowed by performances and installations inspired by books and stories as well as food stalls and a creator’s market.
Victoria Wilson, Cabinet Member for Culture and Communities at Staffordshire County Council said:
“We are delighted to be supporting the second year of this inspiring festival that fosters a passion for reading amongst children.
“The festival is a great example of how libraries, local businesses, health, education and cultural organisations can come together to help raise literacy levels in local areas.
“This wonderful event helps to make reading for pleasure accessible for all children and families across Staffordshire Moorlands through awe-inspiring authors, performances, creativity & fun.”
Sarah Bird, creative director of OUTSIDE, said:
“We’re so excited to be back at the magical Biddulph Old Hall after the success of last year’s festival. And what a perfect setting to fit this year’s Summer Reading Challenge ‘Story Garden’ theme.
“We can’t wait to welcome schools, community groups and families from across the Moorlands to join us once more in Biddulph for what’s set to be an incredible celebration of how brilliant children’s books are.”
Children’s Laureate 2022-2024 Joseph Coelho makes his Festival of Brilliant debut this year. An award-winning poet, playwright and writer, Coelho will invite festival goers to discover a world of adventure and uncover the skills it takes to be a world class genie hunter.
Champions of children’s books, writer and Children’s Laureate 2024-2026 Frank Cottrell Boyce and author/illustrator Nadia Shireen, who also host the popular podcast about children’s books The Island of Brilliant which inspired the festival, will present a special live recording of the podcast.
Children will also learn how to create funny characters for comics with cartoonist Marc Jackson, make collages inspired by nature with illustrator Kate Slater, and join Biddulph-based illustrator Ruth Hearson on a ‘sketch crawl’ around the gardens.
The festival will take place at Biddulph Old Hall on 11th July for schools and 12th July for families. Tickets are available now for Saturday 12th July 2025 at festivalofbrilliant.org