Saturday 22 October is family day at Cambridge University’s Festival of Ideas, the UK’s only arts, humanities and social sciences festival which runs between 19-30 October. Join award winning illustrator Nick Sharratt and children’s authors Marcus Sedgwick and Charlie Higson along with dancers, artists and archaeologists at dozens of free and fun events for the whole family.
Saturday 22 October is family day at Cambridge University’s Festival of Ideas, the UK’s only arts, humanities and social sciences festival which runs between 19-30 October. Join award winning illustrator Nick Sharratt and children’s authors Marcus Sedgwick and Charlie Higson along with dancers, artists and archaeologists at dozens of free and fun events for the whole family.
Hilarious videos and side-stitching live comedy abound during Popcorn Comedy for kids with well-known comedians and BBC presenters Holly Walsh and Ed Petrie (All over the place). With impressive comedy credentials - Holly is one of the founders of Popcorn Comedy and is shortlisted for the 2011 Edinburgh Comedy Award (Best Newcomer) while Ed was on Nickelodeon’s Slime across the UK and CBBC’s Ed and Oucho’s Excellent Adventures - they will ensure that everyone is laughing the whole hour through (West Road Concert Hall, 12noon-1pm. Pre-book, suitable for 8+). There is also an evening performance of Popcorn Comedy for adults (The Pitt Building, 7:30-9:30pm, £5. Pre-booking recommended - unsold tickets available on the door).
Also on hand to stir the creative juices of young and old alike is award winning author and illustrator Nick Sharratt. Nick has penned 39 books, including Pirate Pete, Elephant Wellyphant, and Moo-Cow Kung-Fu-Cow, and illustrated over 200. Perhaps his most beloved illustrations are in The Story of Tracy Beaker, the most lent library book in the UK during the past decade. Nick was recently awarded a Gold Blue Peter Badge and was appointed the official illustrator for World Book Day in 2006. Join Nick as he introduces all his favourite crazy characters - and help him invent some more! (Lady Mitchell Hall, 3-4pm. Pre-book, suitable for 5+).
There are plenty more drop in events throughout the day. The Cambridge Community Circus will be on hand teaching participants skills including juggling, plate-spinning, and devilstick, while demonstrating awe inspiring feats of their own (Defying gravity at Newnham College, 11am-1pm).
Dance troupes from Cambridge will also perform throughout the day - Group Senzala will entertain with Capoeira, the newest phenomenon from Brazil while the Capriol Early Dance Society will go back in time to Tudor England, resurrecting dances that were performed during reigns of Henry VIII and Queen Elizabeth I (Dance extravaganza! at the Sidgwick Site, 12:15pm-3:45pm).
Join the ranks of great musicians like Beethoven or The Beatles by composing a masterpiece with the help of sound engineers during the Music technology workshop. Musical story time, ideal for the little ones, features narrations and performances which bring to life the classic fairy tales Goldilocks and the three bears, Red Riding Hood and The boy who cried wolf. (Musical mayhem at the West Road Concert Hall, 12noon-3:30pm and 12:30pm-1:30pm).
Throughout the city there are plenty of activities the whole family can participate in. Explore the world of the Anglo-Saxons and make an Egyptian mask at Girton College (11am-4pm), or head to the Cambridge Archaeological Unit for Prehistory Day where everyone can try their hand at cave painting, spear throwing, and making clay figurines (10:30am-4pm).
With more than 170 free events running between 19-30 October, this year’s Festival of Ideas is bigger than ever and aims to provide something for everyone, children and adults alike. The Festival is a great opportunity for the family to enjoy an entertaining and educational day out.
For more information and to book events please visit www.cam.ac.uk/festivalofideas.
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