Inside Story: Issue 1 (July 2022) by Storyhouse

FREE | SUMMER 2022

Transforming Lives Through Dance

SPOTLIGHT ON: Young Storyhouse

The Year of the Bee

Storyhouse Young Programmers, Kat Hannon 2021

What's on this Summer!

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Key Partner

Funded by

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My Favourite Book

Principle Sponsor

Corporate Sponsors

As a charity, Storyhouse relies on the support of individuals, companies, and charitable trusts and foundations to provide opportunities for the most disadvantaged young people across the city. Charitable support also enables us to offer a wide range of free and accessible cultural activities across the year, for our local community. To find out about how you can support Storyhouse visit storyhouse.com/support

The library is at the heart of Storyhouse, and is an inspirational place for adults and children alike, to keep, make, and share great stories and ideas. Each issue, three people from the Storyhouse family tell us about a book that holds a special place in their heart.

Ngunan Adamu

Young Leaders Programme Sponsors

Film Programme Supported by

INSIDE STORY

Welcome I

t’s almost two years since I was fortunate to join the Storyhouse board as a trustee, a theatre company that I admired and supported as a presenter and audience member.

with the USA-based International Federation for Biblio-Poetry Therapy (IFBT). She has facilitated poetry therapy groups in schools, prisons, clinical settings, and the community.

What attracted me to Storyhouse was the quality of productions and conferences. Despite the distance, travelling from Liverpool to Chester, it made sense to make that journey, especially as a theatre enthusiast always looking for the next production to sink my teeth into. What makes Storyhouse unique is that it is in the middle of the stunning Chester town centre with easy parking.

So make sure you get yourself down to the next one; they have a gala dinner at the end, and who doesn’t love food.

As soon as I walked into the newly opened Storyhouse, I couldn’t help but look up at the beautifully written poetry by iconic Manchester poet Lemn Sissay OBE, which reminds attendees that the creative space is an inclusive space for all.

This further solidified why Storyhouse was a special place and a welcoming venue.

And one particular programme that showcased that is the Educating Creatively Conference, which hosts 50 inspirational speakers from all over the world from various backgrounds and artistic practices. With the likes of Abdelfattah Abusrour with his session Beautiful Resistance: Building Peace Within, his session was all about promoting peace and hope through arts education with young people and children in Palestine and Bethlehem - very thought-provoking. Plus Charmaine Pollard a counsellor, life coach and a certified poetry therapist

“It was so beautiful”

Literature section of our library

I then took part in Storyhouse Women 2019, chairing two panels, a weekend that celebrates what it means to be a woman or girl in today’s world and a chance to explore and discuss topics that affect anyone who identifies as a woman or girl.

What was an absolute beauty of a surprise was Grosvenor Park Open Air Theatre. I had never experienced one before, and if you haven’t, definitely check it out. I took the family to watch an adaptation of The Borrowers, and the little one loved it, it was so beautiful, we made a day of it and had so much fun especially as the production was very interactive. I’m looking forward to spending more time at Storyhouse, there’s so much to do, and there’s so much to see for everyone, from the productions to the festivals to the conferences. You are sure to find something for the family or just yourself, either way, you are sure to have a great time and be edutained all at the same time.

Ngunan Adamu, Storyhouse Board Member / BBC Producer & Presenter

Biography section

General Fiction section

Anne Odeke Playwright of Little Women at Grosvenor Park Open Air Theatre Rhinoceros by Eugene Ionesco I’m a huge fan of Absurdist Theatre. Ionesco wrote this play after WW2 as a way to try and understand how the Nazi regime grew with such strength and speed, and how people; good people, suddenly found themselves believing in Hitler’s ideology and obeying his orders. Throughout Rhinoceros, characters go missing - turns out they’ve transformed into rhinos! We then see characters with horns on their heads, grey skin, with rough sounding voices. This clash of naturalism and the absurd is what makes the play both hilarious in parts, and frightening in others. With all that’s going on in the world, I advise everyone to read it.

Linda Tyson Library Team Leader Educated by Tara Westover This is a book I’ve recommended time and time again to friends, family, colleagues, and library users. It’s the most extraordinary memoir by an American author who lived in Idaho with her challenging Mormon family, they did not believe in education, immunisation, doctors or formal health care, neither she nor her several siblings knew their date of birth. This is the story of her fight for education, although a hard read at times, it is the most fascinating and hopeful book and I think about it often.

Chris Green Volunteer The Rotter’s Club by Jonathan Coe On the surface I love this book for two good reasons - it’s named after a song by my favourite prog rock band Hatfield and the North, and at its heart it’s a rite of passage book set in a boy’s Grammar School remarkably similar to mine. However, it gradually unveils much deeper threads– the insidious power of the far right, the tragic consequences of radical violence and the systemic decline of Britain – whilst at the same time, as with Coe’s ‘Thatcher’ novel, What a Carve Up!, having multiple laugh out loud moments.

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he park itself is a living, breathing Green Flagawarded natural space – and Grosvenor Park Open Air Theatre is striving to be just as green. Sustainability is at the heart of our ethos and plans going forward, both at Storyhouse and when it comes to the summer season outdoors. And 2022 is pivotal in creating a longterm policy which aims to reduce the carbon footprint of both Storyhouse and all our activities including the annual open-air theatre, and also Moonlight Flicks. Head of operations Oliver Hill explains: “This year there’s a real drive to understand what our carbon footprint is, so that alongside our business plan we can create a threeyear plan which makes steps to reduce our carbon use to something which is sustainable.” Grosvenor Park Open Air Theatre already has a host of environmentally friendly policies in place. The theatre structure itself is reused every year, while the set will be grown (and then transplanted) rather than built again this summer, and many of the props and costumes are recycled or made of recycled or sustainable materials. The popular

on-site pizzas are cooked in a woodfired oven and drinks are served in compostable containers. Single use plastic is banned. All waste from the site is sorted and recycled while audience members are also encouraged to take their rubbish home with them to either recycle or compost there.

considering ways to reduce the carbon footprint of transporting the theatre structure itself from storage at Ellesmere Port to Chester and back. And the 30,000 theatregoers who attend each season are also being encouraged to consider greener travel options to get to and from the park.

Oliver says: “We’ve been engaging with the Carbon Trust and looking at some partnerships with local students in Chester but also with Sheffield Hallam University to help us look at how we set up an event, where we’re using carbon and how we can potentially reduce that.

Much of what happens in Grosvenor Park is also being replicated at Storyhouse itself where the building already has solar panels on its roof which generate some of the electricity used at the venue. Ways of collecting and reusing rainwater are being investigated, while inside Storyhouse the main areas of the building are lit with LED lighting.

