Story-Tea Midsummer Brew
Find out what's brewing ...
It’s been a busy couple of months! Midsummer Brew is into development with workshops in Stoke-on-Trent and Birmingham to produce elements of the set dressing, try out the teas and share some stories. Plus rehearsals with Titania Krimpas and story development with Michael Harvey.
If you would like to see a full show you can find tickets on Eventbrite by clicking these links Leamington Spa / Foundry Woods 3rd July , Stoke-on-Trent / Longton Library 5th July and Birmingham / The Warehouse - Digbeth all performances start at 7:30
You might of course like to find out a bit about Story-Tea, the themes of the show and how we go about developing them. If so, read on…
What is Story-Tea?
It’s a collaboration between me and medical herbalist Arlene Burnett. We first dreamt up the idea in 2019 when we shared Story-Tea: Dying Matters Brew as part of BrumYODO’s A Matter of Life and Death Festival.
We were immediately booked for Birmingham Literature Festival and had the opportunity to come up with another Brew!
In those days it was just the two of us sharing a mix of stories, herbal teas, the magic of the recipes and where appropriate making fire charms. Last year we had the good fortune to receive Arts Council Funding to expand what we do. And are currently making two new brews alongside musicians, venues and participants. We are working with Michael Harvey and Titania Krimpas as dramaturges and Adverse Camber as advising producers.
Midsummer Brew is still a mix of story and tea but the show weaves together a series of folk and wondertales into a cohesive whole. They are the stories of Maggie Mugwort who found her name during one of the workshop sessions!
We have just completed our workshop series and are now fully into the rehearsal phase.
Workshops:
It’s always a pleasure to develop the full shows alongside others. This time visiting Hem Heath Woods and connecting with the Wildlife Trust and the excellent Alexis - who offered an introduction to Forest Bathing alongside our stuff.
We were also there with Amy from Stoke Libraries (a true champion of all things story). The second of our workshop sessions was with Carers United Birmingham South.
We invited people to make clay jar toppers (these will be used in the performances), listen to stories and drink tea! The creativity was a joy to see.
We also delivered workshops in Foundry Wood and at Balsall Heath City Farm last year and going forward we will take our learning from these sessions to develop a workshop package that will accompany the full touring shows.
And speaking of Full Shows… we are offering tiered ticketing but if cost is a barrier to attending just send me a message and I will add you to my guest list - no questions asked!
Midsummer Brew
Join us as we conjure the Summer, with: Performance Storytelling : Live Music : Specially Blended Herbal Teas & Charms
Expect tales of wise women, shapeshifting midsummer hares, the rise and fall of fortunes, golden gods and gifts for the good folk; underscored by original live music played on the Handpan; all served up with specially blended herbal teas and the magic of the recipes.
Our audiences have told us Midsummer Brew is:
"Entertaining and unforgettable! with magical stories and lovely teas and herbs!” it is “ an uplifting and magical experience” and “an escape to a beautiful world of nature with lovely sounds of a roaring fire, gorgeous aromas of roses and the unforgettable Maggie Mugwort and her garden”
This is an event for adults but older children (12+) also welcome
Find all the events here at two of the events we will have fires and the opportunity for the audience to cast mugwort into the flames.
Next up I’m brewing some work for children and young people in Derbyshire, Lincolnshire and Warwickshire. But do watch out for up dates about Story-Tea Events too!