Free entertainment for kids atHastings Storytelling Festival

The Town Band of Bremen, by Fabularium, features an amazing, mismatched musical band of animals who are heading to play the gig of a lifetime on their trusty cart, sharing stories and singing songs on the way.

This show takes place on Monday November 9 at 7pm at Downs Farm Community Centre and on Tuesday November 10 at 7pm at Sandown School. The show is suitable for families and is free. Please be aware that space is limited.

On Monday November 9, visitors to Downs Farm Community Centre can enjoy stories in the Global Storytelling Café From 10am until noon.

Dancers from the Sujata Banerjee Company of Kathak dancers will tell stories around the Biryani, exploring the history of this popular dish and the spices it contains through stories and dance.

At 1.15pm, community chef, Chloe Edwards, cook up a biryani in a live, interactive demo. This will then be eaten as a shared meal by the audience. The Global Storytelling Café is also free and suitable for families and finishes at 2.45pm (call the Centre Manager on 07749 584388).

On Saturday November 14 at 10.30am at Hastings Children’s Library, Robertson Street, young children can enjoy free traditional Ghanaian animal stories from Master Drummer and Storyteller Nana Tsiboe.

Sunday November 15 sees the Children’s Storytelling Festival and Parade on the Stade between 12noon and 4pm

. This year’s animal theme includes Rex Dinosaur (a life-like beast that roams the Stade) Spud & Yam with lively Irish and Caribbean stories, Richard Storybeard telling stories in his cosy yurt, hula-hoops with Dreamspin, thrilling animal stories from Sierra Leone from Usifu Jalloh and the story of the Pied Piper told by Norwich Puppet Theatre.

The parade will loops around the Old Town and back to the Stade at 3pm, with school children carrying animal banners made in school workshops with local artist, Sarah Evans, plus the Phoenix Flyers and Dende and Sambalanco drumming groups.

Members of the public can bring a whistle or dress as an animal and join in.

If your smaller children would like to make an animal banner for the festival parade, they can come along to a free banner making workshop at the St Leonards Children’s Centre on Friday 13 November at 10-11.30pm (call 01424 200 604).

“This is just a taster of what’s on at this diverse and exciting festival”, says Dick Edwards, Festival chairman.

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