Summer of Culture 2024

Following the success of last year’s Festival of Digital Storytelling where Hounslow’s communities and residents were invited to share their own stories, tales, fables and memories, Hounslow’s Storytelling Festival 2024 brought the magic of the spoken word to all town centres.

The festival featured a vibrant variety of storytellers including musicians, performances and poets across libraries, historic houses and open spaces, bringing people together and inspiring them to consider the stories they tell.

Storytelling with You-Ri Yamanaka: The Monkey and The Crab

Sunday 18 August, Gunnersbury Park Museum

The heart-warming tale of The Money and the Crab was performed twice by You-Ri Yamanaka, complete with traditional Japanese costume, movement and storytelling. Afterwards, children aged 5-11 enjoyed playing with special props from the performance and creating their own characters and story.

The Poetry Takeaway

2 June, 7 July, 4 August and 1 September, Chiswick Flower Market

“People realise their lives are poetry when their stories are given back to them.”
In partnership with Chiswick Flower Market, The Poetry Takeaway did exactly what they promised: serve up personalised, quality Poetry to visitors, performed and wrapped to Takeaway. Our local chef poets served visitors the stories they told them, in the form of poems. The event was free, suitable for all ages.

 

Create Your Own Story with Casey Andrews

Friday 19, Saturday 20 July, Chiswick Library

Budding storytellers of all ages joined the free Summer Reading Challenge by creating their own stories with storyteller Casey Andrews. Based on one word, they let their memories flow and inspire them to choose a book. When they came out, Casey had a personalised, typed story ready just for them.

Taken by: Sadia Barlow Photography

The Bureau of Forgotten Stories by Tale Be Told

Saturday 3, Sunday 4, Saturday 10, Sunday 11 August, Boston Manor House

The Bureau of Forgotten Stories set out on a mission to retrieve the lost tales of Boston Manor House. This interactive production, suitable for all groups, brought to life the history of the house.

Fruit

Saturday 10, Sunday 18, Saturday 24 August & Sunday 1 September, Bell Square, Hounslow High Street

People of all ages were invited to step into a vibrant world of cultures, flavours, stories and rhythms with “Fruit.” Members of Hounslow’s thriving community shared their stories, celebrating cultures and world experiences as part of this free event held on Bell Square.

Starting at the ‘fruit’ stand with three performances a day, each story embodied the essence of Banana, Papaya, Mango or Apple. Each story embodied the essence of Banana, Papaya, Mango, or Apple.

Friday Fables

Every Friday from 28 July to 30 August, Syon House

Every Friday children were able to enjoy an hour of storytelling with an Olympic theme, crafts and singing in Syon Gardens.

Storytelling with Mr. Sef: Stories from Around the World

Sunday 11 August, Gunnersbury Park Museum

Children aged 5-11 enjoyed sharing stories and songs from around the world with two sessions from Mr. Sef, inspired by nature and animals in the park. Afterwards, they joined in with fun activities and used their imagination to create pictures or share their ideas through words and songs.

Storytelling with Wendy Shearer: Anansi the Spider

Tuesday 27 August, Gunnersbury Park Museum

Traditional Afro-Caribbean trickster stories about Anansi the Spider encouraged children to take part and use their imagination. Wendy used beautiful props and traditional music while involving everyone in the storytelling.

Afterwards, children were able to draw or write about the stories and make their own craft spider to take home with them.

London Dreamtime Free Storytelling Day – Feltham

Saturday 21 September, The Centre, Feltham

Storytelling Events:
Irish storyteller Emily Hanna enchanted children and adults alike with magical Irish tales from her childhood in a free event for all ages.

“Big African Wedding” music and storytelling with Usifu Jalloh and Saidi Kanda: Usifu Jalloh and Saidi Kanda drew in their audience with irresistibly dynamic stories, full of music, wisdom and humour. Suitable for all ages, “My Big African Wedding” featured comedy and audience participation, showcasing music from many different African countries.

Workshops:
“Hounslow Dreaming” story collection
A glittery and interactive installation hosted by Fairy Godmother Gloria Darling (played by Bernadette Russell) where everyone, no matter what their age, was invited to write or draw their dreams for themselves, their communities and the whole world on paper clouds. They were then displayed so that everyone could read each other’s ideas. A second session was held the following day on 22 September and at the end of the weekend, Bernadette created an epic poem including everyone’s ideas, which was shared on YouTube.

Craft workshops were also held alongside the storytelling events on both 21 and 22 September.

London Dreamtime Free Storytelling Day – Feltham

Sunday 22 September, The Centre, Feltham

Storytelling Events:

“Well Loved Indian Tales” Kathak Dance by Vaishali Raithatha with narration by Laura Sampson.

Young visitors to The Centre were treated to two performances of “Well Loved Indian Tales” as they stepped into the marvellous worlds of myth and live music with Kathak dancer Vaishali Raithatha and storyteller Laura Sampson. Tales from India, of gods, demons, brave children, enemies working together and lots more were all brought to life.

“The Legend of The Black Lotus” by Tamarind Theatre / Mukul & Ghetto Tigers

Participants were enchanted by this fairytale as they joined in the drama with music and movement. In the story, two siblings were banished from their kingdom by the evil Illyius before taking on an epic adventure to find the petals of the magical Black Lotus to save both their mother and the kingdom.

Tamarind Theatre works with communities and education.

Mukul & Ghetto Tigers theatre company work in classics and new writing which provides debate.

Workshops:

“Hounslow Dreaming” story collection

Bernadette Russell returned to Feltham as Fairy Godmother Gloria Darling (see 21 September).

London Dreamtime Free Storytelling Day – Chiswick

Saturday 28 September, Chiswick Library