The hilarious children's book from No. 1 bestselling author David Walliams. On a volcanic island, in the middle of shark-infested waters, stands The Cruel School. The lessons are appalling, the school dinners are revolting and the teachers are terrifying - especially the mysterious Science teacher Doctor Doktur. When Larker is sent to the school, she quickly realises something very odd is going on... something involving Doctor Doktur, a pair of strange spectacles, and a 'Monsterfication Machine'. And ultimately she finds herself face to face with a real life Megamonster. There seems to be no escape - but for Larker, nothing is impossible...

Four inspirational tales of Essex resilience intertwine to make an unmissable world premiere by the region's most exciting playwrights. The Essex Princess by Anne Odeke It's 1908 and Joanna's planning to provoke the attention of Southend and the whole of the nation, by becoming the first black woman to compete in a beauty pageant. Fiza by Guleraana Mir Fiza's moved home with her parents. Under dire circumstances... At nearly 40. Will she pick herself up in time for the dreaded school reunion? Never Never Land by Kenny Emson Tag's out with the lads in 1998 - it's his last night as a proper Essex boy. But there are last nights, and there are last nights. Everybody Gets Born by Sadie Hasler Daisy's having a baby. Yep, right now. Actually having a baby. The drugs kick in, the room goes fuzzy, and Daisy finds herself back in 1978... in her mum's glam band.