Somerset Storyfest

15/09/2025

We'd love to share news of this gig with OZCAN ATES, who we have been working with on our ONE TREE Refugee Project

His voice and saz playing are impeccable, one of the pupils at a Bristol school put his hand up after his song, bursting with energy and said "That is the best live music I've EVER HEARD"

Hope you can make it and support his new family life in the UK

14/09/2025

We're delighted to be back at the Avalon Marshes Centre - in their new ROUND HOUSE - with our storyteller Michael Loader and Avalon Archeology to bring you a day of CREATION MYTHS from around the world

AVALON MARSHES CENTRE
Shapwick Road
Westhay BA6 9TT

Sunday September 21

11am 12 2 and 3pm
Each session 40 minutes

Each session will include a Creation Myth, alongside one made in the moment by us inspired from a selection of eclectic - unusual - bizarre - objects drawn from a bag

Pluck an object from the bag and a tale shall be told
Experience the mixture of the new and the old

"Michael’s passion for stories and imagination is contagious and we’re delighted to have him back again for a show of tradition and spontaneity"

Join us for captivating stories in the roundhouse with Michael Loader, and woodcarving crafts to welcome in the equinox.

29/08/2025

THANK YOU Westonbirt Arboretum and the FAMILIES that attended our Storytelling Events both inside the Great Oak Hall and outside in the Old Arboretum over the last few days ...

WHAT A JOY to be sharing and creating Stories of the TREES!

Feedback ...

"Thanks Michael for a wonderful few days of storytelling fun!

Watching how children and parents alike became immersed in such beautiful stories, listening to how you wove their ideas into the telling, how adaptive and inclusive you made the experience, and the multi-cultural reach of the tales, you have provided an enchanting event with such great connection to our global tree collection, nature and wellbeing"

Chris Meakin
Learning Supervisor
Westonbirt National Arboretum

29/08/2025

Our latest outing with our ONE TREE Refugee Project and Bristol City of Sanctuary at the Forwards Festival this August on Bristol Downs

29/08/2025

We - Ali from Sudan, Tahmina from Pakistan (two of our regular speakers) and our director Michael Loader - were very pleased to be invited by Bristol City of Sanctuary to lead two workshops at the Forwards Festival in Bristol over the weekend of August 23 and 24, with help from Petra Mansour from the Curzon cinema in Clevedon

Ali and Tahmina shared their life stories of leaving their homelands and coming to the UK, which opened such stirring, emotional and honest conversation amongst those who joined us to share their own stories of migration, resettling, childhood and family narrative

Feedback ...

"Your beautiful honest truthful and so humble words brought us all together, giving us the chance to share what we wanted to share"

"I feel so emotional. It's so difficult to reconcile what I have with what you have lost"

"Hearing your stories has helped me to connect in a far deeper way"

17/08/2025

We're really looking forward to be involved with this new festival - WILDINGS - taking place at the wonderful Radford Mill Farm on Saturday August 23, a stone's throw from Bristol and Bath

EXPECT exotic myths and tantalising stories from around the world including Japan, Africa, India and Turkey with storyteller Michael Loader

Welcome to the very first Wildlings Festival – an intimate gathering of music, creativity and connection for families, set in the magical natural surroundings of Radford Mill Farm, near Bristol and Bath.

22/07/2025

IMAGINATION IS REAL

FAMILY STORYTELLING FOR ALL ...

August 18th
11 12 2 and 3pm
Calne Pocket Park SN11 8JG
(Or Calne library if wet)

Cross continents of worldly wisdom, revel in humour and song, fly with the freedom of a bird towards universal understanding that stories can bring

Tales and myths from around the globe from Africa, Japan and India with storyteller Michael Loader, director of Somerset Storyfest whose residencies include St George’s concert hall Bristol and the Read For Good charity in children’s hospitals

”Michael clearly has storytelling in his soul and is abundantly apparent in all of his wonderful shows"
Recreation Manager Westonbirt Arboretum

18/07/2025

Hi please come to our community event in BS5 next week on the 26th July from 1.30 - 7.

There's free food, music, storytelling, workshops and nature crafts and everything is free!
It's at Hazelnut Farm and the St Anne's Church hall - a chance for community to get together, connect and have a fun, family-friendly, free day out.

There's a free, plant-based meal at 5.30pm. Please RSVP if you're coming so we know how many to cater for.

From
Sophie Barclay organiser

https://events.humanitix.com/bs5-together

15/07/2025

Gareth Pitt and Michael Loader are 'at it' with a family theatre show of 'THE LITTLE RED PIPER'S NEW CLOTHES' at 1130am on Sunday July 27th at Welshmill Park Frome

At Frome Children's Festival

Get ready for a MASH UP of three well loved tales with LOTS of Audience Participation - LIVE Music - Random Props - Swirling Rivers and a PLAGUE of RATS!!!

"What a bonkers show"

"Triumphant trumpets, soaring saxophones, flying puppets, spontaneity and serious silliness"