Scrumdiddlyumptious summer of Dahl

Steven Spielberg’s adaptation of The BFG has not exactly been received with wild critical enthusiasm. But regardless of whether or not it’s a cinematic whizzpopper, the film’s release is the perfect opportunity to revisit the many superior adaptations of Roald Dahl’s children’s books in this centenary year of his birth. You can treat your nippers – or, indeed, yourself – to just about all of them at various local cinemas over the next month or so.

The Watershed has a Roald Dahl on Film season running throughout August. This includes a month-long book den in the café/bar area which plays host to a variety of free events for kids aged 6-12. Jasmine’s Marvellous Sweetie Factory (Mon 1) offers young ‘uns the opportunity to invent their own tooth-rotting confectionary. There’s another chance to get creative in the Make a Finger Puppet workshop (Fri 5) inspired by the bugs in James and the Giant Peach. Illustrating with Chocolate (Sun 7) reveals how to make scoffable art. Roald Dahl Read in a Day (Fri 12) is the perfect comedown from that sugar rush as Dahl’s Matilda is read aloud from cover to cover, with a little help from special guest readers, live illustrations by local artists and BSL interpretation. If you’ve ever yearned to make your own Fantastic Mr. Fox outfit, the Costume Making Workshop (Fri 19) is for you. Finally, The Big Friendly Craft (Fri 26) is a BFG-inspired crafting session.

Here’s the full line-up of local screenings, which reminds us of how well the late Mr. Dahl has been served by film-makers (with just the occasional glaring exception):

James and the Giant Peach (Watershed Aug 5-7, Curzon Aug 15)

Nightmare Before Christmas director Henry Selick’s part-animated Dahl adaptation, with great performances from Miriam Margolyes and Joanna Lumley as the evil aunts.

Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (Watershed, Aug 7)

Gene Wilder stars in this first Charlie and the Chocolate Factory adaptation. Dahl hated it so much that he refused to grant anyone permission to film the sequel, Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator.

Scratch’n’Sniff Matilda (Watershed Aug 13-14, Cube Aug 28, Curzon Sept 17)

Scratch’n’sniff cards will be handed out for these special presentations of Danny DeVito’s terrific Matilda adaptation, allowing you to smell your way through the film.

The Witches (Watershed, Aug 14)

Nicolas Roeg’s fabulous adaptation of Dahl’s great child-hating yarn, with creatures by Muppet creator Jim Henson.

Fantastic Mr. Fox (Watershed, Aug 19-20)

Wes Anderson’s cracking animation. Watch out for the set that was modelled on Bath’s Little Theatre.

Gremlins (Watershed, Aug 21)

No, really. Joe Dante’s festive critterflick is very loosely based on Dahl’s first children’s book, The Gremlins, published in 1943

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (Watershed, Aug 28)

Adpated by Dahl from a fantasy written by his chum and James Bond author Ian Fleming, this very English slice of whimsy about a magical car drags on for a bum-numbing two-and-a-half hours.