Get Reading festival
The Get Reading Festival is an annual children's[1] reading event hosted by the London Evening Standard[2] and Nook.[3]
History[edit]
The festival started in the summer of 2011, and was sparked by Aurella Brzezowska, a seven-year-old girl who had no books at her house. Instead, she was taught to read by a reading volunteer.[2]
The 2011 Get Reading festival raised £1,000,000, which supported four years worth of funding for the charity 'Beanstalk'.[2]
Before the actual 2013 festival, there were special readings by celebrities around London, such as Harry Enfield, Boris Johnson, and other high-profile figures reading extracts from books such as Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (J.K.Rowling), George's Marvellous Medicine (Roald Dahl), and others.[4]
2013 festival[edit]
The 2013 event took place on 13 July.[5] There were over 30 readings live at the free event,[6] with some celebrities such as Rupert Everett and Hugh Grant.[3] The event was hosted by the Dick & Dom.[7] The festival was also backed by the Pakistani education activist Malala Yousafzai, the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, Princess Beatrice, and Stephen Fry.[7]
Other events[edit]
In 2013, there was also a performance of Billy Elliot the Musical,[1] Wicked,[3] Matilda the Musical, Horrible Histories performing Barmy Britain, and We're Going on a Bear Hunt.[7]
The National Gallery also brought reproductions of three paintings: Bacchus and Ariadne (Titian), Saint George and the Dragon (Paolo Uccello), and An Experiment on a Bird in the Air Pump (Joseph Wright).[7] A National Gallery spokesman said that they brought the paintings in an attempt to "engage young audiences" and help them "enjoy our collection".[7]
References[edit]
- ^ a b "'Readathon' in Trafalgar Square". ITV News. 13 July 2013. Retrieved 13 July 2013.
- ^ a b c "Get Reading Festival: Taking on illiteracy – together". London Evening Standard. 13 July 2013. Retrieved 13 July 2013.
- ^ a b c d "Celebs attend reading marathon in Trafalgar Square". BBC. 13 July 2013. Retrieved 13 July 2013.
- ^ Davies, Anna (12 July 2013). "Get Reading Festival: Story time with famous faces". London Evening Standard. Retrieved 13 July 2013.
- ^ "Get London Reading". All in London.co.uk. Retrieved 13 July 2013.
- ^ a b "Lily Cole Prepares For London's Readathon". Vogue News. 11 July 2013. Retrieved 13 July 2013.
- ^ a b c d e Cohen, David (10 July 2013). "Get Reading: Lily Cole and Hugh Grant will bring fashion and Hollywood to Trafalgar Square festival". London Evening Standard. Retrieved 13 July 2013.
- ^ "Get Reading Festival: Top lit talent in Trafalgar Square". London Evening Standard. 12 July 2013. Retrieved 13 July 2013.