Hastings Storytelling Festival 2014

Fishy Tales

A week of stories for adults & children

10–16 November 2014

Iain Sinclair The Velvet Curtain Goddess Tales Fireside Tales with Grandad Children’s Day with Dragon Quest Anousha, Clown Zaz & more!

Festival Patron: Sir Quentin Blake

Most events are FREE!

www.hastingsstory fest.org.uk

About Fishy Tales Hastings Storytelling Festival celebrates the oral tradition of storytelling.

The performance is as important as the work itself, with original tales told through spoken word, poetry, puppetry, song and movement.

NEW: The Hastings Storytelling Festival Calendar 2015 Illustrated by Sir Quentin Blake, Festival Patron

The festival is now four years old and is probably the largest in the country. This year’s programme brims with diverse stories at locations across Hastings and St Leonards.

You’ll find stories indoors and outdoors: stories for children, stories for adults, stories to make you laugh and cry, your jaw drop, your mind boggle, your heart pound and your knees quiver.

Highlights this year include the tantalising Velvet Curtain (adult only burlesque storytelling), a talk by Iain Sinclair, Goddess Tales from Xanthia Gresham, Fireside tales with Grandad from Pickled Image Theatre Company and, as always, Children’s Day Festival (with huge fire-breathing dragon) down at the Stade.

This year our Patron, Sir Quentin Blake, has illustrated a gorgeous calendar just for us.

Proceeds go towards keeping all our children’s stories completely free. Signed copies will be available at Sunday’s Children’s Day. £10 from local outlets or at any event during the festival.

MON 10 – Fri 14 Family banner-making workshops

WED 12 NOV

FREE

To celebrate Black History Season, local artist, Sarah Evans (who produced the illustrations in this booklet) will help you create a banner inspired by Black heroes and authors.

Come along, make a banner, and then carry it in the Parade at the Children’s Day at the Stade on Sunday 16 November! ildren’s Redlake Ch ue: tbc) Centre (ven ovember Tuesday 11 N 10 –11.30am 6450 Tel: 01424 72

St Leonards Children’s Centre Friday 14 November 10 –11.30am Tel: 01424 200604

Challenging Islamophobia through stories Professional Development Training Khayaal Theatre Company, an award winning British Arts Enterprise, is dedicated to the dramatic interpretation of classic Muslim world literature and heritage and the experience of Muslims in the modern world.

This workshop focuses on intercultural understanding through story for teachers and those who work with children/young people.

It includes a performance, plus tips, techniques and discussions around using storytelling to challenge Islamophobic attitudes.

Time: 4–6pm Venue: Hastings Museum and Art Gallery Free: Booking essential – contact office@18hours.org.uk

THU 13 NOV Xanthe Gresham Goddess Tales: ‘Her’ Crossing the uncharted boundary between storytelling, mythology and playground rhyme with contemporary material and personal narrative. 16+

Author conversations: Iain Sinclair Cult figure Iain Sinclair has led an extraordinary life as an author, documentary maker, poet, keeper of lost cultures and futurologist.

Dr Irralie Doel hosts this talk by the renowned British writer, filmmaker and psychogeographer, much of whose work is rooted in London.

With free refreshments provided by the Students Union Literary Society.

Time: 7pm Venue: University of Brighton in Hastings Priory Square TN34 1EA FREE

Time: 7pm Venue: The Garage (through Horse & Groom Pub), Mercatoria, St Leonards Price: £6 – from SHOP & Tourist Information or www.goddesstales.eventbrite.co.uk

Fri 14 nOV An evening of Adult-only Stories

The Velvet Curtain 18+

Dress code: think !

Cabaret

The curtains part for a delicious evening of tantalising, teasing tales from a host of flamboyant and far-out performers. Strictly for over 18s, this night of burlesque glamour, wit and outrageous entertainment will make you giggle, shiver and maybe steam up (just a little bit).

With saucy izes lucky-dip pr for guests

Crimson Skye, your burlesque hostess will be entertaining you and has plans for ‘Play Your Cards Right’ but not as you know it!

Brigitte Aphrodite – fresh from supporting Kate Nash at Shepherds Bush Empire, Brigitte brings a unique and dazzling mix of spoken word and song.

WITH The Ooh La Las – High energy and frilly knickers a-plenty.

Rosie Carrick – candid, eccentric, acidic – one of Britain’s most unusual and exciting contemporary performance spoken word artist.

Robin Sweet – Queer editor at ‘Cliterati’, Robin reads stories about kink as a gentleman in rubber leggings!

Hastings Guerrilla Circus – Bendy, beautiful aerial artist and poi dancer.

Plus DJ Niki spinning tunes til late!

Ingrid Pitt Orchestra – Hastings’ very own glamorous Transylvanian Gypsy TrippHop!

