Frank Cottrell-Boyce performance

How did it go?

We had a brilliant time with Children's Laureate Frank Cottrell-Boyce at Peterborough New Theatre this week. You can read all about it in this really wonderful blog post from Young Writers.

Part of the event was a Q&A session, and the children really asked some fantastic questions. Here are a few:

What has been your favourite project?
Although I've done lots of really exciting things, like worked on many film sets with famous actors, and worked with the Queen and Paddington Bear, and even wrote the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in the UK in 2012, I still think writing books for children is the thing I love doing the most.

Who inspired you to write?
My teacher at primary school, Sister Paul. My friend was away from school as he was unwell, and we were asked to write a story. I got really into it, and wrote and wrote. When my teacher read my story she couldn't believe that I had written it - and read it out to the whole class. It was then that I realised that Words are something that you can be good at. Hearing my teacher’s voice reading out my words was the most inspirational thing.

How is your relationship with your illustrator?
Steven Lenton is the illustrator I've always worked with. He lives in Brighton and I live in Liverpool so we don't work together in the same place. When I start to write a book, I make a scrapbook about the subject I am writing about with lots of pictures and cuttings and it helps me think myself into that world. Once the story is written and finished, I send the scrapbook to Steven who then uses the written story but also the visual scrapbook to help him create the illustrations.

How old are you?
I was born when it was black and white!

What was the Queen like?
She was very nice, frail because she was very old when we filmed the Paddington sketch, and she needed to sit down a lot. But she was a really good actor and did most of the talking in the sketch. Lots of people have since asked me if it was really the Queen (which it really was), but no-one has asked if it was really Paddington (who was computer generated!!!)!

Did you enjoy writing the book?
You have phases writing a book. Some days at the beginning it can feel amazing, like the same sort of feeling that you get when you learn to ride a bike. Then there is quite a lot of time when it's hard work, and then near the end it gets really exciting again.

Frank Cottrell-Boyce Workshop

Frank Cottrell Boyce also visited four lucky Peterborough schools and ran a creative writing workshop with classes of Year 5 and 6 children. The Assistant Headteacher of Winyates Primary wrote to us to say thank you:

I just wanted to say such a huge thank you for the wonderful time we had on Friday. Having Frank in for a free workshop really did make such a difference to our school and to our children. Frank was able to inspire every single child to write, no matter their need or ability and children who would normally be reluctant to share their ideas in front of the class were confident to do so. Every single one of them went home talking non-stop about the amazing author they had met - with many now inspired to become authors.

As a school we are so grateful for the time you spent with each of the children, they all treasure the signed copies of the books that were gifted to them. It meant so much to us that Frank also took the time to speak to our year 6's who had previously studied his books and even signed some of their writing which was inspired by Cosmic.

I can't put into words how grateful we are or how much of an impact those couple of hours have had on both the children and staff. I appreciate how much time, money and organisation must have gone into this Bookshow.

Thank you so much, we hope to see you again.

Did you go to this performance or attend one of the related workshops? Send us your photos and feedback to be featured on this page

Every child attending this performance will receive a FREE copy of Noah's Gold to take home and keep!

Venue:: Peterborough New Theatre, 46 Broadway, Peterborough, PE1 1RS
Date:: Thursday 14th November
Time:: 11:00 am
Duration:: Approx. 1 hour
Age range:: Years 5 and 6

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