Emma Thompson’s big
event for Hull
children
14 May 2010
It is a privilege normally
reserved for film critics, but actress and screen-writer Emma
Thompson turned to Hull’s children yesterday to receive feedback on
her recent film Nanny McPhee & The Big
Bang.
The Oscar-winning star took part in a Q&A
session run by school children who were particularly interested in
writing and acting. The Nanny McPhee screenplay was written by Ms
Thompson, so it was interesting for the children to learn about the
transition from book to screen-play.
Emma Thompson took centre stage with hosts Jack
Stelloo and Amelia Grimes
Although the film is aimed to engage audiences of all ages, she
is keen to hear how the younger audience responded to her work, and
has invited them to a special screening of the film prior to her
visit.
This was a unique opportunity for the city’s
children to meet and interview one of the best-known and most
accomplished actors in the UK.
Emma Thompson said: "Writing, which I love
more and more, is a wonderful thing to communicate, especially to
young people. I talked to a lot of children when writing the second
film and they were very influential. I learn a lot from their
energy and enthusiasm."
Hosting the event were Sydney Smith pupils
Jack Stelloo, and Amelia Grimes. They were given the privileged
roles in recognition of their story-board diary of their
experiences following the floods in 2007.
Emma chats with some of Hull's school
children
This was the University’s first annual children’s writing
showcase and is one of a number of events, hosted by the Philip
Larkin Centre for Creative Writing, aimed at encouraging the
community to be actively involved in their University. Many
children do not visit the campus until they start the university
application process, so this was an opportunity to break down
boundaries and create a sense of inclusion.
Professor Martin Goodman, who has facilitated
this and other Larkin Centre events, says:
“Emma Thompson is one of the biggest names in
British cinema and we are delighted that offered to share her time
and expertise in order to nurture the creative talent in the city.
Emma’s love of children, and genuine enthusiasm for hearing what
they have to say, inspires us. We changed our whole format to turn
our biggest lecture theatre into a kid friendly zone. The
day’s success has kick-started a great annual series.
“The University has a strong heritage of drama
and literature and we are keen for the community to enjoy and
contribute to the creative energy in the city.”
Ends.
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Notes to Editors
About the Philip Larkin Centre for
Creative Writing
The Philip Larkin Centre attracts some of the very best writers to
platform appearances in Hull - to excite readers, and make sure
some of the very best writing keeps coming out of Hull.
The Centre takes its name from Philip Larkin,
one of the twentieth century’s foremost poets who anchored his life
to the University of Hull. That Hull poetic tradition stretches
back to Andrew Marvell, and forward through some of the top poets
of our day. Poets explore the personal to find what is
universal.
From William Wilberforce onwards, Hull also
has a pioneering history of driving the social agenda for change.
We call on writers to help us envision and shape a fairer world
which recognizes the transforming power of individual and
collective stories.