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Imagine in 2010 includes three Southbank Centre commissions: the world premiere of a beatbox concerto by Artist in Residence, Shlomo, and composer Anna Meredith (20 February); Southbank Centre’s production of Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s classic poem The Rime of the Ancient Mariner with Artists in Residence, Bellowhead’s inspirational new score (27 & 28 February, 1 March) and the return of The Bibliomancer’s Dream installation – a magical library of books on The Clore Ballroom in the Royal Festival Hall – the main venue for free performances and workshops, throughout Imagine. The Imagine programme features a range of readings, storytelling and poetry with some of today’s leading children’s writers. Michael Rosen, Francesca Beard and John Hegley launch the festival, reading their poetry to mark the publication of the A-Z of Poetry anthology edited by Michael Rosen (11 February). Rising stars include Laura Dockrill (17 February) and her Mini Word Orchestra in a special poetry show, and presenter of Channel 5’s The Gadget Show and author of the amazing Dot Robot techno-thrillers, Jason Bradbury (18 February). Further events include stand-up for kids by James Campbell (13 & 15 February), who’s brilliant new show also features a series of fantastically funny new songs for children; the return of Paul Kieve’s Magical Show (19 February), The Scribe Who Wouldn't Scribble - a journey into the wonderful world of words with puppets, music and adventure by children’s theatre company Jammy Doughnut Productions (16 February) and percussion maestro Colin Currie, who has created an amazing musical world especially for Imagine, featuring marimba, xylophones, coconuts and drums (15 February). The extensive free events programme features Jazzploration, an afternoon of performances and workshops by jazz collective and Southbank Centre Artists in Residence Tomorrow’s Warriors (13 February); Bookworm Babies, inviting baby bards to explore stories and poems, and award-winning live poetry collective Aisle 16, who present their first show for a younger audience (15 February); a workshop to produce the set for Laura Dockrill’s performance of Gluemouth (16 February); Poetry Hopscotch - a magical game, where short poems can be written on a giant hopscotch and exclaimed on the special Poetry Hopscotch megaphone (17 - 18 February); musical comedy and fairytale comic-poems with poet Brigitte Aphrodite (18 February); a family workshop with visual artist Laura X Carle (19 February); a magical party and narrated adventure with Julian Hepple (20 February); and Kathak dance for all the family with Southbank Centre Artist in Residence Gauri Sharma Tripathi (21 February).