Hello all! Just to let you know of some exciting new events I’m involved in over the coming month or two:
On Thurs 10th Jun (this week!) I’ll be part of an online session in the University of Sussex’s Festival of Ideas. Rave today! is a panel discussion by Sussex students and teaching staff, exploring the many surprising and fruitful associations between academic research and the UK rave scene of the 1980s-90s. And it was through the History module “Post-Rave Britain” that our online time travel adventure game was born! So I’ll be joining the panel to speak about the collaborative process, and the live Time Travel Treasure Hunts that have resulted.
Next, on Sun 20th Jun, I’ll be venturing to the beautiful Ashdown Forest for We Are Not A Festival – a weekend of wellbeing and learning events in the serene woodland setting of Pippingford Park. On the Sunday evening, to mark the Summer Solstice, I’ll be giving a talk on myths and beliefs about the sun throughout history, delving traces and tales from the past. Tickets are still available, with a 100% Covid cancellation guarantee, so have a look!
Then in July I have several more events all happening in person! On Fri 23rd and Thurs 29th, I’ll be leading story walks at the National Trust sites at Frensham Little Pond and Hindhead Common respectively. For the past month I’ve been on a placement with Surrey Hills Arts, developing stories about three locations in the Surrey Hills AONB, to help people connect with the landscape and with climate change. It’s been a FANTASTIC time, digging into lots of fascinating history and folklore and visiting some beautiful places. And these walks will be but ONE of the results! More info to follow, as well as PODCASTS about both sites and more – but for now, save the dates!
And finally, on Sun 25th July I’ll be back at Pippingford Park again for the return of the Elderflower Fields festival! This superb family event has been one of my favourite gigs of the year for ages, going back to when I first nailed my colours to the mast as a professional storyteller: music, spoken word, LOADS of activities and a gorgeous weekend in the woods. It’ll be so great to enjoy it again. I’m on at 7pm on the Sun night in the wonderful WowPow! spoken word stage, letting rip with a load of Sussex folklore, mischievous monsters and magical tales from around the world!
… and it’s worth mentioning that on Thurs Nov 4th I’ll be telling tales at Word Spun‘s Bangers & Bonfires online storytelling night! A regular monthly event with loads of splendid tellers from all round the country, this’ll be a real treat so I can’t wait. I’ll have great fun finding stories of dark nights and flickering firelight for the season!
Details of all these events, and any more that arise, will go on my gigs page, so please keep an eye there for more info. And I’ll look forward to seeing you at some of these events! Have a great time whatever you’re up to, take care.
Jon the Storyteller 