The Southbank Centre hosted an event to kick off their 11-day annual Imagine Children’s Festival with the launch of Children’s Laureate Joseph Coelho’s new book Luna Loves Gardening illustrated by Fiona Lumbers.

Coelho and Lumbers, creators of seven “Luna” books have launched their latest work emphasising the significance of engaging with nature and highlights the role of community gardens in bolstering young people's wellbeing. In the book seeds from Afghanistan to Ukraine and other far flung places are planted and carry the story of a multi-cultural community sharing the joys of gardening.

For the day’s event local school children gathered on the Queen Elizabeth Roof Garden, one of the biggest wildflower areas in South London and a sanctuary among the buildings of Brutalist architecture.

Head Gardener Paul and his assistant Kenny are caretakers of this inspiring place, adorned with poetry to ponder on the walls and beds that will begin to brim with life as we near spring. Children listened to their storyteller with an unjaded look of wonderment and were subsequently guided by Paul through exercises to warm up on what was a very chilly day. Then they eagerly got to work potting their wild strawberry plants, which every child took home alongside a signed copy of the book.

Imagine the UK's leading arts festival for children aged 0-11 and their grown-ups has a programme filled with brilliant theatre, comedy, music, literature, poetry, dance, and flat-out family fun. 50% of the festival is composed of daily free events such as Prancer the Dancer’s DanceDanceDiscoPartyFunShow, Mish Mash Family Trail and Shelf: The Kids show!,Art Makes People Powerful. The festival also ensures accessibility for all attendees, including those with disabilities, with provisions such as BSL-interpreted events and non-verbal performances, creating a welcoming environment for all.

• The River is Bamboozle Theatre Company’s newest show for disabled children with complex needs. This show introduces children to a range of river animals, from salmon to herons, and even mystical creatures such as the water goddess, with live music and instruments with tactile vibrations. (12 February).

• Amazing Edie Eckhart will also have the renowned TV comedian presenting her sparky new story about a young girl with cerebral palsy and her adventure to find new friends. (15 February).

Events that have caught our eye are:

• An interactive, engaging, tactile and colourful performance installation in a new world premiere The Sticky Dance, a Southbank Centre commission with The Place will be a wonderful opportunity for parents to interact with their children. (7 - 9 February £16 includes one adult).

• A musical performance with the BBC Symphony Orchestra including CBeebies favourites JoJo and Gran Gran in CBeebies Ocean Adventure. The children will enjoying seeing a TV character in the flesh (13 February, £12-£9).

• Akram Khan Company returns with a much-loved family-friendly production, Chotto Desh, adapted from Khan’s Olivier award-winning DESH (9 - 10 February, £14-£10.50).

• A live version of hit CBeebies TV show YolanDa's Band Jam and Friends (12 February, £12-£9).

• Comedy with Shelf: The Kids Show! winners of the Best Show at The UK Kids’ Comedy Festival and Leicester Comedy Festival 2023, which will include an interactive workshop for the whole family to make their own sketches (13 February, FREE).

• ZooNation’s Hip-Hop Half-Term, a day of workshops, DJ sets and a performance by amazing young hip hop dancers (11 February, FREE).

• A day of games, competition and laughter in The Intergenerational Game: Lunar New Year Edition (10 February, FREE).

• The Mish Mash Family trail is designed by the South London charity Heart n Soul Feel Good designers. The trail takes you around the site with a free sheet you can pick up and begin an immersive journey with interactive art installations. (7-16 February, FREE) .

Lastly if you have a budding little gardener in your family Joseph Coelho and  Fiona Lumbers will showcase their newest book Luna Loves Gardening with a performance and storytelling event on 17 February, £10-£7.50

Each day concludes with “Well-being Wind Down” by Tangled Feet Theatre Company focusing on mental health in a very light touch way through mindfulness sessions, breathing exercises, yoga and storytelling. (Daily, FREE).

With over 130 events packed into eleven days including numerous free options Imagine Children’s Festival promises a program which is not to be missed. That’s quality family time and your February half term holidays sorted!

Date: 7 - 17 February 2024. Location: Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, South Bank, London SE1 8XX. Website: southbankcentre.co.uk.

Words by Natascha Milsom