Genius at work: Roald Dahl will be immortalised by new museum
SOPHIE Dahl is among a host of celebrity guests expected to be in Great Missenden on Friday for the grand opening of the Roald Dahl Museum and Story Centre.
The author's granddaughter will be joining other movie stars including Johnny Depp currently filming the remake of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory for a champagne party on Friday, June 10.
Great Missenden was chosen as the site for the new museum as Roald Dahl lived there from 1916 to 1990. He wrote all of his books for both children and adults there too.
The museum was first mentioned as a concept almost a decade ago, and the design has been totally inspired by Roald Dahl's most memorable characters.
Sue Davies, director of the centre, said: "There are very few places which present reading, writing and creativity in a fun way. Our venue will rectify that, building on Roald Dahl's work and using that as the beginning of a magical journey into further reading and writing."
After passing under a shadow of the BFG (the Big Friendly Giant), guests walk through the museum's chocolate-coated doors into the main building, being careful to avoid the crocodile cunningly disguised as a bench.
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Visitors can also expect to be dazzled by a spectacular array of displays and shows highlighting the life and work of one of Britain's favourite authors.
Many of his most treasured possessions will be on display, and large video screens are being installed to provide original footage of the author at work.
The museum, on the site of an old coaching inn in High Street, Great Missenden, will form one of the largest literary archives in the world.
It will contain drafts of every major work, proof and correspondence with agents and editors that Roald Dahl ever recorded. The archive will even be home to the idea books where so many of his stories began.
In the Story Centre there will be an exhibition showing how other contemporary authors work, with some fun games as well.
Val Rutt, whose debut novel The Race for the Lost Keystone was published last year, has already been confirmed as the first writer-in-residence, and will be on hand to give advice to visiting groups.
From Saturday, June 12, the centre will be open to the public, with normal opening hours being 10am to 5pm, Tuesday to Sunday.
An extensive programme of activities has already been drawn together for the forthcoming weeks after the official opening, including talks on how to become the best story teller ever and lessons in chocolate truffle making.
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