Kjartan Poskitt

Kjartan Poskitt (born 15 May 1956 in York) is a British writer and TV presenter who is best known for writing the Murderous Maths children's series of books.[1]

Kjartan Poskitt in 2014

Early life and education

Poskitt was born in York, England, grew up in Selby, Yorkshire[2] and was educated at the Selby Abbey School,[2] at Terrington Hall, North Yorkshire,[3] and at Bootham School, York,[4] before studying engineering at Collingwood College, Durham University.[2]

Career

Poskitt was a member of a comedy group while at Durham University, and toured with it to the US in 1979, playing the piano and singing, performing skits and doing a ventriloquist act with a dummy which wouldn't speak.[5] He participated in the National Student Drama Festival from 1976-1980,[6] and also performed solo at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival from 1979[7] to 1981.[2][8] He was a member of the pop group Candlewick Green in the early 1980s.[9]

He has written and directed a number of pantomimes performed by the National Student Theatre Company, including Jack and the Beanstalk (1979),[7] The Sleeping Beauty (1980),[10] Cinderella (1981), Jack and the Beanstalk (1983),[11] as well as a nativity play, The Road to Bethlehem (1980),[12] and a "musical ghost pantomime", Sammy's Magic Garden (1985).

Early children's television appearances included Swap Shop during its Edinburgh Festival broadcasts,[2] and ITV Yorkshire's Behind the Bike Sheds.[6]

Writing

In addition to his science and maths books, which include books on Isaac Newton (Dead Famous: Isaac Newton and his Apple), and various galaxy puzzles, practical jokes and secret codes, Poskitt has written a book of magical tricks (Magic Tricks with Underpants, Scholastic 2004),[13] a GCSE Maths support book and four Rosie and Jim annuals. In 2007, Poskitt published the first in a series of children's novels called Urgum the Axeman.[14] Since then he has written the "Borgon the Axeboy" series and the award winning "Agatha Parrot" series.[15][16]

He also wrote the theme tune for the children's art program SMart, as well as the title theme and music for the first two series of Brum. He is also the creator of a logic puzzle, Kjarposko.[14]

He has been a presenter for a number of (mostly BBC) educational children's TV shows.[14]

See also

References
  1. "Poskitt, Kjartan". WorldCat Identities. Retrieved 13 April 2010.
  2. "The Fringe collides with comedy". The Stage (5262): 6. 18 February 1982. Retrieved 12 October 2019.
  3. Keens, Stuart (18 January 2017). "Murderous Maths". Terrington Hall School. Retrieved 12 October 2019.
  4. Liptrot, Kate (7 March 2014). "World Book Day celebrated across York and North and East Yorkshire". The York Press. York, England. Retrieved 12 October 2019.
  5. McEnroe, Colin (17 September 1979). "British Comedy Troupe Copies Betters, Fails". The Hartford Courant. Hartford, Connecticut. p. 26. Retrieved 5 October 2019.
  6. "College Theatre". The Stage (5356): 29. 8 December 1983. Retrieved 12 October 2019.
  7. Wolfe, Clive (23 August 1979). "Strong student showing on Edinburgh fringe". The Stage (5132): 27. Retrieved 5 October 2019.
  8. Ashwell, Keith (22 August 1980). "A splendid evening of Canadian music-making". Edmonton Journal. Edmonton, Alberta. p. C6. Retrieved 5 October 2019.
  9. "Candlewick Green". The Stage (5287): 60. 12 August 1982. Retrieved 12 October 2019.
  10. "Fine work of the National Student Theatre Company". The Stage (5201): 18. 18 December 1980. Retrieved 12 October 2019.
  11. Wolfe, Clive (29 September 1983). "Edinburgh Reviews: College Theatre". The Stage: 32. Retrieved 12 October 2019.
  12. Wolfe, Clive (1 May 1980). "'Magical' student festival". The Stage (5168): 32. Retrieved 12 October 2019.
  13. V. L. (1 May 2005). "Magic Tricks With Underpants (Book Review)". Reading Time. Children's Book Council of Australia. 49 (2): 27.
  14. "Kjartan Poskitt". Scholastic Children's Books. Archived from the original on 14 October 2012. Retrieved 13 April 2010.
  15. "Agatha Parrot & the Heart of Mud (Book Review)". Kirkus Reviews. 84 (16): 1. 15 August 2016. ISSN 1948-7428.
  16. Polace, Sarah (June 2017). "Agatha Parrot and the Thirteenth Chicken". School Library Journal. 63 (6): 82. ISSN 0362-8930.


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