BEASTS – A Manual Of The Monstrous

Bristol 24/7 described their last story telling evening as ‘GRIPPING PROPONENTS OF THE ANCIENT CRAFT OF STORYTELLING’!

Award winning theatre company Red Rope return for the third year to Ashton Court Mansion, following their previous supernatural encounters inside this unique performance space: the sell-out story telling evening Penny Dreadful Ghost Stories in 2021, and celebrated Tales of the Grimoire in 2023. This Spring they return with a monstrous take on three new tales depicting mythical beasts.

The Water Hare – By Matt Grinter It is 485 days into the siege of Leningrad and for Petyr life is unbearably bleak and unfathomably cold. When his dead brother starts to call to him from the banks of the frozen lake, Petyr and his sister find a monster. A Muckling, a Water Hare, a creature that knows how much the hunger, the grief, and the fear has stolen from them. They will learn that you never truly live through a war and you never truly escape from a Muckling.

The Walker in the Woods – By Rebecca Robson Set off only at sunrise. Don’t stop moving. Never look back. Never talk to the animals. And there’s something else you must never do… but she’s only a child, after all. Despite her grandmother’s warnings, it’s only natural to forget some rules. Especially when trusted with such an important task. But the forest is vast and dark, easy to become lost. If only she could remember that last rule. Because something is following her. Something old. Something fast. But she isn’t Red Riding Hood. And this is no wolf.

The Communion – By Danann McAleer and Rebecca Robson A student of theology travels to a remote village in the Yorkshire moors to study the merging of Christianity with folklore in remote societies. He’s hungry to explore how old beliefs can merge with the Church. But it seems that it isn’t only the ideology of this place which has mutated…Where is their priest…? What are the origins of the strange hymns and psalms? And what are those voices in the woods…?

Each of the pieces will be a performance reading, and will be scored by new music created specifically for each tale by the incredible Crooked Worlds. About Crooked Worlds The collaboration of Oliver Thoma, a platinum award winning producer / composer and Alba Torriset a British-Norwegian singer/songwriter performer and recording artist whose ethereal vocals have taken her all over Europe and to The Middle-East.

14th to 19th May, ticket cost from £14 plus booking fee. – Tickets are non refundable – Production start time 7:30pm – Production running time: approx. 1 hour 45 mins (including an interval). There is a bar on site and drinks will be on sale from 7pm. Tickets via Headfirst.

Parking is available on site – pay and display by Bristol City Council – Recommended for 14 years + due to the horror inspired adult content – Not suitable for babies due to the atmospheric nature of the performance – Animals are not allowed in the building unless they are a service dog – Please advise the company and venue if you need disabled access.