Snowy Joy & the Toysavers – Festive Edition
Colchester Arts Centre
Monday 22 December 2025

Tickets £7 / £6
Family Ticket £22 (admits 4 people, at least one of whom must be a child).
Doors open 1.30pm, show starts 2pm.
This show is for a seated audience.

Book tickets at colchesterartscentre.ticketsolve.com.

Donate a ticket: There is a Pay It Forward option for this show. You can choose to purchase tickets for families that may not be in a position to afford a ticket to see this wonderful show. Please email ticketing@colchesterartscentre.com to be in line to receive Pay It Forward tickets.

This show is recommended for those aged 6 years and older. This is a seated show.

Based on the children’s book Snowy Joy by Nigerian-British author Sade Fadipe and adapted for stage by Margaret’s Music Ltd, the production combines drama, music, and dance in a joyful celebration of family, kindness, resilience, and community.

At the heart of the story is Adanah, a lively tween from Lagos, Nigeria, who is overjoyed at her first winter holiday in England. With snow topping her bucket list, audiences are swept into her adventure of wonder, hope, and discovery.

Directed by Margaret Omoniyi, the performance showcases young talent from the former Community360 Children’s Book Club, initiated by Godwin Daudu (AfiUK), with Sade Fadipe as resident author and Dee Lana as Storyteller. Adding festive rhythm and flair is Julia Obasa, founder of Afromoves, whose multi-genre dance collaborations bring colour, energy, and cultural vibrancy to the stage.

This uplifting community production is supported by Rebreate CIC, an organisation set up to support parents with children who have learning and developmental challenges, further reinforcing the show’s themes of inclusivity, resilience, and togetherness.

Audiences can expect a magical afternoon in one of Colchester’s most cherished venues, celebrated for its intimate atmosphere and historic charm. A perfect Christmas outing for families, community groups, and anyone looking to experience the magic of storytelling, music, and dance this festive season.

“Each year, I am humbled by the energy and commitment that make Snowy Joy & The Toysavers possible. Every performance is a testament to inclusivity and the belief that the arts should be accessible to all (a perception shared with, and upheld by our incredible director: Margaret’s Music Ltd ) no matter their background, ability, or circumstance. That’s what makes this show so special.”

Sade Fadipe

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The Essex Explorer magazine is a seasonal magazine with fascinating features, spotlight articles, inspirational lifestyle ideas, competitions and all of the latest news from across our Essex Country Parks and places.

Take a look at the Autumn/Winter Essex Explore Magazine here.

The post Autumn/Winter Essex Explorer Magazine out now appeared first on Essex Book Festival.

Through interactive exhibits, toys and illustrations Oi Chelmsford! Kes Gray: Chelmsford Born and Read will celebrate the author’s best loved book characters and share how his childhood experiences across Chelmsford have influenced their adventures.

Oi Chelmsford! is an ode to Kes Gray’s quirky imagination. Children will be able to immerse themselves in the author’s books, with large, bold and colourful illustrations on display – including drawings by famed children’s illustrators, Nick Sharratt, Garry Parsons and Jim Field.

Increasing access for SEN families

Oi Chelmsford! has been curated by the museum in collaboration with Kes Gray and publishers Penguin Random House and Hachette Children’s Group. The museum has also worked closely on the exhibition with young Special Educational Needs (SEN) families through the charity Action for Family Carers. Local SEN families have been consulted during the design phase of the exhibition, to ensure interactive elements are widely accessible to all families and provide positive sensory experiences for SEN children. The outcome of this work will help build upon the museum’s existing offer for SEN families.

Exhibition opens 29 November

Oi Chelmsford! opens on Saturday 29 November and will run until June 2026.

An accompanying programme of events will provide opportunities for families to further explore the imaginative world of Kes Gray.

Watch this space for news of our special Oi Chelmsford! event taking place during Essex Book Festival 2026!

Read more about the Oi Chelmsford! exhibition in this Chelmsford City Life article.

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At a time when things can feel overwhelming, Professor Jules Pretty reminds us that stories still matter. They shape how we see the world, how we act within it, and how we sustain hope when the data looks bleak.

‘Story for Climate and Nature Recovery’ contains short (5-10 min) films. Some will be stories about people and places, others will be on how story works, or does not. How it can be deployed and used to create transformations. How words, sentences and story can be spells. How they can create magic.

You can find these stories here: youtube.com/@JulesPretty58

Jules Pretty is an adviser to Essex Book Festival’s board. He is a researcher and writer on environment and society and is author of several books on climate, nature and the stories we tell.

The post Story for Climate and Nature Recovery appeared first on Essex Book Festival.

This is an opportunity to meet the authors, ask them questions, hear their discussions and talk about their researches.

16 November 2025 | 10:00 am – 5:00 pm

10.30am Lucy Hughes Hallett
The Scapegoat: The brief and brilliant life of The Duke of Buckingham

12 noon Rebecca Willis
Life and Death and getting dressed

Lunch
Bring a picnic or visit our Tearoom where there will be homemade soup and rolls, Cornish pasties, tray bake as well as drinks, coffee and tea

2pm Edward Whitley
Jane Austen and George Eliot: The Lady and the Radical

3.30pm Ian Collins
Blythe Spirit: The remarkable Life of Ronald Blythe

Tickets are available for individual events or there is a delicious discount to encourage you to go along for the whole day!

