Hastings Storytelling Festival 2021 Programme

STOR IES FOR A DU LTS & CHIL DR EN

16–24 OCT 2021

The Venus Bushfires Old Time Sailors AFLO. the Poet Kure Kure Children’s Day & much more!

FREE Events for Under-10s

@hsfinfo hastingsstoryfest FESTIVAL PATRON: SIR QUENTIN BLAKE hastingsstorytellingfestival hastingsstoryfest.org.uk

18 Hours is driven by a passion for fostering global understanding through education and events

www.18hours.org.uk

Welcome to Hastings Storytelling Festival 2021

I

t feels so good to step out of the Zoomiverse! Hastings Storytelling Festival is back in the physical world, with stories in libraries, parks, theatres, pubs, halls, fishing clubs and (just one or two) on your screen.

Stare at the sky and dream with Cloudscapes, get inspired by poets aflo. and Luke Wright, dive into the mystical feminine at the Goddess Event, follow Anna Mudeka’s immigration journey with her show Kure Kure, and have a rollicking good singalong with the Old Time Sailors.

This year Hastings’ school children get to tell stories with storyteller-in-residence, Thomas Taylor, who’ll bring his wonderful world of Eerie by Sea into the classroom and to Hastings Library. His books are soon to be

screened

by Sony Pictures.

Schools will also make story-inspired costumes with artist-in-residence, Sarah Evans, ready for the Roald Dahl inspired Wagon Parade on Sunday 24 October, with Radiator Arts pitching in to help create fantastical wagons.

S​ chools will also take part in the Caribbean Storytelling Cafe with Tuup and Seven Sisters Spices, combining cookery and stories with delicious results.

Thanks, as ever, to our Patron Sir Quentin Blake, who enchants us every time we see his drawings.

hastingsstoryfest.org.uk #hsf2021

saturday 16 october author event: PADMACANDRA Padmacandra is an illustrator based in Norfolk. The Tale of the Whale invites children to imagine the beauty of the sea, and consider their responsibilities to the environment, with a direct plea to end plastic pollution.

After a reading of the book, Padmacandra will lead an interactive session bringing out the message that the Whale is trying to communicate to the child in the book: the beauty of the ocean, and the peril of plastic pollution. This is followed by a craft activity where the group can create a shoal of colourful fish!

11am Hastings Library 3 Claremont TN34 1HE FREE

sunday 17 october gobbledegook theatre: CLOUDSCAPES

Look up as Lorna tells stories of her relationship with the troposphere and the journey of a lifetime with her father.

Contemplate the mutability of clouds and of humanity.

Even the most seemingly featureless skies provide plentiful material.

Join any time between 11am–4pm Warrior Square Gardens, St Leonards TN37 6BS FREE

monday 18 october anna mudeka:

KURE KURE, FARAWAY An epic tale addressing themes of identity, migration, assimilation and empowerment framed in the legends of Anna’s Shona ancestors and her own highly personal story of settling in the UK. This performance includes story-telling, musicians, dance and film.

7pm Sussex Hall, White Rock Theatre TN34 1JX £5 – book online: hastingsstoryfest.org.uk Tickets available on the door.

tuesday 19 october long nose puppets: THE Based on the heart-warming and funny book ‘The Hug’ by Eoin McLaughlin and Polly Dunbar.

Starring a Hedgehog and a Tortoise both in search of a restorative hug.

Set to Tom Gray’s (of Gomez) beautiful and witty music, the audience are

HUG

invited on a journey full of fun, laughter and love... and at the end, a very special hug from the puppets.

4pm Sandown School The Ridge TN34 2AA FREE Open to the public – places limited

AFLO.

the poet & guests AFLO. is a Brightonbased spoken word artist and scholar-activist.

AFLO. uses poetry to express her lived experiences and to challenge dominant narratives.

AFLO. will be joined by other artists from Hastings and Brighton.

7pm The Electric Palace 39a High Street Hastings TN34 3ER FREE / pay what you can

wednesday 20 october performance: LUKE WRIGHT A spit and sawdust wordsmith whose poems document 21st century British life with wit, humanity, and panache.

