The Festival of Brilliant, which returns to Biddulph this summer is organised by arts programme OUTSIDE and Staffordshire Moorlands librarians working with a group of children and young people, teachers, artists and authors from the district who share a love of reading, the festival takes place at Biddulph Old Hall this July.
Champions of children’s books, writer and Children’s Laureate 2024-2026 Frank Cottrell Boyce and author/illustrator Nadia Shireen, who also host the popular podcast about children’s books The Island of Brilliant which inspired the festival, will present a special live recording of the podcast. Children’s Laureate 2022-2024 Joseph Coelho makes his Festival of Brilliant debut this year. An award-winning poet, playwright and writer, Coelho will invite festival goers to discover a world of adventure and uncover the skills it takes to be a world class genie hunter. BookTrust Writer in Residence Patrice Lawrence will also be making her first appearance at the festival, discussing the real-life inspirations behind her work and sharing tips on crafting a compelling mystery.
The spoken word line-up at The Festival of Brilliant features one of the most respected spoken word artists in the UK, Steven Camden (aka Polarbear) who will run a story building session. Scarlett Ward, Staffordshire Poet Laureate 2024-2026, will perform a brand new poem written to open the festival. There will also be poetry workshops with Gabriella Gay and local headteacher Charlotte Rowley for children to discover and share their love of rhyme and writing.
A range of illustrators will host interactive, hands-on sessions. Children can learn how to create funny characters for comics with cartoonist Marc Jackson, make collages inspired by nature with illustrator Kate Slater, and join Biddulph-based illustrator Ruth Hearson on a ‘sketch crawl’ around the gardens.
Around the grounds of Biddulph Old Hall, festival goers will be wowed by performances and installations inspired by books and stories. Trampoline artist Max Calaf’s show Anyday invites audiences to see stories from a whole new perspective, exploring the magic of books through acrobatics and movement. Working Boys Club bring Noisy Noise Noise, a fun and interactive sound library of books which, when pressed, trigger a surprising noise. Little ones will be mesmerised by The Bewonderment Machine, a cycle-powered carousel by A Bird in the Hand Theatre which celebrates those creatures losing their place in children’s lives and language. Another curious contraption, The Magic Lantern which travels the land telling and collecting stories, will be visiting the festival with storyteller Ian Douglas and puppeteer Jo Douglas.
Further programme details will be announced over the coming months, including more readings, talks, workshops, storytelling sessions and creative activities. There will also be a selection of food and drink stalls, a mini craft market and the enchanting gardens of Biddulph Old Hall for visitors to enjoy.
Who’s it for?
Everyone, but particularly children in the Staffordshire Moorlands. They’ll be working with a range of brilliant local groups including the women’s refuge, housing association, community zone and SEND parent’s group to make the festival as inclusive and accessible as possible.
How much are the tickets?
£10 supporter, £7.50 standard, £5 subsidised, under 3s free, car park pass £5
Free local festival shuttle bus service will be in operation
Note: By booking tickets, you consent to photography/filming from the event by OUTSIDE to promote the programme and its projects, events and activities.
When is the event and how do I book it?
The event will be running from Friday, 11 to Saturday, 12 July 2025
Friday 11th July 2025, 10am-12pm & 12.45-3pm
For schools and community groups
Free
Saturday 12th July 2025, 10am-6.30pm
For children of all ages and their families
Where is Biddulph Old Hall ?
Biddulph Old Hall is a brilliant venue. It has a magical, exploratory, fairy tale feel, offering the perfect backdrop for children to feed their imagination.
Biddulph Old Hall
Biddulph
Stoke-on-Trent
ST8 7SQ
Photography & filming
You are welcome to take photographs and videos of the festival site and programme for personal use.
Photography and videography by OUTSIDE will be taking place during the event. By booking tickets, ticket holders consent to being photographed/filmed to promote OUTSIDE and its projects.
Important Note:
- Dogs – No dogs other than assistance dogs will be permitted on site for the festival.
- The site is fairly small with short distances between the festival venues on site. These will consist of a large and small marquee area, some smaller tent areas, an indoor hall area and area for both food and drink and non-food stalls and vendors.
- Tickets may be available on the door subject to availability. It is recommended to pre-book your tickets in advance.
- School coaches/minibuses will be able to drop off and collect from the Talbot Pub car park on Grange Road. Classes will then be able to walk via an off road footpath to the venue, marked on image below with a green line. Please schedule drop off for 9.30am and collection at 2.30pm. To allow sufficient time for everyone to walk to/from the drop off point to the venue, programming will run from 10am-2.15pm.
- Parking will be available at Biddulph Old Hall at £5 per car – book your parking ticket here. We’ll also be operating a FREE shuttle bus service from Biddulph town centre – book your bus ticket here.
- School coaches / minibuses are available on friday and will be able to drop off and collect from the Talbot Pub car park on Grange Road. Classes will then be able to walk via an off road footpath to the venue, marked on image below with a green line.
- Parking is available at Biddulph Old Hall at a cost of £5 per car. Please car share where possible. Tickets to be purchased along with festival tickets or can be purchased separately at a later date via the ticket link. Main entrance track to Biddulph Old Hall is on Overton Road and will be clearly signposted.
- Free Bus – A free local festival bus service will be in operation in the surrounding area on Saturday. Hollinshead Coaches will be starting the route outside Biddulph Youth & Community Zone, then Staffordshire Moorlands Family Hub, followed by Sainsbury’s / Biddulph Town Hall, The Rose & Crown, Biddulph Moor and finally arriving at Biddulph Old Hall. This will be a round-trip, then going from Biddulph Old Hall, to Biddulph Moor, The Rose & Crown, etc. The first coach will depart at 9:30am from Biddulph Youth & Community Zone, and these round-trips will begin every 45 minutes (there will be a break with no services between 1-2pm). The last bus to Biddulph Old Hall will be at 4pm and the last bus leaving Biddulph Old Hall will be at 6pm.
- Wheelchair access – Limited in some areas of the house and garden. Yes, but limited in some areas of the house and garden. See the Access Video which will be updated for 2025 based on site layout.
- BSL interpretation will be available for a selection of the programme. Please contact the organisers directly for more information
- Quiet Space Yes, there will be a quiet tent for time out
- Disable toilet – There will be a portable disabled access toilet on site at the venue. Additionally there will be a changing places unit available.
- Pushchairs – Event is accessible for buggies / pushchairs
- Food & Drinks There will be food and drink vendors on site during the festival on Saturday. No alcohol is permitted.
About OUTSIDE
OUTSIDE is a new Creative People and Places project, funded through Arts Council England. A participatory arts programme, OUTSIDE is led by local residents in the Staffordshire Moorlands working with professional artists. Together, they will co-curate ambitious, inspiring and inclusive arts and cultural activities and events celebrating life in the rural landscapes, villages and market towns of the Moorlands.
For more information, visit outsidearts.org
Since its launch through Arts Council England in 2012, Creative People and Places projects have empowered communities across the country to take the lead in deciding what creative activities they want and need. The projects have a wide-ranging, positive impact on individuals and communities in parts of the country where involvement in arts and culture is significantly below the national average. There have been over 10 million engagements with the programme – 86% of which are from groups with low to medium engagement with arts and culture.
From 2022 – 2025, Arts Council England is investing £38.3 million in Creative People and Places through National Lottery funding, so more communities can choose the creativity and culture on offer in their local area. Arts Council England is committed to supporting Creative People and Places projects in helping ‘everyone, everywhere’ enjoy creativity and culture as part of the Let’s Create strategy.
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Photo Credit: OUTSIDE/Jenny Harper
