Dalek coming to St Leonards

Dalek rolls into St Leonards as part of Litfest Doctor Who event

Doctor Who fans will get the chance to meet a ‘live’ Dalek face-to-face reports Angela J. Phillip. They will be able to use a special piece of kit to sound exactly like one of the Doctor’s fearsome adversaries at a special family event taking place at Hastings Literary Festival in August.

Simon Guerrier, who has written many Doctor Who books, radio dramas and comics, is teaming up with Mark Ayres, musical director of the Radiophonic Workshop and composer of Doctor Who soundtracks, to give a unique look behind the scenes of the iconic TV series.

In a session featuring lots of audience participation, the pair will talk about how the Doctor Who theme tune was created and what goes into iconic effects like the TARDIS materialising and the voice of the Daleks.

As well as meeting one of the Doctor’s fearsome adversaries, Mark and Simon’s audience will get to help them dream up the opening of a new adventure filled with terrifying, alien sounds.

Doctor Who and the Sound of Fear, at Kino Teatr in St Leonards, will also raise funds for the National Literacy Trust and Get Hastings Reading, a campaign to raise awareness of the importance of literacy whilst building community capacity to tackle literacy issues.

The event is part of a wider link-up between Hastings Literary Festival and Get Hastings Reading, which launched earlier this year thanks to a partnership between the National Literacy Trust and the Department for Education’s Opportunity Area in Hastings.

The National Literacy Trust and Get Hastings Reading are sponsoring a free colouring book and pencils for every child attending The Caterpillar and the Blackbird, a free LitFest show for children aged 4+, at St Mary in the Castle, Hastings, on Friday August 30.

Together they are also running a colouring competition for children aged 6 and upwards – details and entry forms can be downloaded from the LitFest website at www.hastingslitfest.org or collected from ASDA in St Leonards; Rock House, Cambridge Road, Hastings; and from health and wellbeing hubs in Hastings and St Leonards.

Sam Davey

Sam Davey, Hastings Litfest co-founder, says: “Being able to read well is a fundamental for anyone to achieve the quality of life they’re entitled to, so we’re delighted to be working with the National Literacy Trust and Get Hastings Reading to promote the power of the written word in Hastings and St Leonards.”

Graeme Quinnell, National Literacy Trust Hub Manager, says: “Research shows that reading for as little as ten minutes every day has an important impact on how well a child does at school.”

“Reading is just as important for adults as evidence also shows that reading can help them relax, relieves stress and improves empathy. We’re helping Hastings LitFest to spread the word about their wide range of free children’s events; about a family foraging session with author David Hamilton and a free Words for Wellbeing workshop for adults.”

• Information about Hastings LitFest’s full programme of more than 50 events is available at www.hastingslitfest.org.
• Tickets for Doctor Who and the Sound of Fear, on August 30, are available from Kino Teatr, Norman Road, St Leonards or online at https://www.kino-teatr.co.uk
• Tickets for The Caterpillar and the Blackbird are free, but must be booked in advance through Hastings LitFest site. Children need to be accompanied.

for further information, see
Get Hastings Reading

Angela J. Phillip

Images supplied by Hastings Litfest adapted by Paul Way-Rider

Also in: Hastings Bookchat