Past Events › FREE

Find Events
April 2022
In Her Shoes Main image
April 23, 2022 - April 24, 2022
  • FREE
  • Partner Event
  • Performance

Blown Fuse Theatre presents

In Her Shoes

In Her Shoes is an immersive installation experience exploring the concepts of identity, stereotypes, and relationship to home. Read more

May 2022
Patrice Lawrence
May 7, 2022 @ 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
  • For Writers
  • FREE
  • Partner Event
  • Workshop

Writing for Children Workshop

Patrice Lawrence

A free, fun writing workshop for people from underrepresented groups Read more

Jane Elson
May 10, 2022 @ 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
  • For Writers
  • FREE
  • Partner Event
  • Workshop

Writing for Children Workshop

Jane Elson

A free, fun writing workshop for people from underrepresented groups Read more

Jane Elson
May 14, 2022 @ 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
  • For Writers
  • FREE
  • Partner Event
  • Workshop

Writing for Children Workshop

Jane Elson

A free, fun writing workshop for people from underrepresented groups Read more

Patrice Lawrence
May 17, 2022 @ 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
  • For Writers
  • FREE
  • Partner Event
  • Workshop

Writing for Children Workshop

Patrice Lawrence

A free, fun writing workshop for people from underrepresented groups Read more

Jane Elson
May 19, 2022 @ 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
  • For Writers
  • FREE
  • Partner Event
  • Workshop

Writing for Children Workshop

Jane Elson

A free, fun writing workshop for people from underrepresented groups Read more

Jane Elson
May 24, 2022 @ 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
  • For Writers
  • FREE
  • Partner Event
  • Workshop

Writing for Children Workshop – Online

Jane Elson

A free, fun writing workshop for people from underrepresented groups Read more

June 2022
Burnham 1 (c) Donata Rio
June 2, 2022 @ 12:00 pm - 4:00 pm
  • FREE
  • In partnership
  • Outside
  • Storytelling
  • Young Essex

Greenwood Words

Everyone is invited to our bumper one-day event in Burnham-on-Crouch as part of our Jubilee celebrations. Lots of family activities including walks and storytelling Read more

A Living Almanac
June 4, 2022 @ 12:00 pm - 4:00 pm
  • FREE
  • ONLY A FEW TICKETS LEFT!
  • Workshop

A Living Almanac – Workshop

Marina Warner, Philip Terry and Adrian May

Join us for the first of two workshop sessions, using words, images and music to build and grow a collective almanac, drawing on imagination and memory. Read more

Midnight Robber - Credit Kinetika
June 11, 2022 @ 9:45 am - 5:00 pm
  • A Criminally Good Day
  • Author talk
  • Crime Fiction
  • For Writers
  • FREE
  • In partnership
  • Outside
  • Storytelling
  • Workshop
  • Young Essex

Criminally Good Day

Family-friendly day of festivities

Crime-writer event, writing workshops, children's workshops, free drop-in activities, story-telling, acorn-planting and so much more... Read more

essex-authors-day-2022-image 3x2
June 11, 2022 @ 10:00 am - 4:00 pm
  • For Writers
  • FREE
  • Networking
  • Workshop

Essex Authors Day

A great opportunity for local authors and aspiring writers of all ages to discover something new! Read more

Jane Elson
June 11, 2022 @ 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
  • For Writers
  • FREE
  • Partner Event
  • Workshop

Writing for Children Workshop – Online

Jane Elson

A free, fun writing workshop for people from underrepresented groups Read more

Sade Fadipe A Fun ABC 3x2
June 11, 2022 @ 11:00 am - 12:00 pm
  • FREE
  • Workshop
  • Young Essex

Fun Stories From Far Away – Children’s Workshop

Sade Fadipe

Have fun with Essex-based teacher and author Sade Fadipe in this workshop with storytelling told in a claps, familiar rhymes and rhythms and art & craft activities too! Read more

Popup storytelling armchair
June 11, 2022 @ 11:00 am - 4:00 pm
  • A Criminally Good Day
  • FREE
  • Storytelling
  • Young Essex

Pop-Up Storytelling Armchair

Emily Kenny, Sade Fadipe, Catherine Emmett and Sam Scott

A super comfy treat for book lovers young and old to enjoy their favourite stories out loud. Free and open to all – come along and hear a story or two. Read more

Emily Kenny Extraordinary Adventures of Alice Tonks
June 11, 2022 @ 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
  • FREE
  • ONLY A FEW TICKETS LEFT!
  • Workshop
  • Young Essex

Heroes and Villains – Children’s Writing Workshop

Emily Kenny

How do you create a hero who keeps readers on the edge of their seat and a villain everyone will love to hate? Find out in middle grade author Emily Kenny’s jam-packed workshop! Read more

organizers_bookshelf human library
June 11, 2022 @ 2:00 pm - 6:00 pm
  • Discussion
  • FREE
  • In partnership

Don’t Judge a Book by its Cover

The Human Library

Welcome to The Human Library. Just like in a real library, a visitor to the Human Library can borrow a book from a range of titles. The difference is that books are PEOPLE, and reading is a CONVERSATION.  Read more

Catherine Emmett King of the Swamp
June 11, 2022 @ 3:30 pm - 4:30 pm
  • FREE
  • Workshop
  • Young Essex

Once Upon a Story… – Children’s Writing Workshop

Catherine Emmett

Children’s author Catherine Emmett leads a session exploring what makes a great story, with a brilliant beginning, a marvellous middle and an excellent ending!   Read more