A Fringe First winner for new writing, The Stage award winner for acting and Best Spoken Word Performer (Saboteur 2021), Luke Wright performs his work with attitude.

This performance can be watched in person or online.

“Cool poems.” Patti Smith “A riot!”***** Huffington Post 7pm Venue to be confirmed.

Check details at hastingsstoryfest.org.uk FREE / pay what you can This will be a hybrid event – live on Zoom or turn up on the night

21 october LETTER TO MY LITTLE QUEER SELF & OTHER STORIES thursday

Serge Nicholson & Libro Levi Bridgeman of hotpencil press

What would you say in a letter to your little Queer self?

During lockdown, hotpencil press approached LGBTQ+ artists, writers and activists to write letters to their younger selves. This event will celebrate the publication of these stories with a selection of readings from contributors and local queer folk alongside new

presentations from past publications There Is No Word For It and The Butch Monologues. Produced in collaboration with Home Live Art. 7.30pm Cactus Hound, 33–35 Western Road TN37 6DJ £5 – book online: hastingsstoryfest.org.uk tickets also on the door.

friday 22 october songs & food:

OLD TIME SAILORS An unforgettable musical trip to the 19th century. Sing along and become a Sailor for one epic night!

Join the crew of 17 musicians for a 3 hour show with breaks. Join in over 40 songs and tunes surrounded by drunken Sailors,

with a magnificent stage set of a 19th century vessel.

7.30pm Hastings and St Leonards Angling Association, TN34 3AG £20 inc. fish & chips (vegan option) Book online: hastingsstoryfest.org.uk

saturday 23 october saturday story club:

THOMAS TAYLOR

Award-winning British children’s writer and illustrator, Thomas Taylor, painted the cover art for the first edition of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.

His Legends of Eerie-on-Sea series is said to be inspired be Hastings and the first book, Malamandar is soon to be made into a block-buster movie by Sony Pictures directed by Josh Cooley (Toy Story 4 and Inside Out).

11am Hastings Library 3 Claremont TN34 1HE FREE

saturday 23 october:

GODDESSES & HEROINES

DAYTIME: GODDESSES & HEROINES WITH

KALI

EMILY HENNESSEY & SHEEMA MUKHERJEE

Ride through the forest to Baba Yaga’s hut of bones, surf the spray to play with Aphrodites’s dolphins - be feisty, be fearless and become a legend. Based on Xanthe’s book Goddesses and Heroines illustrated by Alice Pattullo.

Demon-slayer, Life-saver, Supreme-Mother, Destructiondancer; Kali is truly Awesome.

Let Emily Hennessey and sitar player extraordinaire, Sheema Mukherjee take you on a whiteknuckle tuc-tuc ride.

2–3pm For families (6 years +) Stade Hall 20 Rock-a-Nore Road TN34 3DW FREE

4–6pm For 14 years + Stade Hall 20 Rock-a-Nore Road TN34 3DW FREE

XANTHE GRESHAM-KNIGHT

saturday 23 october:

GODDESSES & HEROINES EVENING: JULIET RUSSELL & XR’S “RED REBELS”

In The Pledge, Juliet Russell sings work from her celebrated new album Vox Salva, combining the music with some specially chosen pledges created & recorded by the people of Hastings to honour this Land, Sky and Sea. Join this beautiful musical event by writing your own sentence for a specially created book of over 1,000 pledges. The Red Rebel Brigade will join Juliet Russell and use their signature, silent performance.

Right: Red Rebel founder, Doug Francisco (centre) with local residents Laura Coppin (right), and Rosy Pendlebury (left). © Leora Bermeister

THE VENUS BUSHFIRES WITH HELEN EPEGA Helen Epega is the one constant member of creative collective The Venus Bushfires. The Nigerian-British singer-songwriter, composer and performance artist harnesses influences from avant-garde, psychedelic and meditative arts.

She draws inspiration from musical and creative pioneers such as Fela Kuti and Kate Bush. She creates music and stories that explore the sensual and the spiritual. She describes her music as Afro-Sonic. Helen and her band’s live sets are captivating, trance inducing and immersive sound journeys.

7pm The Stade Open Space, Rock-a-Nore Road TN34 3DW FREE

“Earth is body. Violated body is an open wound from generation to generation.

