Lorefolk

Stories passed down the generations are being brought to a wider audience in a new stage show stopping off in Sheringham on its autumn tour.

Lorefolk is a collection of colourful tales drawn from local people across Norfolk and Suffolk in a pioneering project.

It will touch on well-known yarns such as Black Shuck, the legendary fearsome hound, with glowing eyes, that roamed the countryside, often an omen of death or misfortune.

But there will also be stories from Sheringham – including a local mermaid, and the Hibbilybibs – when it arrives at the Little Theatre on October 15.

Writer and actor in the one-woman show Katie-anna Whiting from Sprowston explained: “We collected folklore stories from people at the Norwich Book Fair last year and were inundated, so we realised we were on to something and wanted to share them.

“There were some real quirky ones including a man who made up a story he used to tell his daughter about the Sheringham Hibblybibs who were fishermen that worked for a dinner rather than money and who he turned into little trolls that got up to mischief.

“We had a little boy who really believed that some people lived under the water and had webbed toes and an extra finger because that’s what he had been told by his family.”

Folklore is traditional stories, beliefs and customs passed down the generations by word of mouth. Lorefolk is a stage presentation of some of the best from the region gathered during the project by Katie-anna’s drama company The Whiting’s On The Wall, thanks to funding from Norwich Theatre.

The show will also touch on some village children who turn green due to their diet, and a pub story in which the moon is stolen by some mysterious characters.

“The stories are a bit like those Creature Comforts mini animations, and are nice antidote to everything that is going on in the world right now,” she added.

It is also planned to keep adding to the stories by seeking more during the tour – or via people who can contact the company via its website www.thewhitingsonthewall.com

The company has also previously compiled true stories from local older generation folk in Voices of Norfolk. Lorefolk takes that a step further, and uses shadow-work plus an original soundtrack to enhance the tales which are recounted verbatim, as they were told.

Lorefolk appears at Sheringham Little Theatre on October 15 at 7.30. For tickets and more information visit www.sheringhamlittletheatre.com or call the box office on 01263 822347.

PICTURE (credit Andi Sapey)