What’s the connection between Shakespeare and Numbers? A lot, as it turns out! Shakespeare grew up in a time when numbers were going through a revolution. His was the first generation in England to be taught about our modern “zero” digit – and he was fascinated by it. From astronomy to probability, music to multiplication, other new mathematical ideas were taking off too – and much of this was reflected in Shakespeare’s work.

In this fun, interactive talk Rob Eastaway explores the surprising and entertaining ways that maths and numbers crop up in Shakespeare’s plays. Find out how Tudors multiplied, why Shakespeare never ended a line with the word orange, and why dice-playing was a serious hazard for the unwary. With historical asides about games, optics, astronomy, music and magic, you might never think about maths or Shakespeare the same way again.

Suitable for age 10 – adult

Sunday 23rd June, 3.00 – 4.00pm

Venue: Cressing Temple Barns, Witham Road, Braintree, Cressing, CM77 8PD

Tickets: Free, booking essential

Box Office: Ticket Tailor – buytickets.at/essexbookfestival

Much Ado About Numbers by Rob Eastaway

Order a copy of Much Ado About Numbers at bookshop.org

Rob is best known as the author of several bestselling popular maths books, including Why Do Buses Come in Threes? and Maths On the Back of an Envelope. He is a regular guest on the BBC Radio 4 programme More or Less, with Tim Harford.

Part of our Midsummer Madness Family Fun Day. Pack your picnic and make a beeline for what promises to be a magical day at Cressing Temple Barns. Free parking, free entry and lots of free activities. All welcome.

Essex Year of Numbers

Low numeracy skills can disadvantage people later in life and lead to problems such as debt, unemployment and even poor health. The Essex Year of Numbers is a countywide campaign that aims to inspire a love of learning, with a focus on numeracy. It is a year of exciting learning opportunities, fun events and initiatives aimed at children aged 0 to 18-years-old. The events aim to give every child’s maths skills a magic boost.

Parents can also access guidance and support through the programme to help build numbers and learning into homelife. Parents, caregivers and family members play a vital role in a child’s education. You can support children at home with homework and number-based learning.

For more information, visit www.essexyearofnumbers.co.uk.

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Join in the family fun this Sunday at this year’s Midsummer Madness Day. It includes everything from African storytelling, crafts and drumming; traditional ink-making and eco-printing; a pop-up library book tent; a ballet performance; a fabulous fairy trail and workshops galore; The Book Nook and Poetry Shed, plus the Little Earthlings Mud Cafe. The challenge will be fitting everything in.

The good news is that most activities are free, including entrance to the site and parking. Why not pack a picnic and explore one of Essex’s most intriguing heritage sites: the erstwhile home of The Knights Templar no less!

Mark your dance card for Goldilocks: The Ballet by Let’s Dance Ballet Company

Join Goldilocks, the girl with the lovely locks and her jar of magical honey, as she befriends a family of bears and teaches everyone the value of sharing.

But watch out for Selfish Sid who, on hearing that the honey is magical, hatches a nasty plan to steal it from Goldilocks. With a 1940’s vibe, a variety of dance styles and plenty of bowls of delicious porridge, this ballet is just right!

A fabulously fun show for everyone ages 1 – 101.

Free, no booking required.

Get writing with children’s author Sam Scott

Sam Scott will be offering some top tips for all of those budding young Essex writers’ out there aged 11-16 years. Explore different writing techniques. Learn how to create a believable character. How to build a plot arc, and the importance of using varied vocabulary. Tickets: £3 per young person, accompanying adult free.

Singing Like Larks Nature Workshop with Andrew Millham

Anyone who had the good fortune of attending Andrew Millham’s event at Hylands House last Sunday, will have no doubt of the magic in store for Andrew’s Singing Like Larks Nature Workshop at Cressing Temple Barns this Sunday.

Uncover the remarkable relationship between birds and traditional folk music, and try your hand at Forest School skills and bug-hunting in this family nature workshop. Andrew will also read from his book, Singing Like Larks, and sing accompanying songs. All ages welcome. Tickets: £3 per young person, accompanying adult free.

