Reading at The Big Weekend, Parker's Piece June 2019

Headteacher Rae invited me to come and read Umbrella to children at The Big Weekend summer event in Parkers Piece, Cambridge.  I did not know what to expect and the closer I got to the park the more I was wondering if I was going to find the Storytelling tent. There were bands on stages drawled by towers of amps blasting sound so that there was no organ in your body free from their drumming and bass. Spectators where head banging arms in the air, bodies in motion, crowds jumping and screaming. The temptation to turn around and seek refuge was powerful. But I did find it, and it was beautiful little oasis of quiet in an otherwise loud event.


This was one of the very first times I read Umbrella to a little group of children and their families. They were so lovely all sitting in rugs, snuggling up with each other as I read them the book. My tongue felt like  somebody else's, my words so cluttered in my mouth. I had to speak loudly to be heard, and my confidence wasn't great that morning, I'm so much more used to a classroom setting. They liked it and I survived it. They had a few questions. I was not aware I was about to get  a masterclass. 
Chip is a fantastic storyteller. His event was thankfully after mine, everyone would have just fallen asleep during mine otherwise! Chip cast a few members of the audience and built a great tale from bits, that the children participating build together. I was so glad I stayed and listened. There is just so much more to this when doing an event in a field. 

There is so much to learn in the skill of bringing a story to life when you have an audience. Writing a book that plays out on the mind of a reader is something different to taking that book and giving it breath in a crowd.