A TEST Valley group have announced they are set to back the first Romsey Storytelling Festival.

The Romsey Festival Team will be supporting the event which will be held at various locations in the town from October 1 to October 6.

Festival chair, Liz Wagner, said: “This is one of a number of events being held ahead of the main Romsey Festival 2020 and as well as being actively involved in the Storytelling launch the Romsey Festival Team are providing assistance with online ticketing, marketing and venue liaison.”

Professional storyteller, Mike Rogers, said: “People think storytelling is just for kids, forgetting that adults listen to stories all the time, watch them on the TV, or read them in books and newspapers. The story that is heard communicates more directly than all the ones wrapped in costumes or computer graphics.

"Images are supplied, as you listen, from your own imagination, from your own life, from your own dreams.

"A story introduces you to yourself. You, as the listener, shape it.”

Storytelling Festival organiser, Miss Sarah Hargreaves, said: “I am delighted that for Romsey’s first Storytelling Festival we have a wide range of stories to offer.

"There are the ones offered to particular groups such as local care homes, Speaking Space, and in local schools and there are stories available to everybody too.

"These stories will include Robin Hood, taken from the old sources by Storytellers, Wendy and Michael Dacre, tales of the Middle Ages told by, the Yarnsmith of Norwich, Dave Tonge, and, on Mediaeval Saturday, two stories of love and loyalty(or the lack of it) from the edges of the Arthurian World, Gawain and the Green Knight, and Tristan and Iseult.”

She added: “I am pleased there will be a variety of local venues too including King John’s House, Romsey Library, on the train that shuttles between Romsey and Southampton, outdoors in the newly completed Market Place and at Romsey Signal Box.

"In Romsey Abbey ‘Godly Play’ storytelling will feature the environment and our impact on it. At the Methodist Church there will be stories for “Grown Ups” whilst the Town Hall will host the event launch as well as workshops.

"So there is something for everyone.”

The Storytelling Festival will close with event in the United Reformed Church.

The full programme will be available at the beginning of September and further details are available at www.RomseyFestival.org.