“We’re looking at each and every thing that we do, from the set we use and how we transport materials to the park to how we store it, what we set up there, what we power and how we cook.” This season, the action will be illuminated by LED lights which use only a fraction of the power of normal stage lighting. In future seasons, the idea of powering the site through solar panels is also being explored. We’re also looking at investing in an electric van to carry items from Storyhouse on Hunter Street to the park and we’re

And we’re also committed to sustainability in the food and drink which is served on site at our restaurant The Kitchen. Much of which is sourced from the immediate area and seasonal produce where possible. Honey comes from the Storyhouse bees, milk is direct from a farm at nearby Peckforton, and meat is sourced from a local butcher at Chester market.“We’re also part of the Chester Zoo and wider Chester city sustainable palm oil campaign,” says Oliver. “And I think that is a model for how we can look at the

Grosvenor Park’s Greenest Year Yet

INSIDE STORY

“This year there’s a real drive to understand what our carbon footprint is.” building more widely. “What the sustainable palm oil challenge has done well is create a set of guidelines for something that means you’re then able to effect change with suppliers. “In a small way we’re looking at how we can do that across the business, whether that’s the theatre or chemical supplies or whatever. For instance this newspaper that you are reading is on recycled stock and was printed in Merseyside. If we’re really clear with our principles and ambitions, and red lines, then that makes decisions very easy.”

Storyhouse volunteers planting the living set at Grosvenor Park Open Air Theatre, Mark Carline 2021

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CINEMA Best of the Big Screen

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Don't Miss!

Storyhouse is supported by Film Hub North and funds from the BFI Film Audience Network (FAN) – made possible by the National Lottery. Please check storyhouse.com for full programme news and additional titles. Film listings updated weekly.

The Railway Children Return (PG)

Storyhouse is Chester’s local, independent and not-for-profit cinema. Nicky Beaumont, Storyhouse’s Film and Digital Programme Manager picks out the very best films from the UK and around the world, just for Storyhouse audiences - with the help of the friendly Storyhouse cinema team and local communities. Here’s Nicky’s round-up of what films to look out for this summer.

INSIDE STORY

Hit The Road (12A) Screening August

From 15 July

A family of four take a road trip across the Iranian countryside.

A group of children are evacuated to a Yorkshire village during WWII.

Where The Crawdads Sing (15) From 29 July

Elvis (12A)

Adaptation of Delia Owens’ celebrated novel starring Daisy Edgar Jones (Normal People).

From 24 June Baz Luhrmann’s highly anticipated musical drama about the life of Elvis.

DC League of Super-Pets Screening August Animated adventure.

The Gray Man (15) From 15 July

High octane spy action starring Ryan Gosling and Chris Evans.

s we move into high summer we have picked out the best family entertainment and independent feature films to fill the holiday period. Starting off with a heavy dose of nostalgia, The Railway Children Return arrives on 15 July for inter-generational holiday viewing. Jenny Agutter reprises her role as Bobby – but this time as a grown up looking after a family of World War II evacuees who embark on their own adventure. Other don’t-miss summer holiday viewing includes Minions origin story – Minions The Rise of Gru – which goes back to the 1970s to explore the beginnings of Gru’s super-villainy, whilst reminding us that we all sometimes need a little help from our friends. Thor: Love And Thunder, Taika Waititi’s follow up to the frequently hilarious Thor: Ragnarock will be on our biggest screen in the Movie Theatre from 29 July, and there will be more super-hero action – this time in animated form – in August with DC League of Super-Pets.

The Storyhouse Young Programmers have curated a season for August aimed at family audiences, dedicated to the Sherman Brothers who wrote some of the most unforgettable songs in cinema history including Mary Poppins’ A Spoon Full Of Sugar, and the themes for Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and The Many Adventures of Winnie The Pooh. The Young Programmers said “There are very few film seasons dedicated to those who were musically involved in film, the songs are just as memorable as the actors and the films themselves, highlighting this is a celebration of the hard work of the Sherman brothers.”. The films in the season will be accompanied by free arts and crafts activities and are a perfect way to entertain the kids during the school holidays. Rural Wales is the backdrop to two distinct and highly original British films this summer. First up on 8 July is Brian & Charles is a quirky, British sweet-natured comedy filmed in mockumentary style and starring David Earl (Netflix’s After Life), about facing

up to bullies, finding friendship and letting go. From comedy to horror, The Feast (Gwledd) is a Welsh language folk-horror set in Snowdonia. A local girl arrives at a wealthy family’s home to help them prepare for an important dinner party, but her behaviour is unsettling and things begin to slowly unravel. First time director Lee Haven Jones and writer Roger Williams draw on myth and folklore in this story that has echoes of traditional Welsh storytelling and reminded me of the classic Alan Garner book and ‘60s TV series The Owl Service. The adaptation of Delia Owen’s bestseller Where The Crawdads Sing will be at Storyhouse from 29 July, starring Daisy Edgar Jones (Normal People) as the marsh girl fighting to clear her name. One of the most anticipated films of the summer is Jordan Peele’s follow up as writer, director, producer to Get Out and Us - Nope. Reuniting Peele with Oscar winner Daniel Kaluuya Nope is a sci-fi horror in which workers at a Californian horse ranch bear witness to a strange force that

seemingly affects both animal and human behaviour. Alongside the blockbusters and family entertainment, you’ll also find some of the best stories from around the world. Hit The Road, the debut feature of Panah Panahi (son of acclaimed Iranian director Jafar Panahi) tells the story of a family on a road trip across the Iranian countryside. The unspoken reason for the trip hints at a personal or political danger for the eldest child, yet the film also depicts humour and the warmth of a loving family, and the end is imbued with a moment of magical realism. August will also feature a retrospective of film by German auteur Wim Wenders, one of the key figures in the 1970s New German Cinema movement. Kino Dreams is the first UK retrospective of Wenders’ films in 15 years and a chance for UK audiences to experience the 4K restorations of Wings of Desire, The American Friend and Kings of The Road in cinemas.

The Feast (Gwledd)

Good Luck to You, Leo Grande (15)

Screening August

Thor: Love and Thunder

From 8 July

From 29 July

Emma Thompson stars as a retired schoolteacher on a journey of selfdiscovery and good sex.

Mysterious Welsh language folk-horror set in the Snowdonia countryside.

Sequel to Thor: Ragnarok directed by Taika Waititi.

Minions: The Rise of Gru (U) From 22 July

Where Is Anne Frank

Gru’s origin story.

Screening August

Nope Brian & Charles From 8 July

A quirky British comedy about one man and his robot. Set in rural Wales.

Screening August The latest from multi award winning writer, producer and director Jordan Peele (Get Out, Us).

Animated story by Israeli director Ari Folman (Waltz With Bashir).

