ALEX BOON - Nature Walk & Draw
Saturday 10-11:30, Meet Outside Shute Church
Alex Boon is a nature artist and writer from Seaton. He has been keeping illustrated nature journals since 2016 and draws upon his background in environmental sciences and love of nature to produce his written and visual work. His aim is to promote nature journaling as a regular habit and encourage people to engage more intimately with the commonplace and find value in nature close to home. He teaches nature journaling workshops in the local area, and also shares his own practice on his YouTube channel, The Daily Nature Journal. Come learn how to get started with the mindful practice of nature journaling. Artist and environmental scientist Alex Boon will lead a walk around the beautiful surrounds of Shute, to take in the wildflower meadows and the magnificent Turkey Oak. You will be identifying trees and wildflowers, making sketches, and learn how to keep a nature journal. All materials included and no artistic ability required!
Saturday 10-11:30, Meet Outside Shute Church
Alex Boon is a nature artist and writer from Seaton. He has been keeping illustrated nature journals since 2016 and draws upon his background in environmental sciences and love of nature to produce his written and visual work. His aim is to promote nature journaling as a regular habit and encourage people to engage more intimately with the commonplace and find value in nature close to home. He teaches nature journaling workshops in the local area, and also shares his own practice on his YouTube channel, The Daily Nature Journal. Come learn how to get started with the mindful practice of nature journaling. Artist and environmental scientist Alex Boon will lead a walk around the beautiful surrounds of Shute, to take in the wildflower meadows and the magnificent Turkey Oak. You will be identifying trees and wildflowers, making sketches, and learn how to keep a nature journal. All materials included and no artistic ability required!
HANNAH BOURNE TAYLOR on Fledgling
Saturday 18 June 12-1 pm, Outdoor Stage, Shute School (Church if wet)
Hannah worked as an equine photographer and then as a copy-writer in the branding industry. In 2013 she moved from London to Ghana where she lived for eight years and from where the genesis of her highly acclaimed debut Fledgling sprung. "A wild finch changed my life. I rescued him after a storm blew his nest to the ground and he was abandoned by his flock. I raised him and eventually reunited him with his family, returning him to the wild. For three months we were inseparable, the finch accepting me as his mum. Instinctively clingy, he spent every waking hour on me. I saw myself in him, how he like me, sought comfort, security and reassurance, craved affection and was hilariously goofy. The vast differences between us shrunk so there were none. Fledgling, my debut nature memoir is his legacy. I wrote it for him and his feathered kind in the hope people will notice their wild neighbours and connect to the nature that surrounds us all."
JILL BUTLER - Tree Walk
Saturday 18 June 1:30-4:30 pm, Meet at Shute Gate House
Until recently Jill worked for the Woodland Trust as their ancient tree and wood pasture specialist and is now a trustee of both the Ancient Tree Forum and the Tree Register of the British Isles. She has travelled extensively to visit important ancient and special trees in many other parts of Europe and the world and from this experience has learnt that the ancient trees of the UK are almost unique. She campaigns for greater recognition for this living heritage and advises on protection and best practice management. One of her favourite ancient trees is the King John's Oak in Shute Park, named after one of her great heroes of the British landscape.
Saturday 18 June 1:30-4:30 pm, Meet at Shute Gate House
Until recently Jill worked for the Woodland Trust as their ancient tree and wood pasture specialist and is now a trustee of both the Ancient Tree Forum and the Tree Register of the British Isles. She has travelled extensively to visit important ancient and special trees in many other parts of Europe and the world and from this experience has learnt that the ancient trees of the UK are almost unique. She campaigns for greater recognition for this living heritage and advises on protection and best practice management. One of her favourite ancient trees is the King John's Oak in Shute Park, named after one of her great heroes of the British landscape.
JASON WEBSTER - Flamenco
Saturday 18 June 7-8:30 pm, Shute Church
Jason was born in California to British parents in 1970 and spent his childhood in the US, Britain and Germany. He first moved to Spain in the early 1990s having graduated in Arabic and Islamic History from St John’s College, Oxford. He has written a dozen books on Spanish themes, including Duende: A Journey in Search of Flamenco; Guerra: Living in the Shadows of the Spanish Civil War; a biography of the Spanish WWII double agent Garbo (The Spy with 29 Names); and the Max Cámara series of crime novels. He is also an award-winning photographer, a founder member of the Bridport School of Writing, and from 2014 to 2017 was the Flamenco correspondent for Classical Guitar magazine. From 2014 to 2017 he created and led a series of cultural tours around Spain for the company Historical Trips, examining the history of the Pilgrimage to Santiago, relations between Moors and Christians in the Middle Ages, and the Spanish Civil War.
