Appearing:
Sunderland (12th), North Tyneside (13th), Gateshead (14th), Durham (17th), Northumberland (18th), South Tyneside (19th), Hartlepool (20th), Middlesbrough (21st), Gala day
Website
www.the2steves.net
The two Steve's are the Festival's fave double act who provide an irreverant look at history.
They also leave the boring bits out!
Steve Barlow
Steve Barlow is not Steve Barlow's real name. His real name is Steve Lowe, but he couldn't be Steve Lowe because playwright Stephen Lowe is already Steve Lowe, though his real name is Stephen Wright, but he couldn't be Wright because Steven Wright was already Steven Wright, so Stephen Wright had to change his name to Stephen Lowe; so Steve Lowe couldn't be Steve Lowe because Stephen Wright was already Stephen Lowe because Steven Wright was Steven Wright so Steve Lowe changed his name to Steve Barlow, all on account of Stephen Wright. Right?
Why Barlow? 'Cos it's his mum's maiden name. Aaaaah!
Steve Barlow was born in Britain (in Crewe, in the county of Cheshire). He went to Brierley Street School, which was like Bash Street only not as sophisticated, then to Crewe County Grammar School for Boys (and what kind of school feels the need, in its name, to remind its pupils what gender they are? Hmmm?). He went on to study at Warwick University and Nottingham University, and worked at various times as a teacher, actor, stage manager and puppeteer. Then he went to teach in Botswana, where a valid excuse for students not handing in their homework was 'A goat ate it, sir!'. On his return to the UK he met Steve Skidmore, and the rest is hysteria.
Steve Barlow lives in Somerset with his wife Cathy, daughter Amy and son Robbie. He likes walking, sailing, reading, listening to music and shouting at politicians on the telly.
Steve Skidmore
Steve Skidmore is shorter than Steve Barlow and less hairy. He was born in Birstall near Leicester in England. After managing to pass some exams at school, he went on to Nottingham University to supposedly read English, but spent most of his time playing sport and doing a variety of summer jobs including counting pastry pie lids (yes, really).
He trained as a teacher of Drama, English and Film studies, before teaming up with Steve Barlow to become a full time author.
He lives in Leicester and is a great rugby fan (he supports Leicester Tigers - "Come on you Tiiiiigeeeers!"
Recommended Reads
 | A Touch of Wind (Mad Myths) Barn Owl Books 978-1903015568 Perce, Andy, Willard and Eddie are not enjoying the school Outward Bound trip to Bogmouth, it is wet and cold and most of the activities seem both unpleasant and pointless. Things manage to get worse, however, when they come across a strange old man on the beach, who turns out to be Odysseus and once again the children are dragged into another Greek Myth. As ever, the two Steves manage to be hugely entertaining and educational at the same time. |
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Knyghtmare! HarperCollins 978-0007108664 Another exciting, crazy and hilarious adventure set in the arboreal depths of the Dark Forest. A welcome return for some familiar faces caught up in a new adventure. Will and Rose, who roam the Dark Forest freely, are used to its quirks and hidden tricksiness. Yet, when they both wake up shaken from an identical dream -- about a Knyght in black armour on a fire-breathing steed -- they both know that something seriously scary is happening! Once again, the team of Will, Rose, Humfrey, the Runemaster and the pessimistic, mouthy Harp of Kings team up for a "shpectacular and riotoush romp in fantashyland". |
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Star Bores HarperCollins 978-0007192083 A parody of an old story, its sequels, their prequel sequel and its sequel prequels. In one book. Long, long, long, long ago in a galaxy far, far, far, far away...(Well, when I say long ago, I mean quite a long time ago; for instance, not right at the beginning of the Universe because everything was very hot then and the highest form of life was a sort of worm...) A story of unbelievable heroism, unspeakable villainy, where new but appallingly familiar characters mess about in a hilarious struggle of good versus evil using loads of cool machines. Meet Princess Liar, a heroine with a problem with the truth, Dark Visor, a mutant with a motorcycle, Choccibikki the Cookie and Hans Zup, a surrender-oriented hero and their ship The Millennium Bug. All will have a hand in the destiny of a young bartender when the droids DoRaymefar and SolaTeedo come to town... |