Welcome to the Show
Hastings Storytelling Festival has returned this October with the theme of Welcome.
CODEX at Hastings Storytelling Festival
Each autumn, the Hastings Storytelling Festival fills the town with tales, music, dance and performance for all ages. This year is no exception, and this October’s programme embraces the theme of Welcome, celebrating openness, connection and community through the power of storytelling.
Many events have been taking place across Hastings and St Leonards over the past week. The festival opened on Friday 17 October with a free professional development workshop for teachers, authors and storytellers led by award-winning author Tolá Okogwu at Hastings Library. Last weekend also saw Karen Arthur sharing Grandma’s Locs at Hastings Library, celebrating natural Black hair and heritage: while Tricia Durdey combined memoir, dance and aerial hoop in Upside Down in a Hoop at Stade Hall.
During the week, families were able to dive into Dens & Signals’ Myth Monster, a participatory audio adventure, and Sujata Banerjee Dance Company presented a dazzling intergenerational Kathak showcase.
There have also been a diverse range of events for adult audiences including Bev Lee Harling in Hey Good Looking, a heartfelt evening of story and song about family and dementia: and Letter to My Little Trans Self at The Printworks.
There are several more events planned for this weekend: on Friday 24 October Hastings town centre will glow with CODEX, a six-metre illuminated talking storybook projection.
One of the biggest highlights is Festival Patron Axel Scheffler, internationally celebrated illustrator of The Gruffalo and more than 200 other children’s books. Axel will present his book Welcome at White Rock Studio on Saturday 25 October, where audiences can enjoy stories, live drawings and a book signing.
Donna Fox costumes
Families can also look forward to the much-loved Children’s Day on Sunday 26 October at The Stade. This free afternoon is packed with puppet shows, storytelling, live music and workshops, ending with a colourful ‘toybox’-themed parade led by carnival costumier Donna Fox.
Festival Patron Axel Scheffler said he was “delighted to be patron of the Hastings Storytelling Festival for the next three years. It’s great to support their work with families and children encouraging enjoyment of books, reading and drawing.”
The Hastings Storytelling Festival runs until 26 October 2025 at venues across Hastings and St Leonards. Some events are free, others ticketed at accessible prices, and all children under 10 can attend for free. The full programme, booking details and updates are at hastingsstoryfest.org.uk.
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