BRISBANE ANYWHERE FESTIVAL MEDIA RELEASE
‘Ancestral Tales of Daring, Difficult Women- for adults’
Gather in deep in ‘The Woods’, an atmospheric bar in Mitchelton, to hear ancient folktales before they were tamed, as a part of The Brisbane Anywhere Festival. Meet the feisty, French forbear of Red Riding Hood, dauntless Janet who must rescue her true love Tamlin, and other daring and ‘difficult’ women. But parents, please leave the children at home. These folktale versions are definitely not for young ears!
But what relevance could medieval European folktales hold for us now? While some themes become outdated over time, others remain perennial. As sordid details of global sex trafficking fill our news feeds, and perpetrators go largely unpunished, it can be delightfully satisfying and cathartic to sink deeply into a the tale where justice IS done. Where a young woman escapes her predator, using her wits alone. We can collectively enjoy hearing how a villain meets a just and sticky end, even though we know it’s fiction. Because the stories we tell ourselves and each other, influence us more deeply than we realise.
On the theme of ‘difficult women’, Marie Claire recently published an article entitled, “Every Woman Knows What It Really Means To Be Called ‘Difficult’”. This was prompted after our PM used the term ‘difficult’ in response to the name of greatly admired Australian woman, Grace Tame. National discussion was stimulated.
Too often the folk and fairytales that have been get shared widely in mainstream culture feature too-nice girls and insipid, passive damsels who need rescuing. It’s important to reclaim words which were originally neutral or positive, which have been overlaid with disparaging connotations- like crone, matriarch, hag, harlot and descriptors like emotional, difficult, wily, wilful and stubborn.
‘ReWilding Red Riding Hood: Ancestral Tales of Daring, Difficult Women’ has been woven by Jenni Cargill-Strong, a nationally recognised storyteller, with five award-winning story albums. Jenni has recently returned to Magandjin~Brisbane after a 30 year absence and recently settled in Mitchelton. She tells her stories eye-to-eye and heart-to-heart, engaging listeners with her warm, expressive style.
The performance is a part of the delightful and quirky Brisbane Anywhere Festival. It will be held in The Bothy Bar- an intimate, warm space within ‘The Woods Neighbourhood Bar’ in Blackwood St, Mitchelton. They serve great food and beverages, featuring a rotation of boutique beers and modern pub fare.
‘ReWilding Red Riding Hood: Ancestral Tales of Daring, Difficult Women’ opens Sunday afternoon, 17th May. Seats are limited. Book your tickets now at http://www.anywherefestivals.com.au/.
END PRESS RELEASE
