Filled with over four hundred students from eleven different schools, the Wyvern Theatre is packed full to see Darren Shan.

The first speaker explained why the crowd was gathered there and talked a bit about Darren Shan. He also called up the two organisers of the Swindon Ten Youth Festival of Literature, Fiona Hardcastle and Jenny Eagle; they were rewarded with deafening applause and a large bouquet of flowers.

Darren introduced himself, and the applause started again. He asked for volunteers from the audience. Once he chose the four volunteers, he gave them short stage directions. Then, as he read a passage from ‘Cirque du Freak’, the actors and actress acted the scenes. When they were finished there was more applause. Next, he read the first chapter from Lord Loss, the first book of the ‘Demonata ‘series. The atmosphere darkened. He had all eyes on him as he read with emotionally-charged voices. Many more emotions were hidden in the eyes of listeners.

He had truly gripped the attention of his audience, like a magnet he had every eye on him. The stories ‘Cirque du Freak’ and ‘Demonata’ with gripping detail and various voices and expressions.

After he told the story he concluded with a few questions...

Q: “Which is your favourite book?”

A: “Well they all are, I created them so they’re a part of me, like children I have to love them all equally”

Comments from the audience: Mrs Hadgraft, Greendown Community School: “Very good, I’ve read the saga of Darren Shan and I think he’s really good”

Callum Nelson, Greendown Community school: “Very good, I like this because its horror for children”

Kaona Boam Saint Joe’s College : “Interaction with the audience brought the text alive”

By Ben Dickinson, Year 9, Highworth Warneford