Welcome to Imagined Words 2026
A month of events, screenings and talks accross Lewisham Libraries focused on sci-fi and fantasy. Please see below for the full programme.
Make A Friend: Children's Craft with Grace Lewis
Saturday 1 November, 10.30-11.30am
Downham Library
Inspired by Downham Library’s children’s book collection, we'll use air-drying clay and our imaginations to make ourselves a special new friend.
Whether it's an imaginary companion you've been dreaming about or a beloved character from your favourite story, you'll bring your own unique creation to life and get to take them home with you.
‘Bertie and the Invisible Menace’: A Book Launch with Graham Whitlock
Saturday 1 November, 2-3.30pm
Forest Hill Community Library
From Graham Whitlock, author of ‘The Crystal Palace Chronicles’, comes the first book in a new series!
Strange forces threaten Victorian London, and only Bertie and his friends - plus a little imagination - can stop them. Come along to Forest Hill Library to meet the author and hear more about this thrilling new adventure.
Creating Imagined Worlds with Alice Foxall
Monday 3 November, 6.30-8pm
Crofton Park Community Library
Join author Alice Foxall for a reading of her work followed by a dynamic creative writing workshop. Alice will guide you through designing or developing your own imagined world. Come with an idea in mind or start with a blank page!
Art Club Imagines Worlds
Mondays 3, 10, 17 & 24 November, 3.30-4.30pm
Downham Library
This month for Downham Library’s Art Club we’ll be dreaming and fabulating with our arts and crafts. Join us to create artwork inspired by our favourite sci-fi and fantasy worlds. Think space rockets, monstrous creatures, distant galaxies, wizards, robots and more!
Free family activity. All ages welcome. No need to book, just turn up.
Dungeons & Dragons at Sydenham Library Board Game Night
Tuesday 4 November, 5.30-9pm
Sydenham Community Library
Take up your sword, wand, or battle-axe and immerse yourself in a fantasy world with a D&D one-shot! Or play a board game of your choice.
Dungeons & Dragons: ages 16+ All other games: open to all ages
Deptford Library Cinema Club
Thursday 6, 13, 20 & November, 6-8pm
Deptford Lounge
Join us this November for a curated selection of films exploring technology in sci-fi films. To see the full movie schedule and sign up to our newsletter, as well as the chance to vote on next month's film program, go to Deptford Library Cinema Club Newsletter.
Free, no need to book.
Teens Creative Writing Club
Friday 7 November, 5-7pm
Manor House Community Library
Are you a writer, or would you like to be? Are you a lover of science fiction, fantasy, and mythological worlds? Join us for a special edition of the Manor House Library Teens Creative Writing Club and explore a few of these worlds before creating your own. At this session, we will focus on stories inspired by myths, folklore, and fairytales. For ages 14-18.
Imagined Worlds Exhibition: Private View
Friday 7 November, 6-8pm
Deptford Lounge
Visit us at Deptford Lounge, where local artists will transport you beyond the boundaries of reality through visionary works that blend sci-fi and fantasy into something entirely new. Experience interpretations of alternate realities, futuristic landscapes, and mythical realms as our talented creators invite you to reimagine what's possible. This private view is a celebration of the art and artists - all are welcome.
Imagine a New World with Anna Dempsey: A Children's Creative Writing Workshop
Saturday 8 November, 11am-1pm
Crofton Park Community Library
Pens and notepads at the ready with local writer and teacher Anna Dempsey! Come to Crofton Park for an afternoon of imaginative world-building, where anything is possible - from futuristic cities and intergalactic robots to enchanted forests and talking animals. Perfect for young writers aged 8–13.
Crafternoons: Piecing Together Fragments of Unfathomable Beings with Kitt Glover
Saturday 8 November, 2-4pm
Catford Library
Stitch, embroider, stick, and embellish textile creatures inspired by the sci-fi and fantasy realms. You will have the opportunity to craft your own three-dimensional creature and together we will consider how we use visual language to translate otherworldly beings from the written word into the real world.
In Conversation with Saara El-Arifi
Wednesday 12 November, 6.45-8pm
Deptford Lounge
Join us for an enchanting evening with Sunday Times bestselling author Saara El-Arifi as she discusses her fantasy novel ‘Faebound’. Discover how El-Arifi constructs her fae world, from its magical systems to its complex politics, and explore the techniques behind building believable fantasy societies where readers can lose themselves completely.