Every meeting is an opportunity for healing.” livia gaudencio

NIGHT: URUCUM - ORACLE OF DEMARCATED BODIES directed by violeta luna

The violation of Mother Earth is mirrored by the history of violence against women. Witness dazzling Brazilian performance artist Livia Gaudencio, forge a new archetype of Goddess power. Contains Oracle consultation and nudity.

9pm – 16 years + only Stade Hall, 20 Rock-a-Nore Road TN34 3DW £5 – book online at: hastingsstoryfest.org.uk

24 october 12-4pm CHILDREN’S DAY & CARNIVAL the stade, rock-a-nore road, tn34 3fj sunday

Join the fun with a host of free live performances, workshops, stories and a fantastic Roald Dahl inspired Wagon Parade for all to join!

Bambolina and Dodo A magical silent show combining acrobatics, mime, slapstick comedy, circus, theatre and puppetry.

Out of the Bag Theatre ‘Lizzy likes Lizards’ is a must see interactive the atre show for children.

Tuup A Guyanese international storyteller, musician, poet & epic performer.

ets Long Nose Pupp u on a journey yo s ‘The Hug’ take er and love, set to full of fun, laught omez) beautiful Tom Gray’s (of G and witty music.

al Carniv at e Parad m p 3.15

Carnival Parade Roald Dahl inspired Wagon Parade. A noisy, fun parade through the old town and back.

Anyone can join in!

Parade workshops Come along and make some fun Roald Dahl inspired props for the parade with Lulu.

Arrive id to avo t early en ointm disapp okings No bo

Richard Storybeard Enchanting stories throughout the afternoon inside a cosy yurt.

Idolrich A new show MYSTERRASAUR, all about extinction.

12–4p m The St ade FREE Stade Open Space TN34 3FJ

If it’s wet, don’t fret!

Most of our stories are under cover.

CHECK SOCIAL MEDIA & BOARDS ON THE DAY FOR TIMINGS & FINAL SCHEDULE.

SCHEDULE AT A GLANCE hastingsstoryfest.org.uk PROGRAMME SUBJECT TO CHANGE

author event

11am

free

Sun 17 Oct 11am–4pm GOBBLEDEGOOK THEATRE:

Warrior Square Gardens TN37 6BS

free

Mon 18 Oct

7pm

Wed 20 Oct

7pm

LUKE WRIGHT

Thu 21 Oct 7.30pm

ANNA MUDEKA: kure kure

Sussex Hall, White Rock Theatre, TN34 1JX £5

4pm

LONG NOSE PUPPETS: the hug

Sandown School The Ridge TN34 2AA

Electric Palace TN34 3ER free / pay what you can

Venue TBC free / pay what you can

cloudscapes

Tue 19 Oct

7pm

AFLO. THE POET

PADMACANDRA

Hastings Library TN34 1HE

Tue 19 Oct

letter to my little queer self

Cactus Hound 33–35 Western Rd TN37 6DJ

Fri 22

£5 7.30pm

OLD TIME SAILORS

Hastings & St Leonards Angling Association TN34 3AG

£20 (inc. fish & chips) Sat 23 Oct 11am THOMAS TAYLOR

free

Hastings Library TN34 1HE

free

Sat 23 Oct

goddesses & heroines 2pm XANTHE GRESHAM KALI 14+ 4pm

Stade Hall, Rock-a-Nore TN34 3FJ free

Sat 23 Oct

7pm

& heroines JULIET RUSSELL WITH XR’S ‘RED REBELS’ & THE VENUS BUSHFIRES WITH HELEN EPEGA goddesses

The Stade Open Space TN34 3FJ free

Sat 23 Oct

9pm

& heroines LIVIA GAUDENCIO: URUCUM goddesses

Stade Hall, Rock-a-Nore TN34 3FJ 16+ £5

Sun 24 Oct

12-4pm

CHILDREN’S STORYTELLING DAY AND PARADE

The Stade, Rock-a-Nore TN34 3FJ free

HASTINGS STORY TELLING FESTIVAL CHARIT Y NUMBER: 1168229

Sat 16 Oct