Pyewacket Folk stage the ballad of Tam Lin at Coldrum Stones from 3pm on 8 November, then Yule at the Good Intent, Maidstone, from 2pm on 20 December.
A lantern-lit procession and a retelling of the ballad of Tam Lin will take place among the Coldrum Stones, near Trottiscliffe, on Sunday 8 November from 3pm, staged by the Kent group Pyewacket Folk.
The same group follows it with a winter show, Yule at the Good Intent, at the Good Intent pub in Maidstone on Sunday 20 December from 2pm.
Neither event is in Medway, but both are a short drive from the Medway towns, and the group wrote to Medway Live to tell readers about what it calls its new project, “Folklore, Fire & Winter Magic”.
Tam Lin among the stones
Tam Lin is an old ballad, and the group’s version tells it through “storytelling, music, dance, striking costumes, masks and puppetry in the atmospheric setting of the ancient stones”, Pyewacket Folk says.
“Join us for a lantern-lit procession as we journey into a timeless tale of love, courage, enchantment and the mysterious world of the Fair Folk,” the group says. “Wrap up warmly and join us for an afternoon of folklore, mystery and magic beneath the autumn sky.”
It is outdoors, and the group asks people to bring three things:
- a lantern or light to guide the way
- a flask of something hot to keep warm
- a blanket to sit on
Yule, and the Holly King against the Oak King
The December show is built around the turning of the year and the battle between the Holly King and the Oak King, which the group describes as “the eternal struggle between winter darkness and the returning light”.
“Expect mischievous winter fairies, fantastical costumes, masks, puppets, lively music, traditional dance and a generous helping of seasonal mischief as we welcome the magic of Yule!” Pyewacket Folk says.
The pub will have a menu, with food to buy, so people can stay on for the afternoon. “Come and celebrate the old stories, embrace the winter spirit and share in the wonder of the season,” the group says.
Who Pyewacket Folk are
In its own words, the group brings “folklore to life through traditional dance, music, storytelling, imaginative costumes, masks, puppetry, seasonal celebrations and creative community events”.
“Whether you love folklore, ancient traditions, music, theatre or simply experiencing something different, come and be part of our story,” it says. “Keep the old ways alive.”
What it means for you
- Tam Lin: Sunday 8 November, from 3pm, Coldrum Stones near Trottiscliffe. Bring a light, a hot drink and something to sit on, and dress for an autumn afternoon outside.
- Yule: Sunday 20 December, from 2pm, the Good Intent, Maidstone. Food is on sale at the pub.
- The announcement sent to us gives no ticket price and no booking route, and no finish times. Contact Pyewacket Folk at pyewacketfolk@gmail.com before you travel.
For more in Medway this season, see What’s On in Medway this month, Rochester’s Dickensian Christmas and the Rochester Christmas Market.
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