“Fairy tales do not tell children the dragons exist. Children already know that dragons exist. Fairy tales tell children the dragons can be killed.”
G.K. Chesterton (1874-1936)
An ongoing project, Fireside Folktales sees us retelling a growing collection of myths, legends, and classic stories from around the world. Each is presented as an original short play performed by a company of four actors. In keeping with the back-to-basics philosophy of this particular storytelling project, all music and sound effects are performed live by the cast, with no electricity or technical equipment necessary.
Having previously staged Fireside Folktales productions in our own beautiful 8m bell tent, in the open air, and at a wide variety of indoor venues, we know they work in almost all imaginable settings.
Having previously staged Fireside Folktales productions in our own beautiful 8m bell tent, in the open air, and at a wide variety of indoor venues, we know they work in almost all imaginable settings.
Our Tales
Click the titles below for more information about each production.
“With King Richard the Lionheart absent, corruption and injustice are rife in England. The country cries out for a champion – and in the heart of the forest, a legend stirs…”
Reviews:
~ Gorgeous and brilliant! Loved the dancing and the fighting!
“You might think Gods should be better behaved than people. Unfortunately that isn’t always so … After all, think what you humans are willing to do when driven by strong emotions such as hate, jealously, sorrow, grief. Then consider what a God might do…” ⚡️🌪❄️
Reviews:
~ Great performance. We really enjoyed the singing, the story and the outside setting.
“All hail Macbeth that shalt be King hereafter…” With these portentous words, the three witches seal the fate of not only the Thane of Glamis himself but also all the others whom Macbeth will dispose of on the way to fulfilling their deadly prophecy.
Reviews:
~ Absolutely amazing! Would highly recommend to anyone who is a fan of Shakespeare. Very intimate and well thought out production. In what used to be a male dominated area, these four women played the roles amazingly and with so much talent. Will definitely go to more events in the future!
“If I could work my will, every idiot who goes about with ‘Merry Christmas’ on his lips, should be boiled with his own pudding, and buried with a stake of holly through his heart.”
Reviews:
~ Thank you for a brilliant & professional performance this afternoon. The changes of emotions & clothing with such integrity of acting was quite moving. So pleased to be with you – a gem of an afternoon!
For our younger audiences
“Fables are stories, passed on from one generation to the next, that tell us something useful about how to live our lives – the right actions to take, the right things to do. But, just in case we wouldn’t want to listen to the message if the stories were about people, they are often told about animals, birds and insects instead. Animals, birds and insects just like these…”
Reviews:
~ A brilliant show – the stories were ideal for the children to understand. And a perfect length too. Very good. Thank you!
Coming soon…
Private Bookings
We are available for private bookings for parties and events for both children and adults, or for school visits – including optional workshops and Q&A sessions, alongside the performances.
As well as our selection of tales for all ages and occasions, we are able to create a bespoke event, writing a new piece of work specifically for your celebration, if we are given sufficient notice. Should you wish to discuss a private booking of any sort, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us at firesidefolktales@gmail.com!
We look forward to hearing from you – and perhaps to seeing you at one of the public events we will be appearing at throughout the year, bringing the magic of myths and legends to life on your very own doorstep!
How We Began
We were delighted to launch Fireside Folktales at the Barnes Children’s Literature Festival over the weekend of 11th-12th May 2019, where we delivered no fewer than six performances of Aesop’s Fables, Persephone & the Pomegranate Seeds, and A Tale of Robin Hood in our superb Story Tent, each to a packed out audience!
Many photos were taken and enthusiastic audience reaction recorded – both on paper and film! Here’s just a small selection of the feedback we received:
After a triumphant beginning at the Barnes Children’s Literature Festival, we moved on to other venues – including the magnificent National Trust property, Ham House, and Horace Walpole’s gothic wonder Strawberry Hill House – before moving indoors for the winter. Having premiering our new production of A Christmas Carol at Southside House we were delighted to perform at numerous other venues and to stage charity performances for Brinsworth House, Mulberry Centre, Lynde House and the Teenage Cancer Trust.
