A BRAND new festival of fairy tales, inspired by The Rainbow Fairy Books of Selkirk-born Andrew Lang, will take place in his native Borders’ town from Thursday 21 – Saturday 23 July.
Lang, born in 1844, delighted generations of children with his 12 books; each packed with magical fairy tales and stories from every corner of the globe. Now, the Fairy Tale Festival sprinkles Lang’s magic far and wide in a three-day kaleidoscope of lively events.
Magical setting
There can be a no more magical setting for a Fairy Tale Festival than Selkirk’s Haining.
One of Lang’s favourite boyhood haunts, this beautiful country estate, in the centre of the town, was left to ‘the people of Selkirkshire and the wider world’ a few years ago by its last owner.
At the core of the estate – the romantic 18th century mansion house sits on a terrace overlooking its own loch and woodland – the perfect landscape, fit for princes and princesses to hold their trysts; for fairies to make magic and goblins to wreak their mischief.
Festival highlight
One of the festival highlights is Borders Youth Theatre’s major new summer performance, ‘There Be Fairies’ – inspired by Lang’s work.
Directed by John Haswell, the play features young actors who make full use of the house and landscaped grounds in this promenade production featuring five of Lang’s Tales.
A magical kingdom
All children are invited to come to the festival dressed as a fairy tale character and can enjoy story telling, puppet shows and other activities at ‘The Gingerbread House’ where Selkirk children’s bookshop, ‘The Bookworm’, take up residence.
There will also be other events and exhibitions in and around the House, including the recent exploration by LiveBorders’ Libraries and Museums Services on Lang himself.
Keynote evening talk
There are talks and discussions for adults too. On the evening of 21st, keynote speaker and one of Scotland’s leading cultural historians, Dr. Lizanne Henderson, describes the historical context that informed fairy belief from the middle ages until the time of Lang’s writing.
On ‘Festival Friday’, there’s a trip down memory lane with a discussion session focusing on the influence of Lang’s Rainbow Fairy Books on those who enjoyed reading them as children.
Andrew Lang had a distinguished career as author, historian, critic and journalist in the London of his day yet he was forever in thrall to a good fairy story. As are we.
Notes to editors:
Photograph – Dropbox link: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/kudhvy1guo9aglt/AACORlAcowvRnfiKxGtnMbRNa?dl=0
Fairy in Photographs: four year-old Eilidh Steel, from Selkirkshire.
Photographs must be credited to Colin Hattersley. High res available on request.
For more info:
Carol Carr PR: Tel: 01988 700 974 Mb: 07766 754 877
E: carol@carolcarrpr.com
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Festival facts
Festival dates: Thursday 21, Friday 22 and Saturday 23 July
Location: The Haining, Selkirk, Scottish Borders, TD7 5LR
Tickets:
‘ALL DAY’ day entrance ticket. (Frid/Sat )
£1 per person (NB: excludes BYT performance)
In person: The ‘Bookworm in Selkirk’ 59 High Street, Selkirk and Liberty Star Trading, 8 Market Place Selkirk, and Scotts Selkirk Shop.
At event:
Borders Youth Theatre: There be Fairies
£7.00, £5.00 (c)
In advance: BYT Admin: Tel: 07392 824301 or
E: info@bordersyouththeatre.co.uk
In person: (as ‘All Day’ Selkirk ticket outlets)
At event
ENDS
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