Welcome to Serendib with Nizrana Farook

Book tickets

Date

Saturday 28 March 2026

Time

11:30am - 12:15pm

Costs

Free

Location

Deptford Lounge, Children's Library

Please email for any further access needs here

Thanks to a last-minute offer from one of our partners, we are now able to offer children’s events for free to all families attending. Refunds will be issued for all previous purchases made for this event.

Children and family event for 7-9 year olds

Join Nizrana Farook, best-selling author of The Girl Who Stole an Elephant and The Boy Who Saved a Bear, as she takes you on a wild journey through Serendib, the ancient name for Sri Lanka.

This is the world of her books, a place of adventure and wilderness. From an elephant and a whale to a leopard and bear, prepare to be inspired by the natural world and all the stories in it. Learn fun animal facts and story ideas for your own writing!

Serendib, the ancient name for Sri Lanka, a place of adventure and wilderness. Join Nizrana Farook, best-selling author of The Girl Who Stole an Elephant and The Boy Who Saved a Bear, as she takes you on an interactive journey through the world of her books. Featuring fun animal facts and ideas for writing your own animal tales, prepare to be entranced by the natural world and all the stories in it.

If you require BSL interpretation, please book a ticket by Friday 6 March, and request BSL interpretation as you book.

About Deptford Literature Festival

Deptford Literature Festival takes place each March and celebrates the diversity and creativity of Deptford and Lewisham through words, stories and performance. It is run by London Writers Centre in a collaboration with independent producer Tom MacAndrew, with support from the Albany, Deptford Lounge and Lewisham Libraries. The festival is part of our campaign to make Lewisham the UK’s first Borough of Literature. You can find out more about Deptford Literature Festival and see the full 2026 festival programme at: deptfordlitfest.com

Book Tickets

Artists

Nizrana Farook

Nizrana Farook

Nizrana Farook was born and raised in Colombo, Sri Lanka, and the beautiful landscapes of her home country find their way into the stories she writes. Her first book, The Girl Who Stole an Elephant, was the UK’s biggest selling MG debut of the year and a Waterstones Children’s Book of the Month. It was nominated for the CILIP Carnegie Medal and longlisted for the Blue Peter Award and Jhalak Prize. Nizrana has a master’s degree in writing for young people and lives with her family in Hertfordshire.

FAQs

Access

Will all events have BSL?

No.

Three of our in-person events on the festival day (Saturday 28 March) will have BSL Interpretation in-place for audiences that require it: South London in Fiction; Mother Tongue: Poetry, Family and Inheritance; and Navigating Culture: Black Male Writers on Britain Today.

BSL interpretation is available on request for all other festival day (Saturday 28 March) events. If you require this, please book a ticket by Friday 6 March, and request BSL interpretation as you book. We will then arrange for this to be put in place.
Is the venue wheelchair accessible?

All venues are wheelchair accessible, with accessible toilets.

The festival hub on Saturday 28 March, Deptford Lounge, has Changing Place facilities, an induction loop and assistance dogs are welcome. For more information: deptfordlounge.org.uk/access
Is there a break out space?

Yes.

A quiet space is available on Saturday 28 March at Deptford Lounge, in the Music Room, on the first floor.
How do I request specific access needs?

If you require additional access provision in order to attend or take part in the festival, for example, larger print handouts at workshops, or a scribe, please get in touch before the festival day at: festival@londonwriterscentre.org.uk

For more information about the access provision available, please visit: londonwriterscentre.org.uk/news/access-at-deptford-literature-festival/
Will there be access assistance on the day of the festival?

Yes.

If you require assistance on the festival day itself, Saturday 28 March, please come to the Festival Hub in the foyer of Deptford Lounge where we will be happy to help you.

Support Deptford Literature Festival

Deptford Literature Festival celebrates local talent and introduces exciting new writers from Lewisham and nearby boroughs. We want to be able to continue to offer our workshops, readings, events and community projects at a low cost. We do not want finances to be a barrier to anyone taking part. If you are in a position to make a donation, please give a gift today. Anything you give will help more people come to future festivals.

Donate