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(Dirty) Dancing in the Moonlight

My Forgotten Favourites el Isob

In a nutshell: Moonlight Flicks

a rr op, 2022 This summer, Storyhouse presents a season of cult films from the late 90s and early 00s, programmed by Isobel Harrop who started at Storyhouse as a young film programmer in 2018 and went on to study for an MA in Film Curation. Isobel is now back in the cinema team and tells us about her season debut for Storyhouse.

ith the My Forgotten Favourites season I hope to shine a light on the kitsch and colourful cult comedies released in the years around the millennium. We’ll be offering a rare chance to see these films on the big screen; romantic satire But I'm A Cheerleader, black comedy Jawbreaker, drag queen road movie To Wong Foo Thanks For Everything! Julie Newmar, pop parody Josie & The Pussycats, and coming-of-age classic Empire Records.

hat is it? Magical open-air cinema, in beautiful unique settings including grand cathedral grounds, wildflower meadows and acres of Cheshire countryside this summer. But won’t the screen be a bit small in a field? Not if its 30ft tall! Seriously, it’s massive. And everyone gets personal headphones to use for a quality surround sound experience. Will I get a wet bum though? Bring your own deckchair or camping chair or go VIP and we’ll set one up at the front for you. Who goes? All are welcome! Every year we see couples cosying up on a date night, groups of friends popping the prosecco, and little ones with pjs, sleeping bags and hot chocolates. Ok, sounds fun, who does it? Storyhouse! We created Moonlight Flicks in 2013 and have been running it every year in Chester and beyond – even during the pandemic when we moved to our new stunning site at Chester Cathedral. What are the films like? There’s a little something for everyone. Films fresh from the cinema like

Spielberg’s West Side Story and House of Gucci, to silver screen classic Singin’ in the Rain. For the little ones, there’s Disney’s Encanto and Jurassic Park: The Lost World, alongside cult classics like Stand by Me, 10 Things I Hate About You and Pulp Fiction. Plus, good times guaranteed favourites like Mamma Mia!, Pretty Woman, Sister Act and Dirty Dancing. Dirty Dancing! Am I allowed to dance? You are always allowed to dance. Anything new for 2022? As well as adding a brand-new venue (oh, hello Knutsford!) we’ve created the secret beer garden at Chester Cathedral, an evening oasis of street food, acoustic music and twinkling lights. A bit like a festival without the camping bit then? Yep, and a proper bar. Think frozen margaritas, wine, prosecco, and local craft beers – even our very own Moonlight Flicks IPA. There’s good fresh coffee and hot drinks too of course. You had me at frozen margarita. Where do I book? Go to moonlightflicks.co.uk, and we’ll see you under the stars this summer.

These films are remembered and loved for their bizarre fashion, use of pop music, LGBT representation, and depictions of female friendship. These “frivolous” features may have led them to be deemed less important than other films of their era. However, word of mouth has kept them alive in the minds of many, including through blogs and social media as the late 90s and “Y2K” fashion has become trendy, often shining a light back onto these cultural artefacts for inspiration. The films themselves are somewhat influenced by the underground and independent filmmakers of the 80s and 90s – such as John Waters – but they were conceived and intended to appeal to a more mainstream audience. However, they often failed to do so, leading for them to only be treasured by the few kids who wore out their VHS tapes at sleepovers through rewatching over and over, gaining a new cult status to those in the know. Now is the perfect time to revisit them on the big screen and celebrate your forgotten favourites. This event is part of Film Feels Curious, a UK-wide cinema season, supported by the National Lottery and BFI Film Audience Network. Explore all films and events at filmfeels.co.uk.

Season runs until 25 July

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INSIDE STORY

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ON STAGE

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Acoustic nights Toria Wooff

The best events from the UK and beyond, handpicked just for you.

Anna Jane Houghton

plus support from Dave Roberts 21 August

plus support from Amy Antrobus 14 July

Grosvenor Park Open Air Theatre

Melodic poetry and delicate reverbsoaked guitar melodies. Tickets from £9

Spellbinding singer-songwriter. Tickets from £9

1 July – 29 August

Young Storyhouse Flesh by Rob Drummond

ME + Deboe

plus support from BBC Wales DJ Adam Walton 7 August

Grosvenor Park’s most popular family show ever, Stig of the Dump joins Little Women and Romeo and Juliet for a summer of stories under the stars. Tickets from £28

INSIDE STORY

20 – 21st July

Sink your teeth into Storyhouse’s brand new theatre production by our very own Young Company. Tickets from £4.50

Female alternative acoustic duo. Tickets from £9

Tip Top Productions presents Calendar Girls the Musical 21 – 23 July

Hilarious musical Based on the true story of eleven WI members who posed nude for a charity calendar.

Storyhouse Outdoors A season of events to suit all ages and tastes at Grosvenor Park Open Air Theatre this summer Daniel Kitson - Outside

17 July

Comedy Night 28 August

plus support Rosanne Reid

The Summer of Stig

3 August

25 June – 17 July

The beguiling performer and songwriter returns with a brand new album, out in August. Tickets from £26.50

A special summer of family activities, films and events to celebrate Stig of the Dump at Grosvenor Park Open Air Theatre!

Lily and the Heron

Martha Wainwright

The Giant Balloon Show

Sunrise Productions presents Crown and Clan Divided

29 July

12 August

6 August

A story of bravery, courage and magic told through puppetry and music. Tickets from £4.50

Will have you in stitches and in awe simultaneously. Tickets from £4.50

Sunrise Productions’s new drama, adapted from Antigone. Tickets from £6.50

Rapunzel

DIG!

5 August

19 August

A unique adaptation of the iconic Grimm fairy tale with music and circus. Tickets from £4.50

A story of growing plants, busy bugs and wriggling worms for the very young. Tickets from £4.50

The Tiger Who Came to Tea 5 – 7 August

Join the tea-guzzling tiger in this delightful family show, direct from the West End. Tickets from £14

This is The Kit 25 August

Castaway presents Legally Blonde the Musical 1 – 4 September

Castaway return this year with the hilarious international award-winning musical Legally Blonde. Tickets from £14.10

One of the most original and musically gifted artists of today. Tickets from £21.50

storyhouse.com / 01244 409 113 Storyhouse, Hunter Street, Chester, CH1 2AR Mon – Sat: 8am – 11pm / Sun: 9:30am – 11pm Registered charity 1121007 / storyhouse.com/support

ON STAGE

The best events from the UK and beyond, handpicked just for you.

Russell Kane Live: The Essex Variant! 7 September

Hailed as The Guardian’s Number 1 comedy performance to come out of 2020! Tickets from £23.50

storyhouse.com / 01244 409 113 Storyhouse, Hunter Street, Chester, CH1 2AR Mon – Sat: 8am – 11pm / Sun: 9:30am – 11pm Registered charity 1121007 / storyhouse.com/support

CHESTER LITERATURE FESTIVAL

Two weeks of unmissable events, performances and conversations in what is one of the longest-running annual literature events in the country.

