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This storytelling and music performance was commissioned by Festival at the Edge, England’s largest storytelling festival. A Tongue of Stone was inspired by two ritual stone-age burials of children. One was found curled up on a swan’s wing and the other with a stone in its mouth, mimicking its own tongue.

Whilst archaeology does not explain these finds, oral tradition reaches even further into our past and abounds with stories of swans travelling and stones speaking between this and other worlds. The traditional narratives and instrumentation in this piece travel from prehistoric to urban times.

BARD FOR LIFE comprises Sharon Jacksties and Jem Dick. Sharon has been a professional storyteller for over 20 years and specialises in working across art forms. Jem is a professional storyteller, musician and instrument maker who collaborates in creating a seamless weave of story and music on ancient and contemporary instruments.

Suitable for adults and young people over 12, this is a full-length piece lasting 2 hours with an interval.

‘…so inspired we were up all night discussing it…’

‘…shamanic intensity…’ ‘…moved me to tears…’