Once Upon A Wartime Family Festival

1st February 2012

Categories: Modern History News

This Family Festival at IWM North in Manchester runs from 11th - 19th February and marks the launch of Once Upon A Wartime, a major exhibition which explores much loved children’s books about war. The interactive and dynamic celebration of storytelling, with special guests, creative activities and masked movement performances, will be free for all.

Once Upon A Wartime is a free exhibition, filled with all the drama of five acclaimed novels: War Horse by Michael Morpurgo, Carrie’s War by Nina Bawden, The Machine Gunners by Robert Westall, The Silver Sword by Ian Serraillier and Little Soldier by Bernard Ashley. Explore these perilous stories alongside the history of real life conflicts from 1914 to the present day. On display for the first time are objects straight from Steven Spielberg’s War Horse film set, showing how the book became a film.

The Family Festival will open with a special fun day on Sunday 12 February, where visitors of all ages will be immersed in stories by the new National Storytelling Laureate. Katrice Horsley will be asking ‘Are you sitting comfortably?…’  at 1pm and 3pm, in one of her first appearances since becoming the new Laureate.  Visit the exhibition on this day and you could also win one of 5 sets of books and a free afternoon tea in the IWM North café.

Meanwhile, silent, family friendly masked characters are on the loose in the museum. Will you spot one of these specially developed characters as you explore the Once Upon A Wartime exhibition on both 12 and 18 February?  Inspired by the stories featured in the exhibition the characters are brought to life through the use of full face masks and physical theatre techniques.  The fun characters are created by visual theatre specialists Curious Cargo.  

Explore the theme of storytelling by booking onto free special workshops on 13, 15 and 17 February at 2pm. Choose from a range of professional theatre masks to transform yourself into different characters. Experience what it is like to be a masked performer.  Learn how to characterise the exhibition’s themes of survival, excitement, separation, loyalty and identity. Then try out your new skills by performing live in the Once Upon A Wartime exhibition. Guarantee your place by emailing learningnorth@iwm.org.uk or calling 0161 836 4000. 

Alternatively, just drop in and gather round for a variety of storytelling sessions every morning and afternoon. Puppets and pictures bring to life true heroic and heart-warming tales of wartime animal bravery in the Animals and War activity – perfect for anyone who has just discovered the fictional novel about Joey the War Horse. Every afternoon, from 1-4pm there will also be hands on activities and object handling in the Learning Studio. 

Inspired by War Horse? The museum shop is full of pocket money purchases to help you step into the world of the book – like the toy First World War Tommy Helmet. Or if you are more excited by the story of The Machine Gunners, pick up our Chocs Away chocolates for high flyers. Our Traditional Teddy Bear is the perfect item for any make-believe evacuee who loves the story of Carrie’s War. 

Visitors can even enjoy free malt loaf outside the museum all day on Sunday 12 February, courtesy of exhibition sponsors Soreen and their Malt Machine.

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