2012 Paralympics arts chief gets grilling from 10-year-olds at Discover story centre

The 2012 Paralympic Games’ artistic director is one of three hot shots about to get a grilling from 10-year-olds in east London.

Jenny Sealey has been invited along with ‘Mr Gum’ best-selling author Andy Stanton and Arts Council chief Alan Davey to face a panel of inquisitive members of the ‘Talking to 10 Year Olds’ forum.

The grilling takes place tomorrow at the Discover Children’s Story Centre in Stratford, when the youngsters take no prisoners firing burning questions about the arts and creative writing.

It is part of the centre’s 10th anniversary celebrations which go on to a two-day family ‘birthday bash’ over the weekend with theatre makers, visual artists, musicians and ‘spoken word’ artists taking over the building.

The centre has reached a million youngsters through community and literacy projects and events in east London, inspiring children with a love of stories since 2003.

“I remember walking round the building when it was derelict,” said the centre’s patron, poet Benjamin Zephaniah.

“All we have now were just ideas in the minds of people who were passionate about words.

“But those early ideas have lit up the lives of so many children in a real and tangible way.”

Activities at the weekend include a tour round the secret, unseen nooks and dark crannies of the amazing building, a new take on the classic ‘Ugly Duckling’ and an inventive version of ‘The Tortoise and the Hare’.

The birthday bash at 383-87 High Street, Stratford, runs 11am to 5pm Saturday and Sunday, admission free.