10 – 25 November

See the full Chester Literature Festival Programme at storyhouse.com/literature

An Evening with Graham Norton 17 October

The actor and presenter discusses his breathtakingly honest memoir, Maybe I Don’t Belong Here. Tickets from £23.50 (Young Storyhouse Card £10)

The Prosecco Express 8 September

6 September

Traditional southern African inspired music and dance performance. Tickets from £15.00 (Young Storyhouse Card £10)

An Audience with Lucy Worsley 9 September

The Queen of History delves into the fascinating life of the Queen of Crime, Agatha Christie. Tickets from £31.60

Jon Richardson: The Knitwit

10 – 11 September

Sue Barker:

Calling the shots 21 October The tennis and broadcasting legend shares the remarkable story of her life and career. Tickets from £30.00

Suggs:

What a Kind Cnut – A life in the realm of Madness 23 October

After his smash hit tours with My Life Story, Suggs is treading the boards again. Tickets from £28.50

Joanne shares her life dilemmas in her witty and critically-acclaimed show. Tickets from £22.50

30 September – 15 October This brand new musical will have a world premiere at Storyhouse before moving to the West End. Tickets from £22.50

Milkshake! Live: Milkshake! Monkey’s Musical! 22 October

Join Milkshake! Monkey and friends in this spectacular new show for an unforgettable family time! Tickets from £18.60

The Snow Queen 7 December – 15 January

Thea Gilmore

The best-selling author talks about his latest novel. Tickets from £10 (Young Storyhouse Card £5)

The Spectacular Christmas Show!

Lemn Sissay: My Name is Why

24 November An evening Infused with all the lyricism and power you would expect from one of the nation’s best-loved poets. Tickets from £23.50 (Young Storyhouse Card £15)

Joanne Harris #Storytime

Kit De Waal

The internationally acclaimed author, along with her Storytime Band, have created a live show featuring dark tales, image projections and music. Tickets from £13.50 (Young Storyhouse Card £10)

The international bestselling author of My Name is Leon talks about her upcoming memoir Without Warning and Only Sometimes.

19 November

Ardal O’Hanlon:

The showing-off must go on 26 November

The star of Father Ted and Death in Paradise continues to tour his acclaimed (and very silly) show worldwide. Tickets from £22.50

In conversation with Stacey Dooley Are you really OK? Understanding Britain’s Mental Health Emergency 26 Feb 2023

Stacey opens up the conversation about mental health. Tickets from £25

25 November

Tickets from £10 (Young Storyhouse Card £5)

Rocky Horror Show

27 February – 4 March 2023 Richard O’Brien’s legendary rock ‘n’ roll musical - ready to thrill you with fun and naughty moments. Tickets from £18.65

Tom Allen: Completely

11 March 2023

Giovanni Pernice:

Chris McCausland:

6 – 7 March 2023

7 April 2023

Made in Italy

21 November

Among the finest singer songwriters of her generation. Tickets from £19.50

Patrick Gale: Mother’s Boy 15 November

The Time Traveller’s Wife

An Afternoon with David Harewood 20 November

Joanne McNally: Black Umfolosi

INSIDE STORY

The Strictly Come Dancing Champion 2021 will be joined by an outstanding ensemble. Tickets from £29.60

Speaky Blinder

A show about life, family, and loads of other nonsense as well! Tickets from £18.50

storyhouse.com / 01244 409 113 Storyhouse, Hunter Street, Chester, CH1 2AR Mon – Sat: 8am – 11pm / Sun: 9:30am – 11pm Registered charity 1121007 / storyhouse.com/support

SPOTLIGHT ON:

Kaleidoscope Open-Mic Nights The annual Kaleidoscope Festival which returns this summer, celebrates diversity, inclusion and unique abilities. One of its most successful events, the popular monthly Open Mic Night at Storyhouse is co-hosted by musician Simon Scott and Dark Arc, a band formed by service users. Simon tells us more:

“W

e’ve had saxophonists, and a lot of really successful poetry. One performer expressed about how she feels about being unique and it was very moving. We have really joyous moments and also reflective moments where people can support each other and listen.” While the open mic was started as a place people could get up to showcase and celebrate their talent, it has also become a very important social event for the 60 to 70 people, many of them regulars.

“It’s diverse and it enriches lives” “The audience is just as important – getting involved, singing along, listening,” Simon smiles. “The greatest moments for me are when everyone is dancing and completely in the moment and you see how free they are. It’s wonderful to see.”

Performers at Kaleidoscope Open Mic Night, Mark McNulty 2022

Simon Scott

After an 18-month hiatus due to the pandemic, the night finally restarted at Storyhouse last September and has proved so successful that a second afternoon open mic event has been added. Simon also has ambitions to broaden the initiative to include songwriting and recording, and would love to offer the same opportunities to younger people too. “It’s diverse and it enriches lives,” he says. “That’s what I believe these sessions should be about – somewhere you can express yourself in a free environment, where you can interact

with each other, and it doesn’t depend on your background or ability. “And I believe everyone has so many unique abilities.” Kaleidoscope Open Mic Night takes place on the third Thursday of the month. The Daytime Edition is held on the last Wednesday of each month. Tickets are free. To find out more about Kaleidoscope Open Mic Nights visit storyhouse.com

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INSIDE STORY

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Colin Ingram for InTheatre Productions Gavin Kalin Productions, Teresa Tsai, Crossroads Live by special arrangement with Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures Presents

Volunteers at Storyhouse Women Festival, Mark Carline 2019

Meet the Volunteers In the past year alone, our 175-strong team of volunteers have given 13,704 hours of their time to support Storyhouse. Their contributions range from event stewarding to planting the set at Grosvenor Park Open Air Theatre. Find out more about what volunteering at Storyhouse means to them. Meet Harvey!

have just finished year 13 and will study technical theatre and stage management at drama school next year. I joined Storyhouse back in summer 2020. What does being a volunteer at Storyhouse entail? It could be anything from showing guests to their seats, to selling programmes and merchandise. We also are a central point of information and we try our best to solve any problems people might have. What do you enjoy most about volunteering? It’s a way of giving back to the industry and keeping theatres open, but also allows me to gain people skills in an environment which is safe and pressure-free. The volunteer community at Storyhouse is massive and includes many different people from all walks of life, ages and occupations - you get to create great friendships.

Meet Don!

Meet Annabel!

Meet Mike!

I am 83, and my professional life was as a research physicist. I retired 25 years ago and now occupy myself with sewing, silversmithing and photography. I’ve been volunteering at Storyhouse since even before the beginning – when events were held in the Town Hall.

I am 16 and go to school in Chester, where I am currently doing my GCSEs. I have a passion for musical theatre and am transitioning to a performing arts sixth form in Liverpool next year.

I used to be in the Fire Service in North Wales. One of the first things I was involved in at Storyhouse was the book chain, where all the books were transferred from the old library by groups of school children passing them one at a time into the new building.

Why did you become a volunteer? It was very strange and quite sad that, for so long, Chester had neither a professional theatre nor a cinema after the Gateway closed. I felt that Storyhouse was the best thing that had happened to Chester in my lifetime, and I wanted to support it. What do you most enjoy about volunteering? Not all of my volunteering has been in the theatre, I have also joined the Wardrobe team on many occasions. To be part of creating the costumes and props used in the live performance feels really exciting – every project is different.