Time: 7pm–12.30am Venue: Assembly Rooms, The Masonic Hall, East Ascent, St Leonards Price: £15 on the door OR £12 in advance from Hastings Tourist Information, SHOP, 34 Norman Road or online from www.velvetcurtain.eventbrite.co.uk

This year’s Velvet Curtain has been helped by New Writing South, RUDE online magazine & Linda King

SAT 15 Nov Ed Boxall: Storytelling

Pomegranate Restaurant

“Keep it fresh and put love into it” 50 George Street, Old Town Tel: 01424 429221

Hastings’ children’s author and storyteller, Ed Boxall, has written several children’s books including the highly acclaimed ‘Francis The Scaredy Cat’. An enchanting and captivating experience that children and adults love.

Time: 10.30am Venue: Hastings Children’s Library FREE

69 High Street, Old Town TN34 3EW 6 en-suite letting rooms Private Dining Room • Bar Billiards Live music at weekends A Great Range of Cask Ales www.jennylindhastings.co.uk

Tel: 01424 421392

Pickled Image: Fireside Tales with Grandad Cuddle up around the campfire as Granddad regales you with tales of greedy goblins, grumpy trolls, sneaky princes, a giant pair of underpants and a daring escape from a hungry shark. An enchanting show guaranteed to spark the imagination of everyone from 5–105.

Wonderful puppets, props and staging combine with an enthusiastic audience to make this a delightful family show.

Time: 12.30pm & 3.30pm Venue: Stade Hall, Hastings Old Town FREE

Where local knowledge matters 6–8 London Road St Leonards-on-Sea TN37 6AE jon@mandwsalesandlettings.co.uk 01424 420073

SUN 16 nov Circo Rumbaba: Dragon Quest The goblin queen and her huge, ancient dragon are on a mission to discover why the dragon’s eggs are no longer hatching. The goblin queen may tether her beast to you as she makes her investigations or you may be chosen to actually sit on and incubate one of the dragon’s eggs!

Anousha Subramanium of Beeja: Kathak dance and storytelling.

Fresh, rigorous and exciting.

Zaz the Clown: ‘Exudes energy, enthusiasm, joy’ – The Guardian.

Zaz will be roving around, performing on stage and joining the Parade.

UK Africa Acrobats: Your jaw will drop as you witness these acrobats effortlessly balancing plates, giant bowls, people and even bicycles on their hands and heads.

children’s FESTIVAL & PARADE Polly Highton: Imaginative and interactive storytelling with ‘a warmth and enthusiasm which enables everyone to feel involved.’

en’s Childr e Parad at 3pm

12–4p m The St ade FREE

Richard Storybeard: Travel to magical worlds with captivating and enchanting tales told inside a yurt.

Idolrich Theatre Rotto: Stories with puppets developed through the ‘Shaking Hands’ project, working with refugee, asylum seeker and first generation migrants in Hastings to tell stories of their experiences.

Parade: Everyone can join the fun with our banner-toting parade through the Old Town, accompanied by drumming from Dende and clowning from Zaz.

Breakfasts, great meals, snacks, home made cakes and more!

Fully licensed, open 364 days a year Tel: 01424 447116 www.eathastings.co.uk info@eathastings.co.uk Facebook: eat @ hastings

Storytelling Hub If it’s wet don’t fret! s All our storie r de un e ar cover

For full timings, check blackboards on the day and visit our website: www.hastingsstoryfest.org.uk and Facebook: 18HoursEvents

Do you love stories? Our Storytelling Hub gives you information about local and national storytelling projects. hastingsstoryfest.org.uk/story-hub

Tue 11 Banner-making workshops for Children’s Day Parade Fri 14 Redlake and St Leonards Children’s Centres Wed 12 Challenging Islamophobia for teachers and trainers

Hastings Museum and Art Gallery (must pre-book)

FREE FREE 4–6pm

Wed 12 Iain Sinclair

Creativity Suite, University of Brighton, Priory Square

FREE 4–6pm

Thu 13 Xanthe Gresham: Goddess Tales – ‘Her’ 16+

The Garage (through Horse and Groom Pub), St Leonards Fri 14

The Velvet Curtain 18+ Masonic Hall Assembly Rooms, St Leonards

£6 7pm

£12 adv. /£15 door 7pm–12.30am

Sat 15 Ed Boxall – Storytelling

Hastings Children’s Library

FREE 10.30am

Sat 15 Pickled Image: Fireside Tales with Grandad FREE

Stade Hall, Hastings Old Town 12.30pm + 3.30pm Sun 16 Children’s Day Festival and Parade

The Stade, Hastings Old Town

www.hastingsstory fest.org.uk ISABEL BLACKMAN FOUNDATION

FREE Noon–4pm

ILLUSTRATION: sarah-evans.com design: wordsmithdesign.co.uk

Schedule at a glance

Schedule may be subject to change