The Boy in the Dress with David Walliams

The BFI is inundated with fun things to do with children in London this December, and David Walliams' 'Funday Workshop' is no exception. Having just published his remarkably successful children’s book The Boy in the Dress, the well-known television personality and comedian will be fronting a day of fun at the BFI to mark the release the screen adaptation of his book. After last Christmas’s smash hit Mr. Stink, Walliams’s latest production is sure to be another heart warming family classic.
The story follows Dennis, an ordinary kid who likes football as much as the next boy. But when Dennis’s eye stumbles upon an issue of Vogue magazine, it ignites a peculiar interest in fashion. On forging an exciting new friendship with a girl named Lisa, Dennis is encouraged to dress up and soon begins to wear dresses to school, much to the horror of his Dad and headmaster. The resulting torrent of bigotry is a battle Dennis must face. The Boy in the Dress is, first and foremost, a piece of children’s entertainment and although its social and gendered implications are clear, Walliams has maintained: ‘I wanted to examine the idea of difference and how someone doing such a thing might change people’s attitudes… It's a story about adult hypocrisy, and the injustice of being a child.’
The BFI’s Funday Workshop is perfect for fans of the book, who will be asked to draw their favourite characters and sketch scenes from the book before they appear on the big screen, to be seen by children for the very first time. Arts and crafts stands and prizes for the most imaginative adaptations will continue throughout the day before the screening at which Walliams himself will appear to answer questions from the floor. Finally, a brief book signing and a chance to meet the star will be on offer, exclusively for ticket holders only. The fun starts at noon and organisers insist that costumes are encouraged!
The Boy in the Dress has unfortunately now sold out. Look at our other listings for kids here.