Gary Jones
June 15, 2022 @ 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
  • FREE
  • Memoir

It’s Not All Blood and Guts

Gary Jones

Join Gary Jones as he talks about his personal accounts of his time working in A&E at Orsett Hospital through to advising on the BBC drama ‘Casualty’. Read more

In Her Shoes Main image
June 18, 2022 @ 8:00 am - June 19, 2022 @ 5:00 pm
  • FREE
  • Partner Event
  • Performance

Blown Fuse Theatre presents

In Her Shoes

In Her Shoes is an immersive installation experience exploring the concepts of identity, stereotypes, and relationship to home. Read more

June 18, 2022 @ 10:00 am - 4:00 pm
  • FREE
  • Young Essex

Chelmsford Library Family Fun Day

Join us for a day of free family-friendly activities at Chelmsford Library including Rhyme Time, crafting, Ozobots and our Pop-Up Storytelling Armchair. Read more

Josie Dom and Lum covers
June 18, 2022 @ 11:00 am - 12:00 pm
  • FREE
  • SOLD OUT!
  • Workshop
  • Young Essex

Sold Out! Lum’s Mum – Children’s Workshop

Josie Dom

Go on an adventure with Lum, make a knapsack to carry essentials for your journey, use a compass and make flowers and bugs to fill Lum's meadow. Read more

Sade Fadipe A Fun ABC 3x2
June 18, 2022 @ 12:15 pm - 1:00 pm
  • FREE
  • SOLD OUT!
  • Workshop
  • Young Essex

Sold Out! Fun Stories From Far Away – Children’s Workshop

Sade Fadipe

Have fun with Essex-based author and teacher Sade Fadipe, as she shares her book A Fun ABC told in claps, familiar rhymes and rhythms. For ages 4+ Read more

Sufiya Ahmed Princess Sophia Duleep
June 18, 2022 @ 12:15 pm - 1:45 pm
  • FREE
  • Workshop
  • Young Essex

Campaigning for Girls’ Rights!

Sufiya Ahmed

Take part in an empowering workshop with author and girls’ rights activist Sufiya Ahmed and learn how to make change using the democratic process, using the story of British Indian suffragette Princess Sophia Duleep Singh as inspiration. Read more

Nick Wickenden Hylands House
June 19, 2022 @ 11:00 am - 12:00 pm
  • FREE
  • Non-fiction
  • SOLD OUT!

Hylands ‘A Remarkably Elegant…Mansion House’ – SOLD OUT!

Nick Wickenden

Delve into the fascinating history of Hylands Estate with Nick Wickenden who played a key role in Hylands’ restoration Read more

Fountain at Cressing Temple Barns
June 25, 2022 @ 10:00 am - 4:00 pm
  • Author talk
  • FREE
  • Performance
  • Storytelling
  • Workshop
  • Young Essex

Midsummer Madness

Myths, Magic and Metamorphoses

Join us for a magical day of author events, fairies, storytelling, live music, theatre, den-building and more... Read more

What! A Load of Rubbish 3x2
June 25, 2022 @ 12:00 pm - 12:40 pm
  • FREE
  • Performance
  • SOLD OUT!
  • Young Essex

SOLD OUT! – What! A Load of Rubbish

Theatre Lark

A new comedy magic show for family audiences Read more

Miniature
June 25, 2022 @ 2:00 pm - 3:30 pm
  • FREE
  • Partner Event
  • Performance
  • Theatre
  • Workshop

Time of the Rumour

The People of 1381

A read through of 'Time of the Rumour', a play about the peasants revolt, by Poppy Corbett. Read more

Colchester Writenight
June 26, 2022 @ 3:30 pm - 4:30 pm
  • FREE

Colchester WriteNight

Colchester WriteNight invite you to a celebration of the anthology, Open Book, they produced together during lockdown. It was published by Patrician Press and supported by Colchester Borough Council Cultural and Creative Events Fund. Read more

July 2022
A Living Almanac
July 3, 2022 @ 12:00 pm - 4:00 pm
  • FREE
  • SOLD OUT!
  • Workshop

SOLD OUT! – A Living Almanac – Workshop

Marina Warner, Sophie Herxheimer, Philip Terry and Adrian May

Join us for the second of two workshop sessions, using words, images and music to build and grow a collective almanac, drawing on imagination and memory. Read more

In Her Shoes Main image
July 9, 2022 - July 10, 2022
  • FREE
  • Partner Event
  • Performance

Blown Fuse Theatre presents

In Her Shoes

In Her Shoes is an immersive installation experience exploring the concepts of identity, stereotypes, and relationship to home. Read more

Patrice Lawrence
July 9, 2022 @ 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
  • For Writers
  • FREE
  • Partner Event
  • Workshop

Writing for Children Workshop

Patrice Lawrence

A free, fun writing workshop for people from underrepresented groups Read more

In Her Shoes Main image
July 16, 2022 - July 17, 2022
  • FREE
  • Partner Event
  • Performance

Blown Fuse Theatre presents

In Her Shoes

In Her Shoes is an immersive installation experience exploring the concepts of identity, stereotypes, and relationship to home. Read more

November 2022
Stand Up For Diversity shutterstock_1384812491
November 9, 2022 @ 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
  • FREE
  • In partnership
  • Networking
  • Stand Up for Diversity
  • Theatre

Stand Up For Diversity at the Mercury

Including Gail Egbeson and Chileya Mwampulo

For our tenth Stand Up For Diversity, we are teaming up with the Mercury Theatre, to bring people together and celebrate diversity in theatre and the performing arts. Read more