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

Listen to Sade Fadipe discuss the stage adaptation of her book Snowy Joy with Akylah Rodriguez on BBC Essex Radio (broadcast 4 Dec 2025, available to listen again until 3 Jan 2026).

Listen here.

The post Snowy Joy & the Toysavers – Festive Edition appeared first on Essex Book Festival.

About the Event:

Based on Snowy Joy (2019) written by Sade Fadipe (an Essex-based children’s author) and adapted for stage by Margaret’s Music Ltd, this vibrant production is a captivating fusion of drama, music, and dance, exploring themes of family, kindness, resilience, refuge, dignity, and community.

Adanah, a lively tween from Lagos, Nigeria, is overjoyed about her first-ever winter holiday to England. With snow topping her bucket list, she’s ready for the adventure of a lifetime. But her plans take an unexpected twist when she stumbles upon Khindamah – The Land of Broken Toys. Here, Adanah reflects on all she has left behind, until she comes face to face with the displaced children of Khindamah, paving the way for the heartwarming tale of the Toysavers.

Directed by Margaret Omoniyi and performed by Community360 Children’s Book Club, Sade Fadipe (its resident author), and motivational speaker and author Dee Lana, the production also features vibrant and inclusive dance performances by Afromoves, Colchester, choreographed by Julia Obasa and her dance group.

Perfect for audiences across generations—from the 60s to the present—and recommended for ages 6 and above, this unforgettable experience will leave hearts warmed and spirits lifted.

Snowy Joy and the Toysavers
Doors 1:30pm, Show at 2pm
Standard: £7, Concessions: £6, Family ticket (for 4 people – at least one child): £22
This show is recommended for those aged 6 years and older

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.

Book tickets: Colchester Arts Centre website

Credits

Artists:
Director & Co-Producer, Margaret Omoniyi (Margaret’s Music Ltd)
Author & Co-Producer, Sade Fadipe
Choreographer, Julia Obasa (Afromoves, Colchester)
Illustrators, Tayo Fatunla & Shedrach Ayalomeh
Text, Illustration and Publishing Copyrights: Sade Fadipe

Community Engagement:
Mr Godwin Daudu, (Engagement Officer and Co-ordinator, Community 360 Children’s Book Club).
Mrs Arit Akpan, (Director, Re-Breath CIC, Colchester).

Supported by: Colchester Arts Centre.

The post Snowy Joy and the Toysavers – get ready for an unforgettable experience appeared first on Essex Book Festival.

Saturday 30 May 2026, 1.30pm – 3.00pm
Museum of Chelmsford, Oaklands Park, Moulsham Street, Chelmsford, CM2 9AQ

A writing workshop for aspiring children’s authors inspired by Kes Gray’s Oi Chelmsford! exhibition. 

Come along to a hands-on workshop that will inspire you to craft your own stories. Delivered by Sade Fadipe (author of prose, poetry and playscripts) who was first inspired by the Quentin Blake’s playful style, during an Author visit to a school she taught at many years ago. Sade’s narrative and unusual journey into authorship is enough to motivate anyone with dreams of one day becoming published!

Tickets: £20 / £15 concessions (students, under 27s and unwaged) includes entry to Museum of Chelmsford

Museum of Chelmsford Members can use still use their 10% off discount benefit when booking online. All members will have received a promocode in a recent email, but if you haven’t received this, contact them direct on museums@chelmsford.gov.uk or by calling 01245 605700.

This event is part of Oi Chelmsford! – a day of family storytelling, and artist and writing workshops at the Museum of Chelmsford set against the fabulous backdrop of the exhibition Oi Chelmsford! Kes Gray: Chelmsford Born and Read – a celebration of the work and life of Chelmsford-born bestselling children’s author, Kes Gray.

Event Information

☕  The Hive Cafe will be open and serving drinks and food.
🚗 There is limited free parking at the venue.
♿ The venue is wheelchair accessible. There are disabled facilities on site. Find out more at chelmsford.gov.uk/museums/accessibility/.
📸 We will be taking photos at this event. If you do not want your photo taken please let a member of the team know on arrival.
🌐 Find out more about visiting the venue at chelmsford.gov.uk/museums/visit/museum-of-chelmsford/.

The post The Art of Playfulness – A writing workshop for aspiring children’s authors appeared first on Essex Book Festival.

“Nothing beats the joy of being truly seen.”

We are hugely proud to have played a tiny part in this story…

In an exclusive article with Thread Books, Florence Ọlájídé writes about her experience following the release of her book, Coconut:

“I spent the four months from March to July 2020 in lockdown, scurrying away at my computer, determined to make the most of the opportunity that the enforced captivity provided. My goal: to finish the memoir I started fifteen years earlier… I finished the book and Thread offered me a publishing deal. From that moment, my world changed in ways that I could not have foreseen.”

Florence describes the unique bonds created with people impacted by her book, including Sade Fadipe who hosted an event with Florence at Basildon Library in June 2022 as part of Essex Book Festival.

Read the full article, The Farmed, at thread-books.com

The post The Farmed by Florence Ọlájídé appeared first on Essex Book Festival.