Events programme for Roald Dahl’s centenary in 2016 unveiled

A programme of events to celebrate the centenary of Welsh born author and the world’s number one story teller, Roald Dahl in 2016 has been announced from the Norwegian Church in Cardiff Bay, where Roald Dahl was baptised.

The Roald Dahl 100 celebrations coincide with ‘Wales: Year of Adventure’ in 2016 and Roald Dahl himself was no stranger to adventure, as a child getting up to well-documented mischief in the local sweetshop in Llandaff or as a young pilot during World War Two.

During 2016, the Wales Programme will include City of the Unexpected, a city-wide performance celebrating all things Dahl, produced by National Theatre Wales and Wales Millennium Centre, and a programme of outreach events by Literature Wales taking the wonders of Roald Dahl and his characters far and wide. Roald Dahl’s work will also be celebrated through an exhibition of illustrations by Quentin Blake and World Book day.

Speaking at the launch was MD of the Roald Dahl Literary Estate and Roald Dahl’s grandson, Luke Kelly. Also in attendance was Felicity Dahl, Roald Dahl’s widow. Luke Kelly, said: “It is wonderful to hear today all the exciting plans both in Cardiff and throughout Wales for 2016. My grandfather would have been moved and delighted by the range of activity, as am I.”
Together with local schoolchildren, Luke and Felicity seized the opportunity to unveil the official Roald Dahl 100 logo in the form of a flag, which will fly from the Norwegian Church Arts Centre in 2016.

One of the programme’s highlights will be ‘City of the unexpected’ which will take place in Cardiff in September 2016 and will be a city wide celebration of Roald Dahl’s World. Co-produced by the National Theatre Wales and Wales Millennium Centre and directed by Nigel Jamieson, director of the opening ceremony of the Sydney Olympic Games, events will include site specific theatre, large-scale spectacles, smaller theatrical productions and art commissions from Welsh artists. So who knows where and how an Enormous Crocodile, a giant peach, or Fantastic Mr Fox might turn up around the city.