Collaborative Mural Workshop with Anna Arianova
Saturday 15 November, 10.30am-12.30pm
Sydenham Community Library
Be a part of a brand new work of art! Sydenham Library's artist in residence, Anna Arianova, will guide participants in collaborating on a mural which, once finished, will hang in the library for all to enjoy. Anna Arianova is an artist based in south-east London, where she has lived and worked for the past 20 years.
Dungeons & Dragons Night: Lost Mine of Phandelver Campaign
Tuesday 18 November, 4-7pm
Deptford Lounge
Gundren Rockseeker is looking for a group of adventurers to make some deliveries. Sounds easy, right? Well think again! If you'd like to join the campaign, please email Suzie at deptfordlibrary@lewisham.gov.uk in advance so we can create a character for you.
Caroline O'Donoghue Author Talk
Wednesday 19 November, 6.45-8pm
Deptford Lounge
Drop in for an evening with Caroline O'Donoghue, as she discusses her new novel ‘Skipshock’ in an intimate conversation. This event explores the art of world-building in science fiction and fantasy literature. Caroline will share insights into her creative process, the construction of her fictional universe, and the challenges of crafting believable speculative worlds that resonate with readers.
Teens Creative Writing Club
Friday 21 November, 5-7pm
Crofton Park Community Library
Are you a writer, or would you like to be? Are you a lover of science fiction, fantasy, and mythological worlds? Join us for a special edition of the Crofton Park Library Teens Creative Writing Club and explore a few of these worlds before creating your own. At this session, we will focus on stories of science fiction and dystopia. For ages 14-18.
Crafternoons: Radical Worlding via Interactive Fiction with Jazmin Morris
Tuesday 25 November, 5-6.30pm
Deptford Lounge
Visit Deptford Lounge for an engaging evening of creative worldbuilding with artist Jazmin Morris. In this workshop, you'll explore various media and creative approaches to embark on your own quest using interactive fiction. Together, we'll discover how worlding can serve as a tool for examining historical, social, and political issues while imagining alternative realities.
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Front to Black: A Black Literature Club
Tuesday 25 November, 5.30-7.30pm
Sydenham Community Library
Join NAZ for a special edition of the Front to Black book group as they explore Octavia E. Butler's ground-breaking, genre-bending classic, ‘Kindred’ - a novel that continues to spark powerful conversations decades after its release. Each month, the Front to Black book group journeys through works by Black and mixed-heritage authors to show that engaging with Black literature is not only educational but also uplifting, joyful, and deeply resonant.
The Reading Lounge
Wednesday 26 November, 6-8pm
Deptford Lounge
Step into our Reading Lounge for a perfectly relaxed literary evening. Whether you're a passionate reader or simply curious about this year's most celebrated books, this is your space to discover, explore, and connect at your own pace. Enjoy complimentary coffee and tea as you browse a specially curated collection focusing on sci-fi and fantasy.
Films in the Foyer x Imagined Worlds - METROPOLIS: RARE CUT WITH LIVE SCORE
Thursday 27 November, 7-8.30pm
Deptford Lounge
Join us for an extraordinary evening as we present a rare cut of the legendary 1927 sci-fi epic ‘Metropolis’, accompanied by an electronic live musical score performed by Audio Obscura. Following the film, we will have a Q&A session with James Fennell, collector and owner of this rare print, alongside Audio Obscura. Booking is advised.
Teens Creative Writing Club
Friday 28 November, 5-7pm
Sydenham Community Library
Are you a writer, or would you like to be? Are you a lover of science fiction, fantasy, and mythological worlds? Join us for a special edition of the Sydenham Library Teens Creative Writing Club and explore a few of these worlds before creating your own. At this session, we will focus on stories which explore the fantastical. For ages 14-18.
Dungeons & Dragons with The Meat Shields
Saturday 29 November, 11am-2pm
Deptford Lounge
Join the Meat Shields for a thrilling Dungeons and Dragons adventure! No experience points necessary, pre-made characters and dice will be provided! Not ready to delve into an adventure just yet? Then come design a character or illustrate part of our communal map.
Calico Libraries: Imagined Worlds Creative Writing Competition
Throughout November & December
Submit works of short fiction (1,500 words or fewer) inspired by the theme of 'Imagined Worlds' to the inaugural Calico Libraries writing competition! Winners and highly commended writers will have their work featured in a printed pamphlet and online. Submission guidelines and full details can be found at calicoprojects.com