Much Ado About Numbers with Rob Eastaway

What’s the connection between Shakespeare and Numbers? A lot, as it turns out!

In this fun, interactive talk Rob Eastaway explores the surprising and entertaining ways that maths and numbers crop up in Shakespeare’s plays. Find out how Tudors multiplied, why Shakespeare never ended a line with the word orange, and why dice-playing was a serious hazard for the unwary.

With historical asides about games, optics, astronomy, music and magic, you might never think about maths or Shakespeare the same way again. Tickets: Free, booking required.

Love My Skin Outside In with Dr Leema Jabbar

Join children’s author Dr. Leema Jabbar for this fun, inspiring and interactive session about celebrating individuality and showing kindness.

Using fun games and simple experiments, Leema will show how talking about feelings can make problems so much smaller. Including a reading from her book, Love My Skin Outside In, and using colourful visuals from nature you’ll discover just how stunningly beautiful we all are both inside and out.
For ages 6-10.

Essex Explorers Summer Magic Trail

The park rangers at Cressing Temple Barns are sure that magical creatures including fairies, trolls, and maybe even unicorns, live deep in the hidden corners of the Essex Country Parks. But some children have stopped believing in them! Can you find and count them on our Summer Magic trail to help make the magic stronger.

Remember to take your photo at the Summer Magic Trail selfie board and tag @essexbookfest In partnership with Essex Year of Numbers.

Fairy Door Trail
Find the Fairy Doors in the walled garden and add up the door numbers to find the magic number for their spell. Once you’ve added it up, shout out the number so that the fairies can hear you.

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Goldilocks: The Ballet by Let’s All Dance Ballet Company, 2.30 – 3.15pm

Join Goldilocks, the girl with the lovely locks and her jar of magical honey, as she befriends a family of bears and teaches everyone the value of sharing. But watch out for Selfish Sid who, on hearing that the honey is magical, hatches a nasty plan to steal it from Goldilocks. With a 1940’s vibe, a variety of dance styles and plenty of bowls of delicious porridge, this ballet is just right! A fabulously fun show for everyone ages 1 – 101. Free, no booking required.

Little Earthlings Mud Cafe, 12.00 – 4.00pm

Pop along to the Little Earthlings Mud Cafe where Jo Phillips will help you to make some mud-cakes, mud-pies and other gloriously muddy delights! Free, drop-in, no booking required.

Essex Explorers Summer Magic Trail – Help make the magic stronger…

Our park rangers are sure that magical creatures including fairies, trolls, and maybe even unicorns, live deep in the hidden corners of the Essex Country Parks. But some children have stopped believing in them! Can you find and count them on our Summer Magic trail to help make the magic stronger. Remember to take your photo at the Summer Magic Trail selfie board and tag @essexbookfest In partnership with Essex Year of Numbers.

Fairy Door Trail

Find the Fairy Doors in the walled garden and add up the door numbers to find the magic number for their spell. Once you’ve added it up, shout out the number so that the fairies can hear you.

Discover all of the events, workshops, performances and activities which are taking place at Midsummer Madness.

The post New Events and Activities Added to Midsummer Madness Family Fun Day appeared first on Essex Book Festival.

The Book Project is a multi-facetted project to mark our 25th Edition.

Artist/Writer/Illustrator Michael Young will be leading workshops in 8 lucky primary schools across the county to create a giant concertina book to be exhibited at Cressing Temple Barns on 23rd June as part of our Midsummer Madness Day.

Primary Schools can register to take part by completing this short form:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/YB6KVZ3

We are also creating our own festival ink out of oak gall gathered from 25 destinations across Essex; creating a People’s Festival Charter fit for the next 25 years with the help of artist/writer/calligrapher Lora Aziz and Special Collections and Archive team University of Essex, and much more.

All will be revealed when our programme goes live on April 4th. In the meantime, here’s a flavour of things to come …

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