Folktales and Music in the Park
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A one day y celebration of performance storytelling & music!
Saturday 17th of August 2024
2.15pm – 9.45pm in The Old Town Bowl, Old Town Gardens, Swindon
Find a perfect gentle escape on a summer’s day, where you’ll be transported into imaginary worlds… an enchanting programme of stories awaits you. Performances are well-crafted for grown-ups, but children age 7+ may enjoy them with adult supervision*.
Swindon’s Forging Fantastical are inviting talented storytellers from across the UK to perform stories from diverse cultures and regions, including the British Isles, Nordic and Inuit lands, amongst others. Forging Fantastical is managed by local volunteers who organise a year-round programme of non-profit creative events, specialising in storytelling events for grown-ups.
A headline performance will be given by storyteller and multi-instrumentalist Paul Jackson. Paul has been a professional storyteller for thirty years, and has told around 55,000 stories, in many different locations in the UK and beyond. Paul has a collection of World instruments that he plays to colour and bring to life the stories he tells, which originate from the many corners of the world. His instruments include the African Kora, American double chambered Flute, drums, mouth harps, Tibetan singing bowls, Indian Ektara and Australian Didgeridoo.
Folktales, fairy tales and wonder tales, can contain dark subject matter. “Fairy tales since the beginning of recorded time, and perhaps earlier, have been a means to conquer the terrors of mankind through metaphor.” Jack Zipes.
*Please see the programme for specific age guidance against each performance. A programme will be uploaded to this page from late March 2024.
There will be stories and music throughout the day, with the programme beginning at 2.45pm and finishing at approximately 9.45pm. Doors open 2.15pm. Refreshments will be available.
The art-deco-style Bowl is one of only a handful built in this country, and is a lively venue for regular summer events and concerts in Swindon.
Come join us for this unique event in the heart of Swindon!