06/06/2026
On Wednesday June 3rd we had the very real privilege of welcoming one of the best known names in storytelling, Hugh Lupton, to the Feast of Fools. When we have asked you our audience for suggestions of storytellers we should invite, his name came up regularly. It was a most excellent suggestion! As people came in, it was already a tribute to Hugh to find how many commented that it was hearing him that had got them interested in storytelling in the first place.
Before reporting on the evening, here’s more good news. We arrived to find, to our surprise, the adjacent car park open and functioning. So unless they reclaim it for more building works, next time you come to us parking should be much easier than it’s been for a while!
More people had booked online in advance than normal for this evening, rightly keen to be sure of having a seat in the house. They were well rewarded.
For a horse-themed evening it seemed appropriate for Liz and Richard to open with the 17th tune, “The Black Nag” before Hugh began his performance.
And of course he had the audience with him from the start. His programme was a skilful mix of riddles, a few joke stories, and couple of songs, one being “The Dead Horse” an old sailors’ song from the singing of Bob Roberts, and one a song of Hugh’s own composition, amid re-tellings of traditional stories, of personal story, and a few tunes on recorders, along with atmospheric use of drum, bamboo chimes and a most beautiful singing bowl.
Hugh didn’t mention during the evening that he’s the great-nephew of Arthur Ransome, of “Swallows and Amazons” fame and more importantly for us, a collector and publisher of traditional Russian stories: a thoroughly pleasing re-telling of Ransome’s version of The Firebird, with a Horse of Power as a major character, was a big feature of the first half. In the second half came a powerful Navajo myth of the coming of horses, full of poetic repetitions and rhythms.
The personal history was one told to him by old Jenny, who used to babysit the young Hugh and his siblings, about the night her father’s farm was raided and horses stolen, the story he wished had been told at her funeral when it eventually came – she lived to be 103. This moving and beautiful story was for some of us a highlight among highlights, with so many perfectly chosen words to carry emotion and evocative images, all delivered with calm assurance and impeccable timing.
Hugh’s wonderful choice of words – he’s a poet as well as a storyteller - was a hallmark of the whole evening. In every story there were gems of phrases which seemingly effortlessly conveyed so much. I wish I could remember many more of them; one example came in a description of the night, in Old Jenny’s story of the night the horses were stolen: “the strangeness of the Outside rattling on the window panes.” Here is a man in love both with the taste of words as well as the stories they carry, and a man highly talented at conveying both, part of what makes him such an authoritative storyteller.
The whole evening was enormously enjoyable, deeply satisfying, and inspired a lot of people on their way out to comment how beautiful it had been. Meanwhile enough queued to buy Hugh’s books and CD’s that I believe he sold out of books.
Hugh rightly noted that Janet’s cakes are clearly a hugely important feature of the Feast of Fools – as always, thanks to her, and to Linda for helping in their serving. Steve Hobbs was unable to attend, but Graham’s raffle carried on, with thanks to him: we hope that the alternative supply of books kept the winners happy!
Here’s a final piece of good news: Hugh tells me he’s working , along with a cellist, on a new show, with a really fascinating sounding theme, and I’ve asked him to keep us posted on its progress. We very much hope to bring him to us again.
More news of forthcoming events to follow soon. For now, thank you to all those who came on Wednesday, and again our thanks to Hugh.
