Folklore Reimagined LATE

Join us for an evening of inspiring talks, screenings, workshops, exhibitions and performances to explore how traditional beliefs and stories have evolved to shape global identities throughout history, and continue to influence culture and inspire new generations today.

We are thrilled to be joined by Professor Simon Armitage Hon FBA and LYR, for a rare live performance of their recent EP, 'Blossomise'.

A full programme will be released soon.

Panels

The Cultural Evolution of Folklore

With Professor Ruth Mace FBA and Professor Jamshid Tehrani

What can our stories and traditions reveal about the human condition? And why do we tell similar tales across time, culture and space?

Lore and Identity

With Professor Matthew Cheeseman and Dr Elena Sottilotta

What is the place of folklore and tradition in contemporary society? How should we adapt legends, stories and songs with respect to contemporary culture? Explore the current interest in folklore, its role in shaping identity, and the complex issues of race, gender, and colonialism within traditional stories.

Folk Dance in Focus

With Professor Theresa Buckland FBA and Dr Lucy Wright

Join our experts to discuss the history, evolution, and contemporary relevance of folk dance in the British Isles, exploring its cultural significance and modern re-invention.

This discussion will be followed by a short traditional dance class led by step dancing troupe, Camden Clog.

Camden Clog teach and perform dances that were developed by Lancashire cotton weavers and miners, who wore clogs as their footwear. Many of the steps have been danced by family members since the middle of the 19th century. This is 'traditional' dancing in every sense of the word. Formed in 1987, they have performed all over England at folk and other community festivals, as well as appearing on radio, in the press and at major dance events at the Barbican Centre, the Festival Hall and the Royal Albert Hall.

10-Minute Talks

(Mine)crafting custom: collecting children's folklore in a digital age'?

Dr Yinka Olusoga and Dr Catherine Bannister

Investigate the connections between folk traditions and contemporary celebratory customs, and how children are recreating them for a digital post-pandemic world.

Djinn-Horror in Contemporary Turkish Cinema

Dr Cüneyt Çakırlar (Pre-recorded talk)

Explore the postmillennial emergence of djinn-themed horror films in Turkish cinema. Investing in the djinn, one of the key figures in Anatolian folklore, Turkic/Turkish shamanism and Islamic mythology, these films tell paranormal stories of black magic and demonic possession.

Poor Unfortunate Souls: what can mermaids teach us about being human?

Sacha Coward

Uncover the hidden connections between mermaids and the LGBTQ+ community to help us truly understand who queer people are today.

Cracks, chips and copies: discovering new lives for the Stone of Scone/ Destiny

Professor Sally Foster

Learn about the evolving stories that we attribute to physical artifacts over time, and explore questions about artefact ownership and artefact authenticity.

Morris dancing badgers: animal allegory in animation

Astrid Goldsmith

Explore how animation can be used to explore identity in this shifting moment for Kent’s border towns.

This 10-minute talk will be accompanied by a screening of Astrid's stop-motion short film, 'Quarantine', a pagan dance fantasy about a troupe of Morris-dancing badgers forced to confront the animals quarantined in a facility built above their burrow. This film was commissioned by the BFI and BBC4 as part of their prestigious Animation 2018 talent scheme.

Performances and workshops

LYR – Blossomise

Join us for a musical live-performance of 'Blossomise', a collection of blossom-inspired poems and haikus that explore how blossoms can bring a sense of hope to an increasingly urbanised world.

LYR is composed of author and current British poet laureate Professor Simon Armitage Hon FBA, singer-songwriter Richard Walters and multi-instrumentalist and producer Patrick Pearson.

LYR are a firmly established part of the contemporary music scene, with regular radio airplay across the networks, two critically acclaimed albums, 'Call In The Crash Team' and 'The Ultraviolet Age', and over 5 million streams to their name. They have appeared at many major festivals over the past three years, including Green Man and Blu Dot, and completed UK tours and sell-out events at venues up and down the UK.

Please note, a ticket does not guarantee you entry to this performance. We will be operating on a first-come, first-served basis.

The Living Almanac

With Professor Dame Marina Warner FBA and Sophie Herxheimer

Almanacs were the most popular form of printed publication for centuries. A Living Almanac will gather us all kinds of lore that is important for us now and in the near future. Days can be marked by such lore as local weather, tides, migrations of birds and other creatures, dates propitious for planting, important days such as birthdays. Fantastical and prophetic material is also typical of an almanac – horoscopes, wonders, miracles, superstitions, the folkloric and the surreal.

You will be invited to bring anecdotes, proverbs, old wives’ tales, special commemorations, poems, songs, photographs, drawings, and other material to inspire the Living Almanac. You will also be reaching beyond what has occurred to what might happen and what could be brought about – fostered or prevented.

Please note, all LATE attendees must book two ticket types to attend this workshop. You will need a general admission ticket and a separate ticket for the Almanac workshop. If you would like to attend the workshop, please ensure you book a separate 'Almanac Workshop' ticket on Eventbrite. There are limited spaces.

Free, booking required. As tickets are free, people sometimes book and don't attend, so we have to issue more tickets than there are seats available to allow for this. Entry into the event is on a first-come, first-served basis and we recommend arriving in good time to avoid any disappointment.

Please note this event is reserved for adults, aged 18 and over.

This event will have live subtitles provided by 121 Captions.

If you have any questions about this event please refer to our Events FAQs. If your question is not answered, please email [email protected].

Image: 'The Bear Dance' by Dr Lucy Wright