As devoted fans of Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler, owning nearly all their books and reading one every night before bed, our family was thrilled to visit the "Julia and Axel: Thirty Years of Favourite Stories" exhibition at The Lowry in Salford. This free, family-oriented exhibition beautifully celebrates the enchanting world created by these beloved authors.
Upon arrival at The Lowry, we were greeted by a stunning 7ft tall wood carving of the Gruffalo, complete with his infamous black tongue, orange eyes, and purple, spiky back. This grand entrance sets the tone for the exhibition, which vividly brings to life the enchanting world of Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler.
This family-oriented exhibition, a collaboration with Macmillan Children’s Books and Scholastic, commemorates the three-decade-long partnership between Donaldson and Scheffler. Their collaboration has produced iconic children’s books such as "The Gruffalo," "Zog," "Room on the Broom," "The Smeds and the Smoos," and "The Baddies," captivating millions of young readers worldwide.
For me, the highlight of the exhibition was the display of Julia Donaldson’s personal writing notebooks, revealing the initial sparks of her beloved stories. This is the first time these notebooks have been shown together, offering a rare glimpse into her creative process. Complementing these are Axel Scheffler’s artworks, showcasing the progression from rough sketches to the vibrant illustrations that bring their stories to life. This thoughtful presentation highlights the evolution of their creative journey.
The exhibition is thoughtfully organised into three themes: "Highways," "Heroes," and "Home." "Highways" features stories where characters embark on exciting journeys, from the deep dark wood of "The Gruffalo" to the cosmic adventures of "The Smeds and the Smoos." "Heroes" celebrates characters who demonstrate bravery and kindness, like "Superworm" and "The Baddies." Finally, "Home" focuses on tales of family and friendship, such as "Stick Man" and "The Tales of Acorn Wood."
A refreshing aspect of the exhibition is the intentional absence of technology, encouraging children to engage their imaginations through hands-on displays, games, and books. Each story is given meticulous attention, ensuring that every child, regardless of their favourite tale, can experience it in a new and exciting way.
I took my two children to the exhibition, Alice, age 5, and Leo, age 4, and the exhibition's layout caters well to young children, with drawing, writing, playing, and dressing up stations. Alice and Leo especially enjoyed writing postcards to their favourite characters. Alice wrote a sweet message to the Gruffalo's Child, saying, "I love you," while Leo wrote to the little mouse, asking him to be his friend. They also loved the Tiddler section, where they coloured pictures of fish and relaxed on themed bean bags—Leo favoured the blue fish, and Alice adored the purple octopus.
We attended the exhibition during the Galleries' relaxed hour, which takes place every Sunday from 9 to 10 am. This was perfect for our children who find busy environments overwhelming. With just one other family present and ear defenders available, it was a calm and enjoyable visit. As the exhibition opened to the general public at 10 am, it quickly became busy, prompting our daughter to want to leave, but thankfully, we had already seen everything by then. As we exited, we were greeted by Stick Man, much to our daughter’s delight, and she loved getting a picture with him.
Beyond the exhibition, The Lowry offers a plethora of activities. My children's favourite was the Gruffalo’s Kitchen, an interactive role-play kitchen in the Pier Eight bar, where they delighted in dressing up as chefs and serving us "owl ice cream" and "scrambled snake." There’s also Charlie Cook’s Reading Nook, a quiet space near the Pier Eight restaurant for reading Donaldson and Scheffler’s books, and the Zog Academy in the Pier Eight lounge, where children can learn to be dragons and earn a golden star like Zog. We didn’t participate in the Zog Academy, but it sounds like a lot of fun. The Highway Rat storytelling camp offers weekend storytelling sessions, though we didn’t stay for that as the children were tired by then.
The "Julia and Axel: Thirty Years of Favourite Stories" exhibition at The Lowry is a delightful escape from the digital world. It provides a space for young children to explore, create, and imagine, while offering older siblings and parents a nostalgic return to the joy of story time. This joyous and well-curated exhibition is a must-visit.
Julia and Axel: Thirty Years of Favourite Stories is on at The Lowry until 1st January 2024, you can purchase tickets by clicking on the button below.
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