Why did you become a volunteer? I started volunteering to get my Duke of Edinburgh award and chose Storyhouse because I love theatre and wanted to do something constructive in the summer holidays. What do you most enjoy about volunteering? I like that all of the volunteers are from a wide range of generations and backgrounds, hearing about their life experiences and knowledge has given me an opportunity to learn beyond the classroom and gain different perspectives on things. I also get to see all of the fantastic shows, which is great as a student.

What does being a volunteer at Storyhouse entail?I am involved with the Kaleidoscope Open Mic Nights a monthly event where young people and adults living with disabilities come and sing, dance, tell jokes and just have a lovely evening. What do you enjoy most about being a volunteer? I get to work alongside a great team of volunteers and staff to meet and greet some lovely people and ensure that they have a good time. To find out more about volunteering at Storyhouse visit storyhouse.com/ volunteer

Book by Lauren Gunderson

Music & Lyrics Joss Stone & Dave Stewart

Additional Lyrics by Kait Kerrigan Based on the novel written by Audrey Niffenegger and the New Line Cinema ﬁlm screenplay by Bruce Joel Rubin

30 Sep – 15 Oct storyhouse.com

INSIDE STORY

storyhouse.com / 01244 409 113 Storyhouse, Hunter Street, Chester, CH1 2AR Mon – Sat: 8am – 11pm / Sun: 9:30am – 11pm Registered charity 1121007 / storyhouse.com/support

A Work in Progress Samantha Mcilwaine shares the story of how her idea for a new event for local writers has become a reality.

storyhouse.com / 01244 409 113 Storyhouse, Hunter Street, Chester, CH1 2AR Mon – Sat: 8am – 11pm / Sun: 9:30am – 11pm Registered charity 1121007 / storyhouse.com/support

“Creativity and connection can thrive when provided with a community home.”

INSIDE STORY

Storyhouse Young Leaders, Kat Hannon 2021

Did You Know? Storyhouse Young Leaders

ack in 2016, the Storyhouse team met a group of young people from Chester to find out about what the charity could do for them – and a clear message came back, the chance of good work experience to help them secure jobs. This inspired the creation of Storyhouse Young Leaders, which since the opening of Storyhouse, has supported local 14-25’s to develop work skills and connect with others. The programme provides young people with the opportunity to discover a sense of belonging and the skills and confidence for them to express themselves.

Samantha Mcilwaine, Kat Hannon 2022

s a Service Assistant at Storyhouse, I see it all from behind the Kitchen bar. I watch as community groups gather, productions develop, and touring artists sell out national shows. I see remote workers recharge over their morning coffee and students strive to meet encroaching deadlines. But most of all, I witness how creativity and connection can thrive when provided with a community home. With ambitions of becoming a community theatre producer, I want to facilitate space for the arts to flourish. When I had the idea for an event, I could only propose it to Storyhouse. Soon after, Work in Progress was born. Work in Progress was an idea conceived out of boredom. Having graduated from the University of Birmingham in 2021, I moved home

to Chester from a bustling hive of creativity. As a Drama and Theatre Arts student, I had spent three years surrounded by creative thinkers who enriched and inspired me. Even during the pandemic, innovative projects had ricocheted from the walls of my shared Birmingham house. Now writing from my childhood bedroom, I felt isolated in my creativity and wondered if others felt the same. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if Storyhouse hosted an event for writers to connect and share their developing works? What if I put it on myself? The format for Work in Progress was simple. Hosted in the Garret Bar, writers were invited to share up to 500 words of writing- page and drink in hand. All forms of written word were welcome, and participants could sign up in advance or on the night itself.

Natasha Borton, an incredible spoken word artist from North Wales, would headline at 9pm and perform a halfhour set for everybody in attendance. The aim was to foster an informal and supportive space for creatives to connect and inspire. It didn’t disappoint. On Thursday 24 February, a hub of creativity formed on the Storyhouse fourth floor. The Garret filled with artists from Chester and beyond as the community turned out to share in the self-expression of others. Characterised by the breadth and diversity of works presented, we hosted poetry, music, comedic sketches, and children’s fiction. At Work in Progress, nobody expected polished perfection, and writers tried out material they may otherwise have kept stowed away. When Natasha

Borton took to the stage, she kept us captivated. We laughed, reflected, engaged, and escaped. Sharing in the mutual joy of the written word was energising. The overwhelming feeling was that we wanted to do it again. Whether you’re a writer or a spectator, we would love to see you at a future Work In Progress event. To keep up to date with the latest news, join our Facebook group, drop me an email, or keep an eye on storyhouse.com. We are building something special. Watch this space! Sam is a trainee actor currently starring in Grosvenor Park Open Air Theatre’s production of Little Women, playing the role of Sally.

The programme is aimed at, but not exclusively for, those least likely to access mainstream creative activities and most Young Leaders are referred by schools, social services, work coaches, or charities such as Cheshire Autism Practical Support, The Bren Project and Cheshire Young Carers.

“It’s a safe space to be who I am”

Storyhouse staff and volunteers. At weekly sessions, they are immersed in Storyhouse departments including marketing, customer service, programming, operations, budgeting and engagement. They build their social skills, make new friends and lifelong connections. They choose a leadership role and create an event that they have full ownership of from idea to event. Their work is documented in a portfolio that not only gains them a Trinity College London Arts Award, but also a record of their journey to present to potential employers or training providers.

As a direct result of their engagement, we have supported further training / placements young people joining our volunteer pool Young Trustee roles on our Board paid roles at Storyhouse

“It doesn’t feel like ‘oh here are the children’. It feels like, here are the young adults and they’ve got a job to do, they’re here to work and learn. It’s definitely nice to be treated like a grown-up.” Young Leader

How you can help This summer, we’re asking you to add a donation when you buy a ticket for our outdoor events. All money raised will go towards Young Storyhouse and once again, we have been overwhelmed by the response from our loyal community.

external paid roles

Young Leader

Find out more at storyhouse.com/ youngstoryhouse

Through the course of the programme, Young Leaders are given agency to be decision makers and learn alongside

Young Leaders is also funded by Oglesby Charitable Trust and Westminster Foundation.

We want to continue to provide quality opportunities for young people who may traditionally experience barriers to accessing art and culture. Over the last five years, with your help, we have supported over 800 young people

and in the coming 18 months we hope to expand our provision across the borough to support more young people than ever before. We cannot do this without your help. As a charity, Storyhouse relies on the support of individuals, companies, and charitable trusts to provide opportunities for young people across the city. To find out about becoming a regular giver go to storyhouse.com/donate

storyhouse.com / 01244 409 113 Storyhouse, Hunter Street, Chester, CH1 2AR Mon – Sat: 8am – 11pm / Sun: 9:30am – 11pm Registered charity 1121007 / storyhouse.com/support

“I’m a better person. And I just love this building”

Jolyne Thomas with Young Readers, Kat Hannon 2022

SPOTLIGHT ON:

Jolyne Thomas

olyne Thomas had no intention of becoming a Storyhouse Young Leader when she first set foot inside the building late in 2018. She had turned up for a meeting held by Passion for Learning CIC, a Chesterbased charity which helps youngsters who are struggling to read and learn, and for whom Jolyne was volunteering. But a chance introduction to Young Storyhouse Cordinator Alix Rawlinson led to her being offered a place on the scheme which helps young people aged between 14 and 25 gain skills, connect with others, discover their passion, and develop employability skills and knowledge of the creative industry. “I thought about it and then decided ‘I’ve got nothing to lose and possibly everything to gain’,” she recalls. “So, I signed up at the last minute and the next thing I knew, I was on the programme!”

