www.weststoryfest.co.uk                      www. embercombe.co.uk

Magical eco-festival with intimate atmosphere and family-friendly activities.  Story, song and sustainability in the stunning 50 acre Embercombe site, with views over Dartmoor and Haldon Forest.  World class storytellers, live music, organic food, activities for all ages, storywalks, poetry, puppets and workshops.

Praise for last year's festival

“  five star festival” 

“a marvellous magical weekend.”

“we have performed at 20 festivals so far this year and this one without doubt has the best atmosphere, it feels like a very special place.”

“This festival is as near perfection as it could be.”

“The location, facilities and food were truly inspiring - what a wonderful example of how good sustainable living can be.”

Booking Tickets

The festival in 2010 sold out and there are only limited tickets available for 2012, so book soon.  There are discounts, too, for early birds.  Tickets available on-line only. Day Tickets will only be available on the door and on line from 1st August if there is still availability.  We invite you, if you can, to come for the whole festival and find a sense of community and connectedness to the earth. 

You will need to know which accomodation option you are taking up to book tickets, so do read about the exciting possibilities of staying in yurts and tipis as well as camping for free on the website: www.weststoryfest.co.uk.

Festival Theme for 2012

Patterns under the Plough is the theme of this year's festival, paying homage to George Ewart-Evan's inspirational book recording the oral & folk traditions of East Anglia.  The focus of many stories at the festival will be the land on which we stand.  

Patterns under the Plough is a reference both to farming and to the influence of the cosmos above us.  The theme is very open and invites anything from creation stories that tell how the land was made, through celebrations of our connection to the wild and tales of traditional land practices, to stories that question our current relationship with the planet and look to a future that may bring us back round to survival once again. There will be workshops and activities linked to all these themes.

Performers

Jan Blake returns to the festival after making a huge impact in 2010 with her exuberant, witty, earthy style.  Jan is in demand all over Europe and specialises in African and Caribbean tales – we are lucky to have her here in Devon – don't miss her!

Ben Haggerty  is another performer with an international reputation (45 festivals in 23 countries!) whom we have enticed down to Devon to delight us with his playful, lively and subversive style.  One of the great elders of the UK storytelling world, he tells stories “with enormous relish and gusto”.

Frankie Armstrong returns to the festival to bring her extraordinary singing talent and workshops.  “Her voice conveys utter conviction and great humanity .She is an incredible story teller and has me on the edge of my chair listening to Tam Lin even though I've heard it dozens of times."

Nick Hennessey: following in the tradition of the Celtic Bards of old, Nick will hold court with his harp and whistle to deliver powerful, passionate performances of story and song from Irish, Scottish, Welsh and English legends and folk-tales. 

Storytellers back to regale us again include: Jane Flood; Martin Shaw, Jo Blake; Spindle Wayfarer,  Clive Fairweather and Michael & Wendy Dacre.  More names coming soon, plus a draft programme by the end of September.