SIX favourite Roald Dahl child heroes are poised to appear, in stunning locations across the UK, in the form of unique LEGO® brick builds to mark Roald Dahl Day - the global celebration of the world's number one storyteller. Roald Dahl Day happens annually, on and around 13 September, the author's birthday.
In partnership with the Roald Dahl Literature Estate, Cardiff Council and Welsh Government, Literature Wales is delighted to announce thatCardiff Castle will be playing host to James, the adventurous hero ofJames and the Giant Peach, Roald Dahl's first novel for children. Cardiff is, of course, Roald Dahl's birthplace and hosted a number of events to celebrate Roald Dahl 100 in 2016, which included its transformation into the ‘City of the Unexpected' in September.
Cardiff Council's Cabinet Member for Culture and Leisure, Cllr Peter Bradbury said: "I am personally delighted that organisers have chosen Cardiff Castle as the location for the LEGO statue of James because James and the Giant Peach was my favourite Roald Dahl book as a child. Dahl is arguably the most famous person to have been born in Cardiff and as attendance at last year's ‘City of the Unexpected' celebrations clearly demonstrated, his popularity continues to go from strength to strength. How appropriate that the city of his birth features so prominently in a national day celebrating the genius of Roald Dahl."
The LEGO® build of James will be officially unveiled on Roald Dahl Day itself - 13 September. He is composed of 30,200 bricks and took 160 hours to construct. To coincide with James' big reveal, Literature Wales has organised a workshop for local school children with Bardd Plant Cymru, Casia Wiliam. The children will take inspiration from Roald Dahl's Heroes in order to compose their own stories.
James will remain at Cardiff Castle for 2 months. The Castle is open between 9.00 am and 6.00 pm seven days a week, and entry fees apply. Visitors are encouraged to share their pictures with James using #LegoJames, #RoaldDahlDay and #DiwrnodDahl on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram.
James and his fellow LEGO® Roald Dahl heroes are sure to be a highlight of Roald Dahl Day 2017, which this year shines the spotlight onto the iconic child heroes created by Roald Dahl. The young heroes of his stories are distinct individuals but they are united by a spirit of healthy rebellion and resilience. Roald Dahl was, throughout his career, a champion for children.Which is YOUR Favourite Roald Dahl HERO?
The six Roald Dahl character brick builds have been created by Duncan Titmarsh - the UK's only certified LEGO® professional builder - and his team at the Bright Bricks workshop in Bordon, Hampshire.
Chief Executive of Literature Wales, Lleucu Siencyn said: "We're so glad to be welcoming James - all 30,200 bricks of him - to Cardiff this fall. We hope that LEGO® James will encourage visitors to read Dahl's adventurous books, fall in love with his child heroes, and be inspired to create their own, brick by brick, word by word."
Bernie Hall from Roald Dahl's Literary Estate says: "We are so thrilled that James will be making his way to Cardiff Castle. It's the perfect location for him, in order to mark once again the strong connections between Roald Dahl and Wales, and a wonderful way to celebrate James and all Roald Dahl's amazing child heroes this Roald Dahl Day."
The full list of six LEGO® Roald Dahl Hero brick builds and their locations are:
Billy- intrepid hero ofBilly and the Minpins, Roald Dahl's very last book
- At the Eden Project in Cornwall.
Charlie- good-hearted hero ofCharlie and the Chocolate Factory
- At Manchester Central Library.
George- maverick inventor hero ofGeorge's Marvellous Medicine
- At Nottingham Railway Station.
James- adventurous hero ofJames and the Giant Peach
- At Cardiff Castle.
Matilda- anarchic heroine of the eponymousMatilda
- At the foyer of the Cambridge Theatre in London, home to the Royal Shakespeare Company's production ofMatilda the Musical.
Sophie- brave heroine ofThe BFG
- At the National Trust's Giant's Causeway Visitor Centre in Northern Ireland.