“There are so many careers in the world, and you can do anything”

storyhouse.com / 01244 409 113 Storyhouse, Hunter Street, Chester, CH1 2AR Mon – Sat: 8am – 11pm / Sun: 9:30am – 11pm Registered charity 1121007 / storyhouse.com/support

Young Leaders receive mentoring, training and practical opportunities whilst exploring the different roles and teams at Storyhouse. They work towards an Arts Award Qualification which documents their journey and leadership talents. Jolyne has a particular interest in books and reading, and after completing Young Leaders in spring 2019 she remained at Storyhouse to embark on her Gold Art Award, organising a debate about libraries along with packs for the summer

reading programme. She then followed that by becoming a leading member of Young Catalysts – an advisory body made up of members of each of the groups which come under the Young Storyhouse umbrella, including Young Leaders, Programmers, Marketers, Readers and performers from the Young Company. And in the meantime, she also found herself in charge of the Young Readers’ Group of 14 to 25-yearold booklovers.

Meanwhile her latest initiative is Incredible Women, a series of interviews with women who are forging successful careers in what were once – or still are – roles and industries dominated by men. Jolyne has driven the entire project, from drawing up a wish-list of interviewees to approaching them to conducting the filmed interviews herself – either online or in person. Her inspiring subjects include MP Jess Phillips, women firefighters, creatives, chief executives and pilots.

“We talk about everything bookrelated, but we also organise events. We had two events during the Chester Literature Festival last November, and that’s something we’ll continue to do.”

The resulting films were screened at Storyhouse and made available on the digital channel.

Among her other future ambitions is a script workshop through which something could be created which could then be performed by the Storyhouse Young Company. The Young Readers’ role is a part-time paid one, and last autumn it led to us creating a part-time salaried position for Jolyne through our involvement in the Government’s Kickstart Scheme – which offers six-month paid jobs with local employers for 16 to 24-year-olds, giving them an opportunity to gain the experience of working in a range of exciting organisations (we had several Kickstart placements across the marketing, technical theatre, production and finance departments).

Young Leader at session, Kat Hannon 2022

While that six-month placement has now concluded, Jolyne is still running Young Readers.

“They’re a lovely group,” she smiles. “They’re quite quiet so I’m still working on making them be louder – that’s what I want!”

Jolyne says: “I’m hoping to aim it towards young people, particularly young women, who are doing their GCSEs or nearing the end of school and thinking what they want to do. “I really want them to feel impassioned and emboldened and to see that there are so many careers in the world, and you can do anything. There isn’t a single thing that women can’t do. “I want to tell them - these are women I found doing this job, you can do it too. You can go further, you can do something different. You can do it.” Jolyne Thomas, Kat Hannon 2022

INSIDE STORY

The 25-year-old has certainly practised what she preaches, and it’s a ‘can do’ attitude which has been nurtured during her time at Storyhouse. “When I first came here, I was terrified,” she reveals. “I felt this place wasn’t for me. “It wasn’t until I did the Young Leaders and I started to meet the people and the staff started to recognise me, and there were people I knew, and then a safe space. And then being given a lanyard that allowed me to get up and down into certain places that I felt – actually, now I feel comfortable. “It’s only through that process, and through that support, and the help that they’ve given me, that I’m a better person. And I just love this building.” Young Leaders is for people who may need extra support to gain skills, connect with others, discover their passion and develop work skills and knowledge of the creative industry. To find out more about Young Leaders or Young Readers go to storyhouse.com/young-storyhouse to discover which group best suits you! Young Leaders are usually referred to the programme, this could be by a professional organisation that you are already spending time with such as a social worker, a teacher, a parent/carer or you can refer yourself.

storyhouse.com / 01244 409 113 Storyhouse, Hunter Street, Chester, CH1 2AR Mon – Sat: 8am – 11pm / Sun: 9:30am – 11pm Registered charity 1121007 / storyhouse.com/support

INSIDE STORY

Fallen Angels Fallen Angels Dance Theatre, company-in-residence at Storyhouse, exists to support those in recovery from addiction to transform their lives through dance, performance and creativity. Catherine Jones spoke to the founders about their new ambitious film project Transfiguration.

t’s more than two years now since Paul Bayes Kitcher and Claire Morris, founders of Fallen Angels first started talking to Storyhouse about working on a project together. Now, that conversation has finally become reality with a trilogy of compelling new short films being premiered online this year, marking the first official creative collaboration between Storyhouse and the company-in-residence. Transfiguration brings together the talents of creatives and dancers from Fallen Angels and offers a glimpse of defining moments in the journey from addiction to recovery. I Fall, the first part of the trilogy, was released on storyhouse.com in January. The second film, I Need, premiered on 31 March, and the last, We Rise – based on a poem by Frank, a member of Fallen Angels who died last year, on 31 May. “Originally it was called Metamorphosis but now it’s Transfiguration because that’s a more positive transformation term and we really want to express that,” explains Claire, who co-founded Fallen Angels with former Birmingham Royal Ballet dancer Paul a decade ago. The project’s name (and indeed the film’s individual titles) also has spiritual connotations. Paul, who himself went through a period of recovery from addiction before founding the company to help others, says: “I think in my own personal recovery journey, the whole thing that got me through was spirituality – and for a lot of my friends as well. “Also, Frank wrote me a poem, which is We Rise, about spirituality

“Addiction can happen to anybody” and what it meant for him.” While he appears as an actor in the final film We Rise, this is not Paul’s own story. In fact, it’s not one single person’s story at all but three brief looks at different stages of the addiction and recovery process, featuring different characters. Claire says: “It gives more choice and more insight, and the narrative shows that addiction can happen to anybody. In one film it’s a man, another a woman, another has a mother and son – it really represents a community out there who are experiencing this at any one time.” I Fall, the first in the trilogy, features a male and female dancer and explores the carnage and chaos of addiction, while I Need is also a twohander, performed by a dancer and actor, which follows the journey of an addict in the early days of recovery. The cast of the final film, We Rise – inspired by the late Frank’s verse and exploring the challenges of rehabilitation, includes three dancers with first-hand experience of the subject matter along with Paul, actor and writer Eve Steele and members who attend Fallen Angels’ Liverpool workshops. “The people we work with make Fallen Angels,” says Claire. “And the

