MAGICAL AND MYTHICAL STORYTELLING PREVIEWS IN YORK AHEAD OF EDINBURGH FRINGE
Morgana Le Fey is a new piece of story-telling theatre exploring the myths and legends surrounding the many faces of Morgana who features in the famous legends of King Arthur. A preview of the performance will take place at York Theatre Royal’s De Grey Rooms at 6.00pm on Tuesday 13 August, to an invited audience, before moving to the Scottish Storytelling Centre as part of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. PHD Story-telling student in residence Catherine Heinemeyer will be hosting a sharing from a group of young people prior to the event.
The piece is a co-production between York Theatre Royal, Xanthe Gresham Knight and Nick Hennessey. It was first performed in York in 2013 as part of the theatre’s summer season which featured King Arthur in the Main House. Morgana Le Fey is being taken to Edinburgh Fringe Festival to further develop the piece in front of an audience. Storytellers do not often have chance to perform their work in long runs making this an ideal opportunity.
Director Juliet Forster, who is also York Theatre Royal’s Associate Director, believes the show is about the quest for love and finding the female voice.
As sister, lover and foster mother to King Arthur, Morgana’s very human passions are rejected time and time again. As Queen, politician, working mother and sorceress, she tries to do it all and fails. Is she trying to do too much? It’s a perennial question.
Storyteller and co-producer Xanthe Gresham Knight explains
The first record of Morgana is as a Water Goddess arriving on a boat with healing herbs for the sick Arthur, then medieval misogyny branded her as the evil force that destroyed Camelot. Morgana’s fate mirrors that of women and the environment. Both were shoved to the margins. Now, in the midst of today’s feminine revolution, Morgana le Fey, lightning rod of Avalon takes centre stage at last.
Nick Hennessey’s harp, luminous songs and theatrical defence of Camelot provide a feisty male voice that adds to the heart and humour of the show.
There has to be some redemption in the battle of the sexes
Nick comments.
Directed by Juliet Forster, Associate Director York Theatre Royal, funded by Arts Council England, produced by York Theatre Royal. Morgana Le Fey opens on Thursday 20 August and runs at 5pm each day until Monday 31st August at 5pm at the Scottish Storytelling Festival.
“Gresham is a truly great storyteller who unwraps each story like the petals of a lotus flower.” British Theatre Review
“A fine voice, pure and unforced. Nick Hennessey’s fluid style and engaging presence is a winning combination”. The Times