To mark World Book Day 2026, EA Festival presents an in-conversation event with writer Georgia Channon and actor Claudia Harrison, two creatives who engage deeply with Shakespeare from different but complementary perspectives. Channon is the author of the children’s novel The Curse of the Silvan Oaks, a critically acclaimed contemporary reimagining of A Midsummer Night’s Dream that reflects on how Shakespeare’s stories can be introduced to young readers without losing their emotional complexity or imaginative force. Harrison is a RADA-trained actor with extensive experience performing Shakespeare on stage, most recently as Queen Gertrude in Hamlet: Hail to the Thief - the Royal Shakespeare Company’s bold reworking of Hamlet, created in collaboration with Radiohead.

Together, they explore how Shakespeare continues to speak to adult audiences today: how performance, adaptation and creative response unlock the humour, contradictions and emotional truths at the heart of the plays, and why Shakespeare remains a living presence in contemporary cultural life. Rather than simplifying Shakespeare, the conversation asks how artists — on stage and on the page — open new ways of encountering him in the present moment.

Doors open at 6 pm. The talk will commence at 6:30 pm followed by a book signing and reception at Old Buckenham Hall.

Tickets are £50 and 100% of proceeds (less credit card charges and ticketing fees) will be donated to EACH (80%) and Raise the Roof (20%).

About Georgia Channon

Georgia Channon is a children’s author and creator of The Curse of the Silvan Oaks. Termed a “beautifully crafted, enchanting and sumptuously imagined fantasy,” by the Telegraph and longlisted for the Children’s Wainwright Prize for environmental writing, the book was inspired by  A Midsummer Night’s Dream and transports young readers into a war-torn magical kingdom where courage and friendship reign. A passionate advocate for children reading purely for pleasure, she launched The Reading for Pleasure Project, a campaign encouraging young people to discover books as portals into limitless worlds. Georgia regularly visits schools to speak about storytelling, imagination and the lifelong joy of reading. 

About Claudia Harrison 

After a degree in Drama from The University of Birmingham, Claudia graduated from RADA in 2000. As an actor she has worked for over 20 years in TV, Film, Theatre and Radio. Her most recent roles include a lead in Michael Grandage sell out production of Line of Beauty at the Almeida Theatre, and Gertrude in the acclaimed RSC production of Hamlet Hail to the Thief with the  band Radiohead.   She was nominated for a SAG award in 2023 and 2024 for her role as Princess Anne in Netflix’s The Crown.  She can currently be seen playing the KC Penny Madden in Prisoner 951 on the BBC.  

Alongside Acting, Claudia is an Academy Associate Teacher for RADA and continues to collaborate with young actors and performers in Drama Schools and Universities across the country. During lockdown she wrote and directed a film with furloughed film students and 200 primary school children for which they were nominated for Drama Inspiration of the Year award at The National Education Awards. 

Whilst this is her proudest moment, keeping a sourdough starter alive for 12 years comes a close second. She lives in North Essex with her family and farmer husband James who went to OBH many many years ago!

About East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH)

This World Book Day event supports East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices, which provide lifelong, holistic care for children and young people with life-limiting conditions across Suffolk, Norfolk, Cambridgeshire, Peterborough and North & West Essex. EACH offers care in its three Outstanding-rated hospices — The Treehouse, The Nook and Milton — as well as in family homes, hospitals and local communities. Relying on voluntary donations for the majority of its income, EACH must raise £8 million annually through fundraising and a further £9.8 million through its retail operations to sustain its services. They currently support more than 500 families at any one time, ensuring every child receives the care, comfort and dignity they deserve.

About Raise the Roof

St Mary’s Church in Brettenham urgently requires major repairs to its nave roof, costing £361,030.53. Temporary scaffolding is in place to prevent collapse and keep the building safe and usable. The project aims to preserve this historic church for future generations while ensuring the safety of all who use it as a community hub. The cost far exceeds what a small parish can raise alone, making community support essential. Since late 2023, a locally led “Raise the Roof” campaign has raised over £113,000, with further grant funding now being sought.