The Petal Demon: a weekend of storytelling with Shonaleigh

Friday 28th April – Sunday 30th April at Neuadd Goffa Mynydd Llandygai, LL57 4LQ

Join a Tellers, Tales, Tradition weekend near Bangor, North Wales – or connect up from where you are on Zoom.

You are invited to a unique, immersive weekend of storytelling for adults with Shonaleigh, the world-renowned tradition bearer and storyteller. This is a rare chance to hear these ancient tales in the light and on the tongue, stories untold for two generations and barely spoken of for decades.

The Petal Demon belongs to the Cycle of Hillel, which is the first of twelve epic, latticed, interlinked cycles of stories passed down through generations of Jewish women.

It’s the story of a woman who is pursued by a mage, and how she’s helped by Lilith to create a maze of flowers, that traps the mage and becomes a sanctuary for her.

This woman becomes known as the Petal Demon, and through her wanderings she leaves legends behind her. To men she’s a demoness; to women she’s a heroine.

Shonaleigh is a Druts’yla, and carries on a living unbroken oral tradition passed down from grandmother to granddaughter. She knows around 4,000 tales that she can recall on request, using the lost art of ‘stories within stories’.

This telling of the Petal Demon will be recorded as part of the Last Drut’syla Project to create an archive of this tradition’s stories. This is an unmissable opportunity for anyone interested in stories or in oral and lost cultures to come and help document and archive this tradition through listening, requesting stories, and asking questions.

Suitable for adults and 14+ only.

This will be a hybrid event: either attend in-person in Mynydd Llandygai (we’ll supply lunches, teas and snacks) or virtually via Zoom.

BOOK HERE for the whole “PETAL DEMON” weekend

BOOK HERE for the Saturday night only “TALES FROM THE PETAL DEMON”

There are a limited number of volunteer places available to help out at the weekend in Mynydd Llandygai, where you’d assist during the weekend with cooking, cleaning and organising, and pay a reduced fee. Get in contact to discuss.

FAQ

How to find it?

This event takes place at the Neuadd Goffa (Memorial Hall) in Mynydd Llandygai, postcode LL57 4LQ. Here’s a map.

Is there parking?

Yes, there is a car park opposite the hall, and you can also park along the road. There are two disabled car parking spaces immediately outside the hall.

I’m attending on Zoom, where’s my link?

The access links will be sent out a couple of days before. Please add claire@anadlu.com to your mailbox so they don’t get lost!

What are the timings (for the whole weekend)?

On Friday, the hall will be open from 6pm. Feel free to bring food to share for dinner. Arrive around 6pm for cup of tea before stories begin and the Zoom room opens at 7.30pm. We’ll end around 9.30/10pm.

On Saturday, arrive for 10am, we’ll have stories in the morning, there’ll be a pause for lunch of soup and salad, then some stories after lunch, then break sometime in the afternoon to take an optional stroll. Then there will be stories at 7.30pm and we’ll finish around 9.30/10pm. (Zoom people, we’ll confirm timings the day before.)

On Sunday, arrive for 10am, we’ll have stories in the morning and we’ll finish after lunch (more soup and salad) around 2pm.

What are the timings (for Saturday night)?

Doors will open at 7pm. Show starts 7.30pm. Zoom room opens 7.30pm.

Do I need to bring anything?

Mostly… bring your good ears and hearts to listen. 

If attending in-person, bring a bit of food to share on the Friday night. We’ll be making lunches but you’ll need to sort out your own dinner on Saturday.

If you’d like to bring your own chair, you are welcome (there will be regular chairs provided).

What is included in the ticket price (full weekend in-person)?

All the storytelling, lunches, teas, coffees, cake, and biscuits through the weekend.

What is included in the ticket price (full weekend on zoom)?

All the storytelling but you’ll have to sort out your own snacks and comfy ambiance!

What is not included in the ticket price?

Accommodation is not included. You will need to sort out somewhere to stay separately.

Dinners are not included.  I suggest bringing some food to share on the Friday and perhaps we’ll visit a local pub for food on the Saturday.

Any tips on finding accommodation?

The nearest Travelodge is 5 mins away on the outskirts of Bangor.

There are many places listed on AirBnB too.

There are bunkhouses about 5 mins drive away in Gerlan, Bethesda and the Ogwen Valley.

Camping options if you’re feeling brave in April.

Any other questions?

Give Claire a call on +44 (0) 7970 409 724 or email claire@anadlu.com