2020 was a difficult year for everyone, with the coronavirus pandemic sweeping the globe and closing down both countries and industries indefinitely. Nevertheless, we were delighted to be able to premiere Macbeth: Sleep No More – Emma King-Farlow’s stunning new adaptation of the Shakespeare classic – alongside revivals of both Persephone & the Pomegranate Seeds and Aesop’s Fables, at no fewer than three venues! Reviews were outstanding and it was wonderful to snatch back a bit of theatrical normality in the middle of a year that was anything but normal for the whole entertainment industry.
The pandemic resulted in the following year getting off to something of a slow start, but by March we were full steam ahead, with serval summer and Christmas bookings, performing a total of five different plays from the Fireside Folktales collection, including a new version of Robin Hood: The Rescue, written especially for the National Trust’s Morden Hall Park.
Please see the News & Diary page for more details or, for the latest information, follow us on social media (links below).
Our Cast
A standard part of a Fireside Folktales production is the HUGE amount of costume and character changes on stage! A Christmas Carol currently holds our record, with 35 different characters in total and 1 actor playing a whopping 13 of those, while Macbeth features 19 characters and 50 costume changes!! In order for this to succeed we work with an incredibly talented cast, please click on their names to find out more – characters are listed in order of appearance.
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A Christmas Carol – St Mary’s Barnes & Morden Hall Park 2021
Macbeth by Candlelight
– Southside House 2021
A Tale of Robin Hood: The Rescue – Morden Hall – July/August 2021
SUMMER 2020 – The Turbine Theatre, The Coach & Horses, and No. 36
Persephone & the Pomegranate Seeds
Macbeth: Sleep No More
WINTER 2019 – A CHRISTMAS CAROL – adapted from the novel by Charles Dickens
(appearing in alternate performances)
Fred / Fan / Dick Wilkins / Mrs Cratchit / Christmas Future & various other roles
SUMMER 2019
Writer & Director – Emma King-Farlow
Fight Director – Amy Floyd
Dance Choreographer – Clare McAndrew
Aesop’s Fables / Persephone & the Pomegranate Seeds / A Tale of Robin Hood
Fox / Demeter / Cooper at the Barnes Children’s Literature Festival (BCLF)
Fox / Demeter / Cooper at St Osmund’s Catholic Church (Thurs & Fri)
Hare & Ant 9 / – / Cooper at Ham House
Grasshopper / Hermes / Alan A’Dale & Matthew at St Osmund’s (Thurs-Sat)
Grasshopper / Hermes / Alan A’Dale & Matthew at Ham House
Ant & Grasshopper / Hermes / Alan A’Dale & Matthew at Strawberry Hill House
Stork / Hades / Little John, Villager & Sir Guy of Gisborne at the BCLF
Stork / Cyneas & Hades / Little John, Villager & Sir Guy of Gisborne at St Osmund’s (Thurs-Sat)
Stork / Gardener, Cyneas, Lukas & Hades / Little John, Villager & Sir Guy of Gisborne at Ham House
Stork & Ant 9 / Gardener, Cyneas, Lukas & Hades / Little John, Villager & Sir Guy of Gisborne at Strawberry Hill House
Hare & Ant 9 / Persephone / Dancer, Messenger & Robin Hood at the BCLF
Hare & Ant 9 / Persephone / Dancer, Messenger & Robin Hood at St Osmund’s (Thurs-Sat)
Tortoise & Ant 846 / Zeus / Tom & Gaoler at the BCLF
Tortoise & Ant 846 / Zeus / Tom & Gaoler at St Osmund’s (Thurs-Sat)
Tortoise & Ant 846 / Persephone & Zeus / Tom & Gaoler at Ham House
Tortoise, Fox & Ant 846 / Persephone & Zeus / Tom, Messenger & Gaoler at Ham House
MAIA GIBBONS
Fox / Demeter / Cooper at St Osmund’s (Sat)
Fox / – / Robin Hood at Ham House
– / – / Cooper & Robin Hood at Strawberry Hill House
Ant & Narrator / Lukas, Hektor & Gardener / Alice & Friar Tuck at St Osmund’s (Thurs-Sat)
Ant & Narrator / Hektor & Demeter / Alice & Friar Tuck at Ham House
Ant & Hare / Hektor & Demeter / Alice, Weaver & Friar Tuck at Strawberry Hill House
For more information, please follow us on social media (Instagram: @firesidefolktales & Twitter: @firesidefolks), like our Facebook page, or have a listen to our podcast!