Sydney Smith Performance

It was such a privilege to spend the morning with Canadian illustrator and author Sydney Smith at the Northcott theatre in Exeter. Sydney is a lively, energetic and engaging performer and his enthusiasm for his art and books was infectious. The children loved listening to Sydney read his books Town is by the Sea, and Small in the City (both winners of the Kate Greenaway Medal) and then watched open mouthed as he painted exquisitely to the sounds of the beach and the sea, and then the sounds of the city in a snow storm. It was magical watching Sydney's paintings come to life and hear the audience gasping things like 'Wow!' and 'How does he do that??'

It was an inspirational and fun performance, and Sydney even finished to gales of laughter and delight as he did a handstand! We all loved handing out hundreds of copies of Town is by the Sea to the children as they left to go back to school, and the children were delighted too!