A SCHOOL will host its second annual culture festival starting on Monday (October 6).

Durham Johnston School’s Festival of Culture 2014 will feature visits from poet Daljit Nagra, author Meg Rosoff, writing partnership Mick Manning and Brita Granstrom, author and illustrator Helen Stephens and more.

There will be theatre, sculpture and music, tying in with both the Durham Book Festival and Take-Off Festival and running throughout October.

Daljit Nagra will present some of his poetry to pupils on Monday (October 6) afternoon, with a teachers’ session following on the evening.

Mick Manning and Brita Granstrom will discuss their new book Charlie’s War, based on the First World War experiences of Mr Manning’s grandfather, with youngsters on Tuesday morning (October 7).

Meg Rosoff will also visit on Tuesday, taking part in a public event from 1.30pm to 2.30pm, discussing her new novel Picture Me Gone, before later chatting with school pupils.

Also on Tuesday, Helen Stephens will lead a storytelling and drawing session for young children.

Theatre Hullabaloo will present Angel, a play about dealing with dementia, to children on Tuesday, October 21.

Zest Theatre will present the interactive silent disco-style production Gatecrash for the public on Thursday, October 23, at 7pm and schools the following day.

Last year, the school hosted Ray Lonsdale’s sculpture The Last Cigarette of Michael Duffy. This year, it will host sculptures by Tom Maley, Graeme Hopper, William Harling and others throughout October.

For more information, visit durhambookfestival.com or takeofffestival.org.uk