I Need, Brian Slater 2022

people we meet are very talented. Frank was one of those people. He was extraordinary, he had an extraordinary mind, he was very artistic and creative – a creative writer. But he had multiple and complex needs and so many barriers. “We felt that was just right to be inspired by him. “The idea around We Rise is that people, through Fallen Angels’ programmes, come together and it’s the unity with others which helps them retain their recovery. “They might have challenges, but that one time in the week when they’re together, when they’re unified and in that creative glow, they have that moment of bliss which gives them the release and escape that then helps them in their recovery.” Along with Paul, the creative team working on the three films includes Eve Steele, theatre director John Young – fresh from last summer’s hit Merry Wives of Windsor at Grosvenor Park, film director and producer Dan Thorburn and composer Tom Ashbrook. And this co-production with Storyhouse isn’t

the charity’s only recent collaborative venture. Last summer Fallen Angels joined eight other recovery-througharts organisations across the country, remotely, to create a campaign film for International Overdose Awareness Day, with Paul leading on choreography. Claire says: “We’ve all been working on our own in various parts of the country with arts and recovery. “Now we’ve managed to build a lot of national relationships through it. It’s amazing and I think those relationships will continue, so that’s really exciting. We want to make art that supports people in recovery from addiction but also gives a platform for their voice and for understanding. “And in a way you could argue with Transfiguration it’s better, because it’s going to reach more people.” The three short films are available to watch for free now at storyhouse.com/transfiguration

storyhouse.com / 01244 409 113 Storyhouse, Hunter Street, Chester, CH1 2AR Mon – Sat: 8am – 11pm / Sun: 9:30am – 11pm Registered charity 1121007 / storyhouse.com/support

Gather around our Kitchen table As Storyhouse launches its vibrant summer menu, Head Chef Jez Houlbrook tells us how Middle Eastern flavours have found their Chester home, and why kebabs aren’t just post-pub fare… Rhymetime Session, Ant Clausen 2021

Ka tie

Gillia

Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Rhymers

What’s the ethos of The Kitchen? Our style of food is heavily influenced by the Middle East and Eastern Mediterranean. It’s fresh and vibrant, flavoursome with a strong emphasis on sharing - food should be enjoyed with others.

Twice a week, Storyhouse is serenaded by happy little people (and their big people) enjoying the popular Rhymetime sessions run by the Library team. These free, half-hour sessions for babies, toddlers and young children feature a selection of songs and rhymes and help to develop language and communication skills. Library team member Katie Gilliland tells us more...

hat do little ones learn at each session? As well as being fun and interactive, the rhymes and songs deliver spoken language in a way that’s easy for children to engage with and can help them learn about words, sounds and language. Alongside literacy skills, Rhymetime helps with learning how to communicate, such as joining in and taking turns. What do parents/carers get out of it? It’s a great opportunity to bond with their children, but also offers a friendly and inclusive space to meet up and socialise. One Mum told us recently how she still regularly meets up with parents she met years ago whilst taking her first child to Rhymetime.

How do you design a session? There is a team of around seven library staff members that take it in turns to deliver each session and we each have a different routine (or ‘set list’ as we like to call it!). However, we all like to start with our Hello Everyone song and end with Twinkle Twinkle Little Star as this provides some consistency. What’s your favourite part of Rhymetime? I really enjoy our occasional visits from the Blue Bear who is the mascot for Bookstart (part of Booktrust) which is an amazing programme that aims to encourage a love of books, stories and rhymes in children. It’s also lovely to see the same children attending Rhymetime each week and watching them become

ell us a bit about you! My chef career began at the Royal Oak in Higher Kinnerton as a kitchen porter. One bank holiday the junior chef was late and was literally thrown out the back door - the head chef informed me I’d be standing in on that section for the day. 25 years later, I’m writing this. I spent 15 years working with award-winning pub chain Brunning & Price where I progressed to Head Chef. I then joined a national fresh produce company and travelled the country working on menus and innovations, from small independents to the large chains that you find on every high street. I was keen to develop my interest in Middle Eastern food, and when the opportunity arose at Storyhouse, I absolutely knew where I wanted to work next.

What are the latest additions to the menu? I wanted traditional dishes to come to life and be given the recognition they deserved, and from this, we began to build a loyal

more confident and engaged each time. Any tips for practicing at home? Studies have shown that children will take comfort from rhymes when they are repeated and become familiar. A lot of the rhymes and songs we do are available digitally to use at home at booktrust.org.uk and there are a lot of other great resources there too. We also have nursery rhyme books available to borrow in the library that you can refer to when you’re at home.

Rhymetime sessions are at Storyhouse every Tuesday and Thursday at 10.30am and 11.30am FREE, booking required

Rhymetime session, Ant Clausen 2021

“We are in the heart of Storyhouse a cultural and creative hub, and I hope the food reflects this.”

following of customers, curious to expand their culinary tastebuds. The menu has evolved considerably, whilst still maintaining our Levantine influence and the feedback has been brilliant. Where do you source your ingredients? I always try to source local ingredients. My butcher Dave Joinson, is based in Chester market, we use milk from Peckforton dairy, our pitta breads come from Devonshire bakery in Frodsham, and Jess Reynolds at Kookaburra bakery helps us out with delicious fresh bakes. Some ingredients, like Medjool dates, Aleppo or Urfa chili flakes do come from a little further afield though... How does Storyhouse influence or inspire you? We are in the heart of Storyhouse - a cultural and creative hub, and I hope the food reflects this. In the Kitchen we aim to appeal to many demographics, from families with small children to discerning theatre goers. The atmosphere is relaxed, informal, and welcoming. Which dish do you most love to make? Any of our kebabs. Whether it’s chilli and date glazed beef heel, Lebanese spiced chicken skewer, or oyster mushroom doner, each is a feast for the eyes and bursting with flavour. Kebabs aren’t just for late at night!

The Kitchen Head Chef, Jez Houlbrook, Ellie Franklin 2021

INSIDE STORY

storyhouse.com / 01244 409 113 Storyhouse, Hunter Street, Chester, CH1 2AR Mon – Sat: 8am – 11pm / Sun: 9:30am – 11pm Registered charity 1121007 / storyhouse.com/support

The Year of the Bee

INSIDE STORY

RECIPE: Turkish Revani Tim Schofield Storyhouse beekeeper, Kat Hannon 2022

Beehive, Kat Hannon 2022

Fact File How many bees does Storyhouse have? We have two colonies of bees at present, and right now, there will be about five to ten thousand bees in each hive. At the height of summer, there can be 50,000 in each.

Where do they live? They are housed in National UK beehives, which is the most popular of the six types of removable frame beehive used in the UK. The frames in which the honey is stored are removable, to allow the honey to be extracted.

Storyhouse beekeeper, Kat Hannon 2022

How was the hive established? They were established in summer 2019 using a swarm collected from Beekeeper Tim’s own apiary in Mollington. The second colony was a swarm that emerged from the original colony towards the end of lockdown in 2020.

