Books / Storytale Festival
Storytale Festival returns with three days of storytelling, drama and creative activities
Dreamt up in 2019 by community activist, mum and self-confessed lover of books and stories, Ellie Freeman, Storytale Festival is underpinned by five core aims.
The event exists: to showcase local talent; to give children the chance to meet creative people from their community; to inspire young people to become authors and illustrators themselves; to create a festival maximising the use of community buildings in Bristol; and to put on affordable events for all.
As a result, the festival programme comprises many events that are free, with a maximum cost of £5. From drama and storytelling to arts and crafts, there are activities for preschoolers right through to teens and adults. There are also numerous stories and writing prompts for budding authors on the festival YouTube channel, which was set up when the pandemic forced it online for two consecutive years.
is needed now More than ever
Image: courtesy of Storytale Festival CIC
But happily, in-person events are back in 2022 for ‘Chapter 4’ of Storytale Festival, with a three day festival on October 21-23, split between multiple venues: the SS Great Britain, Bristol Beacon, the Clifton Suspension Bridge Visitor Centre, Tobacco Factory, Windmill Hill City Farm, St Paul’s Church, SouthBank Club, Bookhaus, Storysmith, and Bristol Central Library.
Highlights include: writer and zoologist Justin Anderson in an interactive presentation of his latest book Narwhal: The Arctic Unicorn; Story Cube adventures for the whole family; an Acting Out drama session inspired by Alice in Wonderland; and a workshop on how to conjure up spooky house stories, just in time for Halloween.
Justin Anderson – photo: courtesy of the author
Megan Chapman – photo: courtesy of the artist
There will also be science-themed activities, book cover designing and storytelling. Online events aimed at young adults include a Pathways into Publishing event, and a zoom show from performance poet and storyteller, Megan Chapman.
And in conjunction with the Bristol charity Bridges for Communities, author and humanitarian Elika Ansari will bring this year’s festival to a close with Refugee Voices, an evening of live music, food and a moving talk about her experiences of working in the Moria refugee camp on the Greek island of Lesbos.
Elika Ansari – photo: courtesy of the author
https://www.instagram.com/p/CicSI7fIvmQ/
Storytale Festival 2022 runs from October 21-23, with all events either free or capped at £5. Follow the latest updates on @storytalefest. To register for individual events, visit www.storytalefestival.com.
Main photo: Curiosity Connections
Read more: Children’s book festival goes online for 2020
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