Tiger Comes To Scarborough For Tea!

Scarborough Art Gallery has a fun packed summer planned to keep all the family entertained. The Gallery will play host to a fabulous touring exhibition which starts its tour with us in Scarborough on Saturday 17 July through to Sunday 19 September. The exhibition which is being toured by Seven Stories based in Newcastle upon Tyne is entitled ‘From the Tiger that Came To Tea to Mog & Pink Rabbit’ and explores the life and celebrates the work of Judith Kerr who is one of Britain's best known author–illustrators for children.

A whole series of FREE family workshops will be taking place every week day (except Mondays) throughout the summer. Kids will have the chance to listen to the wonderful Mog stories and take part in the workshops which will involve all sorts of creative adventures including mask and puppet making, face painting and having the chance to create your own book cover using various collage techniques.

The exhibition will appeal to kids and adults alike and looks at Judith’s life and work from many different angles. Judith’s first picture book, The Tiger Who Came to Tea, began as a bedtime story for her own children and was publishedin 1968. It soon became a classic and by the time it celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2008, it had been translated into 11 languages and sold over five million copies. Alongside original artwork, notes and sketches, children will enjoy stepping into Sophie’s kitchen to have tea with a life-sized tiger.

Also featured is the loveable Mog series, beginning with Mog the Forgetful Cat in 1970, and drawing to a close with Goodbye Mog in 2002. Find out how Judith took inspiration from her family and real life cat; curl up and enjoy reading Judith’s books inside Mog’s cosy basket.

The exhibition will also give you the chance to explore Judith’s childhood and her experiences of having to escape Germany as Hitler came to power, how it felt to be a refugee in Switzerland, then France before finally settling in London in 1936. Judith writes about these experiences through three semi-autobiographical novels for older children in her Out of the Hitler Time trilogy, through the story of her alter ego Anna.

The exhibition gives a unique insight into Judith’s life and work, including original childhood drawings where we discover how she developed into the artist and story teller we know today.

As well as the daily workshops there will be a chance to meet the author herself when she comes to Scarborough on Sunday 8 August (1-3pm). Judith will read one of her favourite stories and sign copies of her books which will be on sale in the Gallery shop. Booking is essential for the book reading as places are limited. Telephone 01723 384511 or email learning@smtrust.uk.com.

There will be a special party celebration for Mog on Bank Holiday Monday 30 August as we celebrate the 40th anniversary of the publication of ‘Mog the Forgetful Cat’. All the usual party activities will be taking place for all the family to enjoy.

Kids go free to the Gallery at all times and all the workshops are free. Adult entry to the Gallery is £2 (£1.80 Concessions) or Free with an Open Return annual ticket (£9/£8).

Date: 08-07-2010
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