Storytelling Festival

Storytelling Festival Fri 22 & Sat 23 June 2012

Tales of wonder and magic to delight and transport you – a festival of storytelling, music and more in the grounds of an intimate green oasis.

An experience of the outdoors to reconnect you to the richness of a natural setting. Enjoy the sights, sounds, smells and even tastes of a wild little corner of Birmingham that will revitalise you, your friends and family whilst we entertain you with the power of storytelling. By day, you and our performers will share their grassy arena with birdsong but as twilight falls, lanterns will be lit and the crackle of campfire will become the backdrop.

Earth Oven Yarns, Gathering Tales, stories in woodland dells – performances to move and inspire you. Knowledge of the Earth through the wisdom of storytelling weaves the Festival together.  There’ll be plenty of activities to keep the younger ones involved including Teddy Bears picnics at this family-friendly event. During Friday and Saturday evening there will be two one-hour performances for older children and adults plus a Fringe Fireside experience around the bonfire as twilight falls.

The Martineau Gardens Storytelling Festival is brought to South Birmingham by the Traditional Arts Team, the people who are passionate about staging storytelling, music and dance events with a traditional twist.

The event is brought to you by people who care about our natural surroundings and believe that the arts have the power to transform.

Tickets:

Fri / Sat evening (6pm – 10pm):  single £7,  family £14

Saturday day (10am – 6pm): single £10, family £20

Tickets available in advance, to callers in person to Martineau Gardens, by post or on the gate on the gate (subject to availability). To avoid disappointment, advance booking is recommended. Cash or cheque only. Martineau Gardens is open Monday to Saturday, 10am – 4pm, 27 Priory Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B5 7UG

Festival Information:

A Garden Event:

This outdoor event takes place in the grounds of a beautiful community garden, dress appropriately for the weather. No gazeboes, but chairs and picnic rugs are welcome. Some of the events will take place within marquees, other activities will take place on the lawns and in the woods. Most of our paths are bark chippings.

Timings:

Friday 22 June 6pm – 10pm, gates open 5.30pm    Saturday 23 June 10am – 6pm and 6pm until 10pm

Entrance will be by wristband, with tickets being swapped at the door for wristbands.

Refreshments:

Salads, sandwiches, soups and cakes will be on offer from ChangeKitchen. Tasty  vegetarian, food, inspired by cuisines from around the world. Non-alcoholic drinks will be available. Or you are welcome to bring your own picnic.

Disabled Access:

Wheelchair users will find the gardens reasonably accessible. Depending on the weather, parts of the gardens may be only accessible to the determined and the paths through the woodland are bark chippings. The women’s toilet is accessible to wheelchair users.

Getting to the Festival:

Martineau Gardens, 27 Priory Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B5 7UG

Martineau Gardens is located on the B4217, 2 miles  from Birmingham city centre, opposite the Priory Hospital and close to the mac (Midlands Arts Centre) and Warwickshire County Cricket Ground.

There is a small car park at the Gardens, and parking on surrounding streets is limited. Please choose the green option! Travel by boot, bus or bike recommended or arrange to be dropped off close to the Gardens. Martineau Gardens is well served by buses. The nearest bus routes are  1, 45, 47, 61, 63, X62, X64. The nearest train stations are Five Ways Station (then a 15 minute walk  or bus journey) or New Street Station, with a 15 minute bus journey to the Gardens. To plan your journey by public transport, visit TransportDirect and use the postcode search – Martineau Gardens postcode is B5 7UG.

Spring Event Sun 20 May 2012

Produce from the Gardens will be on sale

Come and enjoy a great event in the Gardens. The Spring Event returns on Sunday 20 May2012, from 11am – 3pm. Treats in store include live performances from Black Adder Morris, Carlo Mahalo and the
G-Strings Ukulele band, Ingrid’s Accordion Band and Moseley Village Band. Black Adder Morris will be bringing dancers and musicians (including Northumbrian pipes, violin and mandolin) to entertain you.  In addition to performing dances, they will do a workshop or two where you can try your hand (and feet) at this traditional dance form.

There will be wildlife activities and drop-in pottery sessions organised for children.

Homemade Cakes

As always food is an important focal point to the celebrations – volunteers will be lighting up the Earth Oven and you can try your hand at outdoor cooking . You’re welcome to bring your own picnics, but there will be delicious home-made cakes, salads and sandwiches and other refreshments on sale.

Chard in the Vegetable Beds

The Martineau Gardens team will be staffing the plant sales area, answering your gardening questions. You’ll be able to stock up on Martineau Gardens Spring herbaceous plants (which are grown on site) and compost, plus freshly-cut vegetables and salads for sale. We’re delighted that Plant Heritage (the garden plant conservation charity) are returning and will have a fascinating selection of their plants for sale.

Admission:

£3 (non-members), £1(concessions), families £6 (maximum two adults)

Free to members.

Location:

The Spring Event takes place at Martineau Gardens, 27 Priory Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B5 7UG. Located five minutes from the MAC and opposite the Priory Hospital. There are a few parking spaces available on site or the Gardens are served by buses 1, 45, 47, 61, 63, X62 or X64.                          

The Shipwreck Play Area

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