From dandy highwayman to Norse hero, naughty dragons to beastly boggarts, step into Wimborne Minster’s world of imagination at Sting in the Tale
In an era dominated by the glare of modern technology, performance storytelling is a timely reminder of the power of the human mind. At Sting in the Tale, a festival of stories - a good storyteller can hold an audience in awe and fire their imagination with thrilling tales of myth and legend, folk and fable, history and adventure.
Each audience member will have a different experience; the images conjured up by the storyteller's words will be unique to them. It is also a shared moment, bringing generations together in mutual enjoyment.
Sting in the Tale, a festival of stories, celebrates the irresistible pull of a well-crafted story with a 10-day festival in Wimborne Minster (27 July - 3 August).
It launches with a free storytelling, art and craft event for all the family called Field of Stories at Willow Walk Community Gardens in the town centre on Saturday 27 July.
Through storytelling performances, street theatre and puppet shows Field of Stories will introduce you to a host of colourful characters from The Gingerbread Man and Epico the Dragon, to naughty Japanese Tanuki (badgers) and more. Children can also get involved in some great hands on activities and make and take home a paper puppet, shadow lantern, Norse mask, clay crocodile or dragon, whilst parents enjoy listening to the storytelling and live music.
This is the 15th Sting in the Tale, and over the years this festival has highlighted the power of storytelling to reach all ages. Giles Abbott will perform Lightening and Lies at Field of Stories, bringing Thor and Loki, hero and anti-hero of the popular Avengers films, to life with stories packed with adventure, magic, danger and laughter, perfect for older children from age 11 to 111! Giles is headlining this year's festival at a ticketed evening performance entitled, Fall of the House, a ghostly love story that is both enchanting and unnerving.
Field of Stories marks the start of a packed week of Sting in the Tale activities. Take a Mindfulness Walk through pretty woodland and hear the story of Leaf, Root and Branch which reveals why you should never tell secrets to a willow tree. There is also storytelling in some famous historic venues: the Minster Church is where you can hear Saxon Stories; John O'Gaunts Hall at Canford School will be the backdrop for some Medieval Tales; and the open night skies of Cranborne Chase is the magical location for a very special story star walk.
Great characters abound in storytelling. Learn of dastardly deeds and derring-do in the Highwaymen's Tales; glimpse into the interlinked lives of the gentry and working class women of the 18th century in Love and Duty; and horsewoman and storyteller Caroline Baldock tells of the courage and determination it took to become one of England's first professional female flat jockeys in Six False Starts, Tales from my Racing Life.
Sting in the Tale has some great shows and activities for children for the school holidays. Classic tales such as The Ugly Duckling and The Selfish Giant are brought vividly to life by Sea Legs Puppet Theatre. Treehouse Theatre will be at the Model Town for their interactive telling of The Dancing Turtle. And Booster Cushion Theatre will be asking you all to join in with Old MacDonald and the Three Pigs Plus at the Allendale Centre. Obviously every child needs to learn how to deal with pesky Boggarts, so join the Boggarts and How to Trick Them Trail at the Priest's House Museum, you never know when you will need to outwit one!
Whatever your age, put the digital screens away and come and enjoy the age old tradition of storytelling at Sting in the Tale. More at stinginthetale.org.uk
