Settle Storytelling Festival 2011

September 2011

TUUP

From Thursday 6 October to Sunday 9 October, The Settle Storytelling Festival will present 12 performances by some of the world’s most acclaimed storytellers.

Taking place in Settle, North Yorkshire, The Settle Storytelling Festival is for all ages and is a celebration of storytelling which aims to showcase its many different forms.

This year’s programme features mix of performances from cosy bedtime storytelling, fireside tales of daring do, spine-chilling ghost stories through to performances from storytellers from Japan and Africa. The event also features exciting, ambitious and experimental storytelling pieces using a mix of spoken word, music and multimedia.

Taffy Thomas

Featured this year:

• Grant Gordon: Of Divine Comedy, Gordon will perform Century – a sensational, uplifting and unforgettable multimedia theatre and music storytelling experience.
• Hugh Lupton: Telling gripping stories about his great uncle Arthur Ransome’s perilous travels through Russia, Lupton will reveal how Ransome played chess with Lenin and fell in love with Trotsky’s secretary.
• TUUP and Sheema Mukerjee: An unforgettable evening of African and Caribbean tales, TUUP and Mukerjee are also members of Transglobal Underground.
• Taffy Thomas MBE: The UK’s storytelling laureate will be leading storytelling walks, running workshops and telling bedtime tales to youngsters six and under.
• Bill Mitchell and Nick Hennessy: Two of the UK’s leading raconteurs will be telling traditional stories English stories.
• Mio Shapley: A highly acclaimed Japanese storyteller, Shapley will be using a traditional Kamishibai bicycle theatre to perform her fun stories.
• The Yarnsmith of Norwich: Fireside tales of ancient times, petty criminals, drunkenness and other misbehaviour with acclaimed storyteller Dave Tong.
• Ghost stories: An evening of spooky stories with three of the UK’s top storytellers. Not for the faint hearted!
• Open mike: Show off your own storytelling skills at an open mike night.

The festival also features a range of free attractions such as access to innovative Calling Bird garden sculptures by Shanaz Gulzar and Steve Manthorp.

Sita Brand, director of The Settle Storytelling Festival said:

"We’re really proud that The Settle Storytelling Festival has already established itself as one of the UK’s best storytelling festivals. Our 2011 programme has been designed with the whole family in mind and this year, we’ve brought together some of the world’s most exciting storytellers to perform in our beautiful village. Set in the stunning Yorkshire countryside, Settle Stories will be unforgettable experience that will engage hearts and inspire minds."

Mio Shapley

Booking and ticket information:

Online booking from 1 August: www.settlestories.org.uk

Telephone booking: 01729 825 718 (10am – 2pm Mon-Fri)

Email: info@settlevictoriahall.co.uk

Settle Victoria Hall Box Office, Kirkgate, Settle, North Yorkshire, BD24 9DZ

Early bird discounts and concessions are available. Events are priced individually and discounted multi-performance ‘Merlin’ passes are also available.