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Newsletter March 2010
'Raventales' - Wendy and Michael Dacre 14th February
A joyous occasion with the visit of our friends Wendy and Michael who wove two Irish stories imbued with strands of love and intrigue, so appropriate for St Valentine's Evening.
The first was a telling of 'Deirdre the Troubler' - straightaway teasing us into the story that is more often known as 'Deirdre of the Sorrows' and following that they wove Midir and Etain's love story into our hearts. Both were spellbinding, transporting us to other worlds and times with Michael skilfully spinning word pictures and Wendy hauntingly enhancing the mood and enchantment with her vocals and singing. The stories were sad and exhilarating at the same time.
Deirdre
Sunday 28th March 2010 7.30 p.m. - Parzifal
This is the new date for our group performance of Parzifal, led by Samantha Lister. This is the retelling and completion of the story of the Gral (Grail) by Wolfram von Eschenbach around 1200 - 1210. Wolfram identifies himself as a Bavarian and was a knight ministerial, an unfree knight bound to the service of a lord. He is known for his love poetry and his work is part of a huge flowering of secular poetry in Germany during the Hohenstauffen period. Therefore he reflects the style of life at German courts of those times. Wolfram was also clearly fascinated by the Islamic world, although his knowledge extends no further than the fact that they have darker skin, produce great textiles, have access to gold and precious stones, and are advanced in medicine.
Through his heroes Wolfram shows different aspects of life at that time: in the opening section Gahmuret, Parzival's father is used to show the splendour, zest and colour of chivalric life. Later Gawan (known in other Arthurian romances as Gawain) excels in knightly exploits and shows how courtly love with its service and reward reciprocity works. Parzival's story is the eternal Christian story of spiritual development. Overcoming pride and ignorance, and struggling to reconcile the virility of his father's line and the spirituality of his mother's to win the Gral. In this epic Wolfram's Gral is a stone which is able to provide food and drink as needed but also represents a goal worth striving for.
Come and join Sam Lister, David Fisher, Maggie Freake, Melvyn Freake, Mary Garvey, Pennie Hedge, Deirdre Joyce, Tony Joyce, Bernard Kelly, June Peters and Chris Wise.
The Old Bakehouse, The Old Bakehouse, Blackheath Village, London SE3; at the rear of Age Exchange Reminiscence Centre, Entrance opposite Blackheath station, 1st left in Bennett Park. Tickets £6 full price/£4 concessions. More info : Deirdre Joyce: 01634 841176
The Old Bakehouse Theatre is a relaxed, café style setting, providing an intimate space for storytelling. There are teas, coffee, cakes and soft drinks for sale. The theatre is not licensed, but you can bring your own booze.
Coming Events
Ring of Hope
Our weekly storytelling circle for anyone who wants to tell a story, learn to tell a story or just listen. If you would like to join us, we meet on Tuesdays 8.00 - 10.00pm at St Mary's Community Centre, 180 Eltham High Street, Eltham, SE8. £2.00.
Annual meeting
There will no Ring of Hope on Tuesday 30th March as we will then be holding our annual meeting. This meeting is open to everyone. Important decisions need to be taken and without an injection of energy and enthusiasm, it is unlikely that Storytelling in Hope can continue.For a copy of the agenda or the minutes of the last meeting please e-mail cbd@waitrose.com
Festivals
As well as Beyond the Border and Festival at the Edge which I mentioned last month, there will also be a Westcountry Storytelling Festival this year on 27 - 29 August 2010, Bank Holiday weekend, in a new venue on the edge of Dartmoor. Tickets are £75 with a 10% discount for bookings before the end of April. See www.weststoryfest.co.uk for more details.
Claire