Find out more and book tickets at layermarneytower.co.uk/events/winter-books/

The post Winter Books appeared first on Essex Book Festival.

Sub Titles Over is a play by Mad, Who?

Performed by Marina Cusí, Artistic Director of Mad, Who? and Essex Book Festival friend and supporter.

This award-winning, OFFIES 2025 finalist, one-woman-show exploring censorship and manipulation through translation and subtitles is set against the backdrop of the referendum for Catalan independence on the 1st of October 2017. Through its exploration of how subtitles and translation shape our understanding of foreign affairs, Sub Titles Over challenges audiences to think critically about the information we consume from international media.

Saturday 1 November, 3-4pm
Play, followed by Q&A

St John the Baptist Church, Hoxton
Pitfield Street, London, N1 6NP

Book tickets here

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To register your interest in attending the next Local Writers Showcase complete the online submission form here.

The post Local Writers Showcase – register your interest by 22 October appeared first on Essex Book Festival.

30% discount code available below.

Friday 10 October 2025
7pm (doors at 6.30pm)
The Minors, 74 High Street, Colchester, CO1 1UE

Tickets: £15 general / £10 friends of the Minories
Book now: theminories.org/event/a-musical-iliad

Award-winning storyteller Clare Goodall and historical musician Lizzie Gutteridge combine forces to bring you an epic tale of love, tragedy and loss in an energetic and punchy adaptation, where the characters come to life even if that life then ends brutally in bloodshed.

This is the epic that everyone has heard of but few have read. Our adaptation brings it to life, showing why it’s been so well known for 3,000 years, and how it deals with issues that are still relevant today…

“A unique, powerful and compelling piece of time travel.”
“It was breathtaking and awesome!”

Use this special discount code for 30% off: ILIAD30

The post An epic tale of love, tragedy and loss – A Musical Iliad at The Minories appeared first on Essex Book Festival.

It’s simple. Students aged 7-16 years (there are two categories: 7-11yrs and 12-16yrs) are invited to write a short story up to 500 words based around the theme of Climate Change.

The stories will then be submitted by participating schools – or individually if home-schoolers – each school selecting a maximum of two entries per class to form part of a countywide longlist.

Winners will be announced at a special ceremony on 28th February 2026 at Essex Book Festival’s annual Manifesto for Essex Climate Action Youth Summit.

Festival Director Ros Green says: –

Ever since the launch of our Manifesto for Essex Project in 2020, we have been inviting young people across the county – whether its photography students at Harlow College or members of YAK (Young Artists Kommunity) based at Firstsite in Colchester – to take part in a range of writing and artist activities designed to raise awareness of the present and future impacts of Climate Change on our wonderful county.

Words for a Greener World Schools Short Story Competition is our first countywide Manifesto for Essex activity, and, as such, is hugely exciting for us. I can’t wait to read the stories and have the opportunity to meet some of Essex’s talented next generation of writers!

We were delighted to launch the competition in the fabulous forest school space at Tendring Primary School last Friday, where a group of YR4 pupils participated in an eco-writing workshop led by award-winning local children’s author Wendy Constance.

The children really enjoyed the opportunity to do a writing activity outdoors…

I liked doing it outside because it was better than being stuck indoors all day and I enjoyed hearing the birds tweeting while I worked.

I liked listening to other people’s stories and I could picture them in my head and make them come to life. It got my imagination going.

I want to enter the competition because I would like more books in the school, and I think people would enjoy them.

Find out all of the details for the competition at essexbookfestival.org.uk/words-for-a-greener-world.

The post Announcing the launch of a new schools short story writing competition – Words for a Greener World appeared first on Essex Book Festival.

Meandering Mondays
Meandering Mondays are a gentle stroll of up to 2 miles in different Thurrock locations, followed by tea and chats. They take place every second Monday of the month – no booking required.

Weekend Trails
Weekend Trails are longer walks of up to 5 miles in Thurrock and the surrounding areas, often focused around a special theme. They take place on Saturdays or Sundays each month – booking required.

October

Meandering Monday, Purfleet
Monday 13 October, 10am – 12pm

Join this walk in Purfleet starting and ending at the Kinetika Studio, exploring the vibrant T100 Natural Dye Garden and rounding off with tea and cake.

Weekend Trail, East Tilbury
Saturday 11 October, 10am – 1pm

A 5-mile, 3-hour walk along the East Tilbury Sea Wall, starting at the train station and linking with the BATA Heritage Centre’s open day.

Find out more at t100festival.co.uk/regularwalks/

November

Meandering Monday, South Ockendon
Monday 11 November, 10am – 12pm

Discover South Ockendon with a gentle walk from the Garden Centre to the Mollands Lane Sensory Garden, finishing cup with tea and cake.

Weekend Trail, Little Belhus
Sunday 16 November, 10am – 1pm

A 4.6-mile, 3-hour walk in little Belhus, from Ockendon Station or The Green, where you’ll explore insights on historical pilgrimage routes through Thurrock and end with a visit to the beautiful St Nicholas Church.

Find out more at t100festival.co.uk/regularwalks/

T100
Explore | Talk | Create

T100 is a free cultural programme that invites you to connect with Thurrock and its surroundings in new and unexpected ways. By exploring local places, sharing stories, and getting creative, they bring people together and celebrate the voices that make our communities unique.

Visit T100festival.co.uk to learn more.

Follow @T100festival

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