Storytelling Project

Celebrate Luton Literature’s Storytelling Project with us!

Join us for an exclusive event showcasing excerpts of five NEW short-stories that have been created and developed by local children and young people, crafted into complete short-stories by nationally renowned authors, and will be performed by local actors Adeyinka Akinrinade and Aaron Spendelow on Saturday 11 May, at the Hat Factory in Luton.

Special workshop sessions run by local creatives (Lee Nelson, Molly Sims, Ehireme Omoaka, Aaron Spendelow and David Lloyd), took place across Luton in two schools, Marsh House and TOKKO throughout February and March 2024. The workshops enabled the children and young people to talk about books, shows and films they love and the inspiration for stories, throw their own ideas around and develop key elements of their own collaborative story. These were then transformed into complete short-stories by our collaborative authors.

The full length versions will be made available to read and to listen to as audiobooks on our website.

Our morning session (11am – 12pm) features stories, which started with workshops attended by SEND children at Richmond Hill School and Woodlands School, and young carers through CHUMS charity. Each group came up with some fantastic original ideas, unleashing their creativity and experiences, which were then transformed into original stories by Jen Carney (known for Accidental Diary of B.U.G and sequels), Helen Rutter (author of 5 books including The Boy Who Made Everyone Laugh), Laura Noakes (Bedfordshire based author of historical hijinks and heists stories).

Our afternoon session (1.15pm – 2pm) features stories which started with workshops attended by Eli and Jasia, and and young people from TOKKO’s youth space. Each group came up with imaginative and original ideas, sharing their experiences and feelings, which were then transformed into original stories by Joseph Elliott (BBC and CBEEBIES actor and writer) and  Jo Cotterill (author of over 50 children’s books).

(Please note: there will be adult themes and strong language in the afternoon session.)

You will be the first to  hear these new stories before we share them with everyone else!

This project has been supported by funding from Arts Council England and Luton Rising through BLCF (Bedfordshire and Luton Community Foundation).