Imagine That: A Festival Created BY Children FOR Children

If you’re a parent, a child, or just an adult who never grew up then the Southbank Centre’s annual Imagine Children’s Festival, now in its tenth year, is an absolute must.

Storytelling, performance, comedy, music and dance come together to form a festival with a difference – not only is it for children, it’s also largely curated by children, so the diverse programme is brimming with events that ignore the boring constraints of adult conventionality.

The festival opens with with the world preview of Academy Award-winning producer Hugh Welchman's The Flying Machine, an animated 3D film marking the 200th anniversary of Chopin's birth. It features the American film star Heather Graham and the world-famous classical pianist Lang Lang. As with the other festival events, make sure you book.

Big-name children’s authors will be there in droves, of course. From picture-book to teen writers, some of the best in the business will be attending, including Children’s Laureates past and present Jacqueline Wilson and Malorie Blackman; Lauren Child and Cressida Cowell, who between them brought us Charlie and Lola and How to Train Your Dragon; Francesca Simon of Horrid Henry fame; the hilarious Philip Ardagh will be holding court for an interactive storytelling session, and the irrepressible Laura Dockrill will be talking Darcy Burdock and the nitty-gritty of writing for tweens.

Picture- and comic-book illustrators with be hosting drawing workshops for those who love to get the crayons out, and if you want to see a true master at work, the great Quentin Blake will be doing live illustration that will undoubtedly leave you utterly spellbound.

Of course, with the kids in charge, there’s plenty of off-the-wall stuff going on too. There’ll be a Secret Garden to explore, a giant sleepover in the Festival Hall, Topsy-Turvy Day, where you’re invited to wear everything upside down and back to front, and a mass book swap, plus great shows, such as a staged version of Giles Andreae’s Captain Flinn and the Pirate Dinosaurs, Michael Rosen’s time-travelling musical theme park The Great Enormo and Benjamin Zephaniah and Lemn Sissay’s Refugee Boy.

Polly Dunbar, of the CBeebies show Tilly and Friends, has put together a musical event for the younger ones with drawing, singing, and dancing. She will also release of brand new Tilly and Friends picture books. As we all know, life for a toddler can't be too sensual. Oily Cart's multi-sensory show Tube conjures up a tactile wonderland, a feast for the senses with a kaleidoscope of colours. 

And that barely scratches the surface. There’s too much goodness packed into this two-week bonanza to comprehensively list here, so check out the festival website for the full programme and don't delay in booking. Thoughtfully timed over half-term, and with many events going free, this festival is about as child-friendly – and parent-friendly – as they come.