This Autumn

Menu

Close

Julia and Axel Thirty Years of Favourite Stories

Tue-Fri 11am-5pm | Sat-Sun 10am-5pm

Julia and Axel - Thirty Years of Favourite Stories

Select a performance

Close

Thu

30 Nov

12am

Free event

Currently unavailable

Thu

30 Nov

12am

Free event

Currently unavailable

Fri

01 Dec

12am

Free event

Currently unavailable

Fri

01 Dec

12am

Free event

Currently unavailable

Sat

02 Dec

12am

Free event

Currently unavailable

Sat

02 Dec

12am

Free event

Currently unavailable

Sun

03 Dec

12am

Free event

Currently unavailable

Sun

03 Dec

12am

Free event

Currently unavailable

Tue

05 Dec

12am

Free event

Currently unavailable

Tue

05 Dec

12am

Free event

Currently unavailable

Wed

06 Dec

12am

Free event

Currently unavailable

Wed

06 Dec

12am

Free event

Currently unavailable

Thu

07 Dec

12am

Free event

Currently unavailable

Thu

07 Dec

12am

Free event

Currently unavailable

Fri

08 Dec

12am

Free event

Currently unavailable

Fri

08 Dec

12am

Free event

Currently unavailable

Sat

09 Dec

12am

Free event

Currently unavailable

Sat

09 Dec

12am

Free event

Currently unavailable

Sun

10 Dec

12am

Free event

Currently unavailable

Sun

10 Dec

12am

Free event

Currently unavailable

Tue

12 Dec

12am

Free event

Currently unavailable

Tue

12 Dec

12am

Free event

Currently unavailable

Wed

13 Dec

12am

Free event

Currently unavailable

Wed

13 Dec

12am

Free event

Currently unavailable

Thu

14 Dec

12am

Free event

Currently unavailable

Thu

14 Dec

12am

Free event

Currently unavailable

Fri

15 Dec

12am

Free event

Currently unavailable

Fri

15 Dec

12am

Free event

Currently unavailable

Sat

16 Dec

12am

Free event

Currently unavailable

Sat

16 Dec

12am

Free event

Currently unavailable

Sun

17 Dec

12am

Free event

Currently unavailable

Sun

17 Dec

12am

Free event

Currently unavailable

Tue

19 Dec

12am

Free event

Currently unavailable

Tue

19 Dec

12am

Free event

Currently unavailable

Wed

20 Dec

12am

Free event

Currently unavailable

Wed

20 Dec

12am

Free event

Currently unavailable

Thu

21 Dec

12am

Free event

Currently unavailable

Thu

21 Dec

12am

Free event

Currently unavailable

Fri

22 Dec

12am

Free event

Currently unavailable

Fri

22 Dec

12am

Free event

Currently unavailable

Sat

23 Dec

12am

Free event

Currently unavailable

Sat

23 Dec

12am

Free event

Currently unavailable

Sun

24 Dec

12am

Free event

Currently unavailable

Sun

24 Dec

12am

Free event

Currently unavailable

Tue

26 Dec

12am

Free event

Currently unavailable

Tue

26 Dec

12am

Free event

Currently unavailable

Wed

27 Dec

12am

Free event

Currently unavailable

Wed

27 Dec

12am

Free event

Currently unavailable

Thu

28 Dec

12am

Free event

Currently unavailable

Thu

28 Dec

12am

Free event

Currently unavailable

Fri

29 Dec

12am

Free event

Currently unavailable

Fri

29 Dec

12am

Free event

Currently unavailable

Sat

30 Dec

12am

Free event

Currently unavailable

Sat

30 Dec

12am

Free event

Currently unavailable

Sun

31 Dec

12am

Free event

Currently unavailable

Sun

31 Dec

12am

Free event

Currently unavailable

Open until 1 January 2024

The Lowry in collaboration with publishers Macmillan Children’s Books and Scholastic, are hosting a new exhibition celebrating the acclaimed partnership between Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler, who have created some of the world’s best-loved, and best-selling children’s books, including The GruffaloZogRoom on the BroomThe Smeds and the Smoos, and most recently, The Baddies.

This free family-friendly exhibition features several of Julia Donaldson’s personal writing notebooks; containing the very first ideas and creative thinking behind her picture book stories. These are shown alongside Axel Scheffler’s artwork, showing the process of his illustrations from sketches and works in progress, to full page final illustrations that readers are familiar with seeing in the finished books.

We are thrilled that the Julia and Axel Thirty Years of Favourite Stories has been so incredibly popular. To help manage capacities we are allocating time slots to this FREE exhibition. Please book tickets for each person attending the exhibition including babes in arms.

Artwork by Axel Scheffler. Copyright © Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler 2023.

Additional information

Opening Hours

To help manage capacities we are allocating time slots to this FREE exhibition.

You can book using the button above . Please book tickets for each person attending the exhibition including babes in arms.

Mon |  Closed (except bank holidays)

Tues – Fri | 11am-5pm

Sat – Sun | 10am-5pm

Last entry is at 4.00pm

 

Planning your visit

Due to capacity, only essential buggies and prams (for children with disabilities and babies who are unable to walk) will be allowed into the Julia & Axel: Thirty Years of Favourite Stories exhibition.

When you are ready to enter the galleries please take your buggies and prams to the free secure buggy park which is available in the South Room opposite Pier Eight bar.

 

 

Free activities throughout the building

Julia and Axel-themed fun is not confined to the Galleries space, with activities taking place throughout The Lowry.

Quotes From Julia and Axel

Julia Donaldson says: “I am delighted that we are working in partnership with The Lowry on this exhibition and that they are celebrating 30 years of Axel and me working together. It is exciting to be able to share some ‘behind the scenes’ secrets with our young readers and to show what happens before a finished book is in their hands. I hope that it will help them to feel creative and to start writing and illustrating their own stories, so that we have new picture-book creators in the future.”

Axel Scheffler says: “I find it hard to believe that it is 30 years since Julia Donaldson and I did our first picture book together with A Squash and a Squeeze. So much has happened since then and many children have now enjoyed our stories over the years. I am very pleased that The Lowry is hosting this special celebratory exhibition and that it will give families the chance to discover more about my illustrations and Julia’s writing.”

About Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler

Julia Donaldson is the official No.1 bestselling author of 2022, across all books, and Axel Scheffler is the official No.1 bestselling illustrator of 2022 and no story-time is complete without Julia’s perfect read-aloud rhyme and Axel’s unique artwork. Their most recently published book, The Baddies, was the UK’s No.1 Bestselling Picture Book of 2022.

Julia Donaldson is the author of some of the world’ s best-loved children’s books, including the modern classic The Gruffalo, which has sold over 17 million copies worldwide. She also writes fiction, as well as poems, plays and songs – and her brilliant live shows are always in
demand. Julia was the UK Children’s Laureate 2011-13, is a fellow of the Royal Society of
Literature, and in 2019 was honoured with a CBE for services to Literature. www.juliadonaldson.co.uk

Axel Scheffler is a star illustrator whose instantly recognisable, warm and witty illustrations have achieved worldwide acclaim and numerous awards including the inaugural Illustrator of the Year Award at the British Book Awards 2018. Axel’s artwork is exhibited internationally. He supports many charities, including Three Peas, which provides vital support for refugees and receives a £1 donation from every sale of his most recent book, Kind. www.axelscheffler.com

Julia Donaldson Headshot

“It was a pleasure to visit The Lowry and view the new exhibition. It was wonderful to see Axel’s original drawings and to revisit my original notebooks. I hope the children who visit will enjoy being inspired to create their own words and pictures.” Julia Donaldson