Giants tales at Rook Lane storytellers

Frome’s storytelling club, Mr Rook’s Speak Easy, launches its spring programme this month at Rook Lane Chapel, with an evening of giants.

GIANTS! is a new show based on traditional British stories, told by storytellers Lisa Schneidau and Ronnie Conboy, and will be performed at the beautiful Rook Lane Chapel on Thursday 30th March.

Dartmoor-based storytellers Lisa and Ronnie have collected old stories from across British folklore that depict these mythical creatures, who are often credited with creating hills, islands, stone circles and rock formations.

The two tellers will present a storytelling journey through some of the old myths, and an exploration of the relationship between the Giants – the great rock builders – and the human beings that came after.

Across British folklore, phenomena such as rock formations and other changes in the landscape were often explained as being the work of the very first giants; that they were the power behind the rocks of the land.

Storyteller Lisa Schneidau, who is also an environmentalist, believes that many of these old stories hold powerful ecological weight today.

She says, “Even when the giants of the old tales are violent and bloodthirsty and fierce, perhaps they had reason? There is something in these stories suggesting that giants are guardians of the landscape, and disappointed with the casual wastefulness and selfishness of humans.”

Lisa Kenwright, director of Mr Rook’s is delighted to have such a powerful new show opening this year’s Spring programme.

Lisa adds, “From stories of Gawain the Green Knight, to dancing giants turned into stone circles, or the rivers Tavy and Torridge re-imagined as giants fighting for the love of a water sprite, this performance is a beautiful journey showing the British landscape that we know and love in a totally different light.”

This is the first show from Lisa Schneidau and Ronnie Conboy as a telling duo. It will be at Rook Lane Chapel on Bath Street from 7.30pm on Thursday 30th March and is suitable for ages 14+.

For more information on this and other events find Mr Rook’s Speak Easy on Facebook or go to www.rooklane.org.uk.