About this Event
To celebrate National Storytelling Week, join us for a special performance by acclaimed storyteller Charlotte Mooney.
Charlotte's distinctive storytelling combines mythology, history, folklore and personal narrative in a powerful and deeply engaging performance style. Her show Comb takes audiences on a tangled journey through Celtic, Slavic and Siberian folklore in search of a mysterious story fragment told to her by her grandfather many years ago.
"Everyone was completely hypnotised the entire time."
Arrive early to explore highlights from Kensington Central Library's remarkable Folklore and Customs Collection.
Library staff will showcase treasures from Kensington Central Library's Folklore and Customs Collection, offering a unique opportunity to discover some of the fascinating material usually kept in the library's stores and not on public display.
You will be able to borrow a lot of the items from the collection for the first time.
About Comb
"I saw a banshee once... just outside of Galway..."
When Charlotte Mooney was a child, her grandfather shared a fragment of a story she could never forget. Decades later, a chance discovery sent her on a quest to uncover the rest of the tale.
Comb is a playful, moving and thought-provoking exploration of folklore, mythology, history and the stories we lose and preserve. Drawing on traditions from across Europe and beyond, Charlotte weaves together legends and contemporary reflections in an unforgettable evening of storytelling.
About Charlotte Mooney
Since 2015 Charlotte has been telling stories in theatres, clubs and around campfires and has developed a unique and highly physical style. She disentangles tales of power and transformation and asks how do we make sense of the stories we have. She is drawn to the place where mythology, folklore, history, science and the every day meet.
Charlotte is also a circus performer and Artistic Director of leading contemporary circus company Ockham’s Razor.
She has taken her work to numerous venues including Oxford Storytelling Festival and the Scottish Storytelling Centre.
Discover the Folklore and Customs Collection
Kensington Central Library is home to one of London's most fascinating specialist collections.
With books dating back more than three centuries, the collection explores:
- Myths and legends from around the world
- Arthurian legend and chivalric traditions
- Folk customs, songs, dances and games
- Religious traditions and beliefs
- Folklore, superstition and magic
- Traveller tradition and culture
- Feminist history and culture
- Historical etiquette and customs
- Arms, armour and ceremonial traditions
The collection also includes folklore journals such as Folklore, English Dance and Song and the Journal of American Folklore.
Most of these materials are kept in store and are not normally available to browse, making this a rare chance to see some of the collection up close and learn more about its history and hidden gems.
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Ticket Information
Standard Admission: £12
RBKC Resident Ticket: £6
Available in person from Kensington Central Library.
Agenda
🕑: 06:00 PM - 06:30 PM
Welcome - Collection viewing
Info: Doors open, refreshments, opportunity to view Folklore Collection display, ask questions, browse and borrow books
🕑: 06:30 PM - 07:50 PM
Performance
Info: Comb by Charlotte Mooney
Event venue & nearby stays
Kensington Central Library, 12 Phillimore Walk, London, United Kingdom
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