Lit Fest 2011: June 27th – 29th

The English Department was happy to welcome a range of guests for the annual Lit Fest which aimed to offer pupils and people outside of school three days of ideas, adventures and insights.

Monday saw the return of Sue Allonby to Ribblesdale. After a long and happy spell as the school librarian Sue has become a full time story teller and was able to engage the pupils with both traditional and modern tales. She also visited Castleford Home for the Elderly to entertain the residents there.

On Tuesday Kat Quatermass visited from Cumbria. Kat is a performance artist who acted out various tales for the groups that she was with and set them a range of connected tasks.

Wednesday saw the school welcome Year 6 groups from local primary schools. Brookside, Pendle and St. Michael’s and St. John’s enjoyed time with Dr. Julius Drake, a Victorian time traveller and collector of curiosities, each of which had a tale attached to it. Julius is the creation of Fran O’Boyle, who presented the children with a range of stories and some mind-boggling props. Fran also visited St. James and Chatburn Primary schools to deliver performances there.

Finally Helen Stewart from the Manchester based arts group ‘Word of Mouth’ spent time in school with several classes, telling tales and setting tasks.

In the course of the three days around 450 people experienced something a little different and hopefully a little thought provoking in the English timetable, and it is hoped to repeat the event next year.