The Lost Words Festival

Northumberland National Park and The Sill: National Landscape Discovery Centre are delighted to announce The Lost Words Festival will be taking place from January 25th to April 20th 2020.

The Lost Words is a book of spells that seek to conjure back the near-lost magic and unique, special qualities of the nature that surrounds us here in the UK, exploring much of the nature which we are lucky to be able to discover within Northumberland National Park. It is a literary masterpiece which transcends age barriers, inspiring children and moving adults with its wide appeal.

The Lost Words Festival includes The Lost Words Exhibition featuring 20 acrostic spell-poems written by Robert Macfarlane and 50 beautiful watercolour originals by Jackie Morris which were used to create the book.

The Lost Words exhibition is curated by Compton Verney, with Hamish Hamilton and Penguin Books.

Compton Verney Logo

Starlings iii

Starlings iii ©Jackie Morris

Illustration Starlings iii ©Jackie Morris

Bluebell iii

Bluebell iii ©Jackie Morris

Illustration Bluebell iii ©Jackie Morris

Otter

Otter ©Jackie Morris

Illustration Otter © Jackie Morris

Told in Gold

The Lost Words Festival also features “Lost Words – Told in Gold”, a vivid and magical performance which will take place inside the Goldfinches Nest in the grounds of The Sill: National Landscape Discovery Centre.

This beautiful book has been adapted and directed by theatre maker and voice coach, Collette Murray, into an outdoor immersive theatre performance for all ages. Led by a charm of Britain’s wild birds, the story of The Lost Words unfolds inside the nest theatre and concludes with a gentle stroll through the woods to seek, find and speak The Lost Words.

Tickets are available for performances on the 28th March and performances on the 29th March.

Activities and Events

A programme of Lost Words inspired activities and events designed to bring the pages of the book to life will also take place across Northumberland National Park between January and April.

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