The Vampire Trap
Workshops Ed Swift Workshops Ed Swift

The Vampire Trap

Wow! What a brilliant morning we spent with Monmouth Class in Loders Primary. These amazing writers took us on a journey into a world where a Vampire named Aiden, together with his faithful Wolf Cub sidekick, enter a labyrinth of portals from which they may never return!

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What’s this story about…?
Workshops Ed Swift Workshops Ed Swift

What’s this story about…?

We had a great time working with the young authors from Cogden Class at Loders Primary School last week. The story that they wrote with us was a heartbreaking tale of a sad Hunter named Dunnough (geddit?) who had nothing happy in their life. Forced by Shortypants the Leprechaun to visit the magical toyshop, The Magitoruim, our hero finds themselves within touching distance of their greatest wish at the same time as they come face to face with their greatest fear.

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Thorner’s Primary Authors - Book Launch
Ed Swift Ed Swift

Thorner’s Primary Authors - Book Launch

We were delighted to be able to present Bredy Class and Eggardon Class with their new books last week. The writers worked so hard on their two epic tales, “Benji’s Revengi” and “Dave’s Weird World”.

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Welcome to Dave’s World.
Ed Swift Ed Swift

Welcome to Dave’s World.

The young authors from Bredy Class at Thorner’s Primary School wrote a brilliant story on Thursday: “Dave’s Weird World”. The tale tells of a simple broccoli-based hero, the titular Dave, who is thrust into a struggle for the streets of Broccoliville. Pitted against him are the evil Carrot gang and their leader, Nick the Tomato. The world the young authors were able to create was truly epic!

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Benji takes his Revengi!
Ed Swift Ed Swift

Benji takes his Revengi!

We had an absolutely brilliant morning working with a fantastically talented bunch of writers from Throrner’s Primary School in Litton Cheney. The Year 5s and 6s of Eggardon Class invented an epic tale of romance, betrayal and grudge-match football. Proving that, just because you’re the best footballing pig, doesn’t mean cheese can’t break your heart!

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The Capybara Conundrum
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The Capybara Conundrum

What a brilliant morning we had at Shute Primary School, working with the amazing Year 5s and 6s in Badger Class. They absolutely blew us away with their story ‘The Capybara Conundrum’. It is a tale of magic, adventure, unspoken heartache and terrifying spiders. Will our hero be forced to face his crippling fear of these eight-legged beasts? Will his best friend, Toddle, help him out? What’s a Capybara superhero to do, when even a cupboard of goblins isn’t enough?

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Electing the new protector of Narnia?
Ed Swift Ed Swift

Electing the new protector of Narnia?

We took a trip through the wardrobe last week, working on some amazing speeches with Years 3 and 4 at the Prince of Wales School, Dorchester. The whole school has been working on C.S. Lewis’ classic ‘The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe’ and the class were shocked to discover that Aslan had disappeared from Narnia!

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OctoBanana and Ancient Wolf Save the Day
Ed Swift Ed Swift

OctoBanana and Ancient Wolf Save the Day

Had a great time today working with some very exciting writers from Year 3 and Year 4 at Beaminster St Mary’s Academy. They were a brilliant group to work with and the ideas for stories were just tumbling out!

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Creating Curious Characters with Beaminster St Mary’s
Ed Swift Ed Swift

Creating Curious Characters with Beaminster St Mary’s

We had a great time this morning working with some wonderful writers from Years 5 and 6 at Beaminster St. Mary’s Academy. Not only did they help us identify and catch the thief who stole a story from our bank vault, but they also invented a whole cast of amazing characters that live in the Town of Dreams and Nightmares. Rest assured, we will be stepping up security at the Bank in future!

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The Vault meets Cole Brauer
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The Vault meets Cole Brauer

In one of our most action packed interviews yet, the journalists from our after school press club, The Vault, interviewed solo round-the-world yachtswoman, Cole Brauer. To make matters even more incredible, the interview took place mid-race from the middle of the Atlantic Ocean!

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Young musicians’ call to arms to help save the planet
News Ed Swift News Ed Swift

Young musicians’ call to arms to help save the planet

Tuesday night saw the culmination of the fantastic “Listen Up!” project. Led by B-Sharp. this project has given a voice to young writers and musicians around Dorset who are concerned about the impacts of the climate change emergency. We worked with some extremely talented young musicians to create song lyrics and manifestos for change; a call to arms from the next generation.

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Standing tall and standing out
Ed Swift Ed Swift

Standing tall and standing out

Sunday night saw an amazing, affecting final performance from some extraordinary young voices. Facilitated by the brilliantly talented Joelle Taylor, the Resonate Project allowed a group of talented young people to tell their stories and their experiences in a performance that no-one who was there will ever forget!

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Poetry Pushing Back
Ed Swift Ed Swift

Poetry Pushing Back

We are very excited to be starting the second round of our 3-way poetry project at Axe Valley Academy this week. Led by the incredible Louisa Adjoa Parker, this group of Year 8 and 9 revolutionaries are planning on changing the world with their words. These poems are a call to arms for the next generation.

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Sherek and the Evil Bananas
Ed Swift Ed Swift

Sherek and the Evil Bananas

We had a brilliant morning working with Hazel class at St Catherine’s Primary School in Bridport. This talented group of Year 4s and 5s took us on an extraordinary journey and created a sci-fi classic, that was as fantastic as it was unexpected. In their epic tale, we met Sherek, a bald alien who was terrified of water. All would be well in Sherek’s world, if it weren’t for the schemes of Mr and Mrs Bibi, the evil bananas!

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Young Voices Making Themselves Heard
Ed Swift Ed Swift

Young Voices Making Themselves Heard

Get ready for a performance like no other. Sunday, 7pm sees the culmination of our amazing Resonate project. Last weekend, award winning performance poet, Joelle Taylor, kicked off our 4 weekend workshops for the project and we were blown away by the talented young writers who took part! They all have brave and unique stories to tell.

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Dare you enter The Valley?
Book Launch Ed Swift Book Launch Ed Swift

Dare you enter The Valley?

Monday saw a wonderful launch event celebrating the publication of 'Stories from the Valley', an anthology of fantastic fiction penned by some very talented students from Axe Valley Academy in Axminster.

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