What does Storyhouse honey taste like? Our bees feed mainly on the lime trees in the city and so their honey has a delicate lime flavour.

How can people help protect bees? Avoid using any pesticides in gardens and to plant plenty of snowdrops, crocuses and daffodils to help the bees in the most critical period of the year when other food is scarce. If you want to attract bees, plant cotoneaster bushes, which will be covered with honeybees in the flowering season.

Storyhouse beekeeper, Kat Hannon 2022

How should someone help an exhausted bee? If it is a honeybee it may well have come to the end of its allotted lifespan and could be left to its fate. A bumblebee could be perhaps lifted onto a branch if it has crash landed and live to fight another day.

Meet the Beekeeper “A colony will I contain about n 2019 Storyhouse joined the international campaign to save the honeybee. Without an experienced beekeeper in the Storyhouse team we reached out to Chester-based Tim Schofield who supports us to look after the colonies. Tim tells us all about a year in the life of a bee. Bees enter a form of hibernation around November. They form a cluster around the queen, taking it in turns to be on the outer layer where it is coldest and move around the hive, feeding on their stored supplies. The queen begins to lay eggs again in February and 21 days after laying, an egg will have gone from a grub to a pupa and then to a fully developed worker bee. The queen will lay around one to two thousand eggs a day throughout the season! In spring, the hive will be very active and ready to swarm if conditions are right. This is how the bees reproduce. They need to produce more colonies, not simply more bees. The queen will lay a few eggs in queen cups prepared by the workers and these eggs will be fed only on royal jelly, a very nutritious food that allows the bee to develop into a fully sexually mature queen. The workers are not fed on this exclusively and do not fully develop. As the new queens form pupae ready to hatch as queens, the current queen collects a large number of workers around her and exits the hive as a swarm, looking for a new site. The hatching queens left in the hive will kill any other queens until only one is left. She then must leave the hive

two thousand drones.” on her mating flight, where she flies up into the ‘drone layer’, encountering drone bees from numbers of colonies, who will chase her and mate in flight. A number will mate with her to ensure genetic diversity. The sperm she collects from the matings are stored separately in her body. This is so she can lay the unfertilised eggs that become drones. These drones contain only genetic material from her but pass it on to other queens in the mating flight as above. A colony will contain about two thousand drones. Towards the end of the summer any drones left will be driven out of the colony. In a wild colony the bees will store food and raise bees in the same combs within the colony. In a hive, the queen is excluded from the top portion of the hive by a queen excluder, a mesh which prevents the larger queen from accessing that part of the hive. The bees use that part to store their winter stores of honey. These combs can be taken out of the hive at the end of the season and the honey extracted by a centrifugal type machine that throws the honey out of the cells. The bees are then fed a sugar syrup to replace the stores.

A semolina-based sponge soaked with a fantastically fragrant syrup using our own Storyhouse honey. One customer delightedly yelped: “it’s wetter than water, and it tastes of heaven!”. Matt Cowell Sous Chef, Storyhouse Kat Hannon, 2022

Serves 8 1 hour For the cake: 4 eggs 100g sugar 3 tbsp olive oil Zest of 1 orange Splash of vanilla extract 150g semolina flour 60g plain flour 1 tsp baking powder Pinch of salt For the syrup: Juice of 1 orange 200g sugar 170g Storyhouse honey 320ml water Matt’s tip: If there’s any left, (there won’t be) it will keep for 3 days in the fridge.

Preheat oven to 175°c. Whisk the eggs and sugar until thick and trebled in size, and fold in the olive oil, zest, and vanilla. Gently fold in the sifted flours, baking powder, and salt and pour into a 22cm cake pan, lined with baking parchment. Bake for 25 mins until firm in the centre. Allow to cool In a pan add the syrup ingredients, bring to the boil then simmer for five minutes. Stab the cake repeatedly with a skewer or fork and slowly pour over the hot syrup (known as feeding the cake). Serve hot or cold with a blob of crème fraiche or mascarpone and a nice Turkish coffee.

See storyhouse.com for full programme. Times and dates may vary.

10.30am

Storytime

monthly

with Police Community Support Officer Eva

2pm

Pick and Mix Book Club

10.30am & 11.30am

Rhymetime for under 5's

weekly

11am

monthly

Young Programmers

weekly

14+ make creative choices about events, activities and opportunities

7pm

Language and culture café:

monthly

a chance to meet people from across the world who now call Chester home

7.30pm

LGBT+ Book Group

monthly

10.30am & 11.30am

THURSDAY

MONDAY

monthly

4.30pm

monthly

12pm

Domestic Abuse Open Access Group:

weekly

confidential advice and support to women relating to a range of subjects surrounding domestic abuse

7.15pm

Chester SciBar:

monthly

Short talks from science professionals

10.30am

Adult Arts and Crafts

10.30am

Scrabble Club

12.30pm

Kaleidoscope Open Mic

monthly

Daytime edition: celebrating the talents of people living with a disability, learning disability or with Autism Spectrum Disorder

2pm

Bereavement Help Point

WEDNESDSAY

fortnightly

FRIDAY

Audio described screening with free tea and coffee & biscuit

SATURDAY

Vision Support Cinema

Chatter and Natter: A space for people to talk whether for five minutes while you have a brew, or for an hour of good conversation

6.30pm

Kaleidoscope Open Mic

monthly

celebrating the talents of people living with a disability, learning disability or with Autism Spectrum Disorder

11am

Not a reading group!

fortnightly

Join to talk about books that you’ve read, those that you’ve enjoyed, those you would recommend and those you are looking forward to

11am

Digital Buddies

weekly

helping older people learn to use new technology

2pm

Relish Reading Group

weekly

3.30pm

Friday Uplift

weekly

peer-led health and well-being group

7.30pm monthly

Chester and Borders Polish Society

11am - 4pm

Children’s Craft Activities

weekly

11am 2pm

Young Marketers

11am - 4pm

9-month course for young people wanting to learn about marketing

weekly

6pm

Sew Cool

fortnightly

Sewing and conversation

6pm

Youth Vibe

monthly

Group for children and young people with a hearing loss

7pm

Storyhouse Women Book Club

7.30pm

Left Field Creatives

monthly

Group for aspiring creatives

7.30pm

Storyhouse Book Club

Sci-Fi Reading Group

monthly

weekly

monthly

Italian Storytelling

monthly

4.30pm

SUNDAY

TUESDAY

11am monthly

weekly

2pm weekly

People’s Choice Cinema & Review Club

open to anyone over the age of 16 with a learning disability, learning difficulty or autistic spectrum condition

monthly

relaxed cinema screening with free tea / coffee & a biscuit

Rhymetime for under 5's

weekly

11am

Cheshire & Warrington Carer's Screening

Children’s Craft Activities

12pm

Parados creatives:

fortnightly

Community group offering an open, nonjudgemental environment in which you can express your creativity

1pm

Chester Boardgamers

fortnightly