The Glory & The Pity of It - Sef Townsend at Beeston Tales

Beeston Tales is a monthly storytelling night meeting just outside Nottingham. We host our events at Our Lady of the Assumption church hall, Foster Avenue, Beeston, Nottingham, NG9 1AE Parking at the venue. Short walk from a tram stop. Cake and drinks will be available, feel free to bring your own booze!

In May, we're unfortunately unable to offer our usual livestream, but we look forward to getting that back in place for the rest of the Summer.

There is a hypnotic feel to the tales: you’re back round that prehistoric campfire again, rapt. – Matt Turpin, LeftLion. (Read full review.)

Let yourself be transported to worlds that are otherwise unreachable. – Bryony Ashmore, Nottingham City of Literature. (Read full review.)

The Glory and The Pity of It

Convivensiya - التعليش - Side by Side.

Sef tells stories and sings a song or two from the time when Muslims, Christians and Jews lived in relative harmony, for 800 years, in 'Al-Andalus, or Safarad’, Spain. It is impossible to deny the richness of life that existed during that golden period, with a flourishing of Literature, Arts and Science, whose ramifications led directly to the Renaissance in Europe.

This cross fertilising of language, custom, songs & poetry resulted in wonderful tales and romanças set at this fecund time of coexistence - and the many stories of how people negotiated their way through expulsion, forced conversion and execution are compelling.

And so the great success story that was called Al-Andalus was, unwisely, brought to an end by the new Spanish monarchs, Isabella & Ferdinand - but new seeds started sprouting elsewhere. As Sultan Bayazid famously said when criticising the Spanish monarchs, Ferdinand & Isabella, for rejecting the Jews: “You venture to call yourselves wise rulers, but you who have impoverished your own country have enriched mine".

Also featuring tales from your hosts, music, fun and frolics.

TICKETS and DETAILS FOR THE IN PERSON EVENT:

On the door: £8 on the door on the night, attending live.

£6.50 in advance, attending live. On sale here, but only until the morning of the gig. (If you are looking for this ticket option and can't find it, and it is the afternoon of the day of the performance, you're too late! Come along anyway, tickets on the door as described above.)

Doors 19:00 for a 19:30 start.

NEW VENUE! We'll be meeting in the Church Hall, 25 Foster Avenue, Beeston, NG9 1AE, a short walk up from Beeston Tram Stop or down from Beeston Library. Parking available at the venue.

CAFE! - Dog & Bean cafe will be serving tea, coffee and home baked treats. Bring Your Own Bottle if you fancy something stronger.

REGULAR DAY OF THE MONTH - Our new hosts couldn't squeeze us in on our old date of second Wednesday of the Month. From here on out, we'll be looking at 3rd Wednesday.

Beeston Tales is a not-for-profit community organisation, with all proceeds from events going to support traditional storytelling in Beeston and the surrounding area.