Saturday 18 June 7-8:30 pm, Shute Church
Jason was born in California to British parents in 1970 and spent his childhood in the US, Britain and Germany. He first moved to Spain in the early 1990s having graduated in Arabic and Islamic History from St John’s College, Oxford. He has written a dozen books on Spanish themes, including Duende: A Journey in Search of Flamenco; Guerra: Living in the Shadows of the Spanish Civil War; a biography of the Spanish WWII double agent Garbo (The Spy with 29 Names); and the Max Cámara series of crime novels. He is also an award-winning photographer, a founder member of the Bridport School of Writing, and from 2014 to 2017 was the Flamenco correspondent for Classical Guitar magazine. From 2014 to 2017 he created and led a series of cultural tours around Spain for the company Historical Trips, examining the history of the Pilgrimage to Santiago, relations between Moors and Christians in the Middle Ages, and the Spanish Civil War.
ANASTAZIE TOROS on Ukrainian Theatre
Saturday 18 June 1:30-3 pm & Sunday 19 June 4:30-5:30 pm, Shute Church
Anastazie Toros is a visual artist, theatre and performance maker, whose artistic education took place across the three countries of Ukraine, the Czech Republic, and the United Kingdom. All of her work work has always been Ukraine-centric. For the last two years she was working part-time at the Ivan Franko National University in Lviv, where apart from teaching and directing postgraduate students’ productions, she was working towards establishing Drama in Education as a subject on the school curriculum. She is now a liaison between Ukrainian refugees and European educational institutions and community groups. The Timetraveller’s guide to Donbas - is a play about losing a home. It is about two time-travellers who are trying to get home to Luhansk before the war starts, overcoming numerous obstacles en route. They are returning to a place where they are not welcome any more. The closer they get to home - the more dangerous it becomes. It is written by Anastasia Kosodii, one of Ukraine's most promising playwrights.
Saturday 18 June 1:30-3 pm & Sunday 19 June 4:30-5:30 pm, Shute Church
Anastazie Toros is a visual artist, theatre and performance maker, whose artistic education took place across the three countries of Ukraine, the Czech Republic, and the United Kingdom. All of her work work has always been Ukraine-centric. For the last two years she was working part-time at the Ivan Franko National University in Lviv, where apart from teaching and directing postgraduate students’ productions, she was working towards establishing Drama in Education as a subject on the school curriculum. She is now a liaison between Ukrainian refugees and European educational institutions and community groups. The Timetraveller’s guide to Donbas - is a play about losing a home. It is about two time-travellers who are trying to get home to Luhansk before the war starts, overcoming numerous obstacles en route. They are returning to a place where they are not welcome any more. The closer they get to home - the more dangerous it becomes. It is written by Anastasia Kosodii, one of Ukraine's most promising playwrights.
HILARY BRADT on Socotra
Saturday 18 June 3:30-4:30 pm, Shute Church
Hilary is a publisher, writer, lecturer and sculptor. She co-founded Bradt Travel Guides in 1974 and remains a director of the company. She is an award winning writer, and has lectured – mostly on her specialist subject Madagascar – in seven different countries. On Saturday mornings she can be spotted pounding along the parkrun course in Seaton. Socotra, sometimes known as the Galapagos of the Indian Ocean, resembles a fantasy film set with its pink rocks, chubby Desert Roses and Dragon’s Blood trees like giant mushrooms. Barely larger than Cornwall and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2008, this stunningly beautiful island combines otherworldly landscapes with a host of unique fauna and flora. Hilary and Janice visited the island just before the first Covid-induced lockdown, and spent their early incarceration happily writing its only English-language guidebook the Bradt Guide to Socotra.
Saturday 18 June 3:30-4:30 pm, Shute Church
Hilary is a publisher, writer, lecturer and sculptor. She co-founded Bradt Travel Guides in 1974 and remains a director of the company. She is an award winning writer, and has lectured – mostly on her specialist subject Madagascar – in seven different countries. On Saturday mornings she can be spotted pounding along the parkrun course in Seaton. Socotra, sometimes known as the Galapagos of the Indian Ocean, resembles a fantasy film set with its pink rocks, chubby Desert Roses and Dragon’s Blood trees like giant mushrooms. Barely larger than Cornwall and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2008, this stunningly beautiful island combines otherworldly landscapes with a host of unique fauna and flora. Hilary and Janice visited the island just before the first Covid-induced lockdown, and spent their early incarceration happily writing its only English-language guidebook the Bradt Guide to Socotra.
FLORA CRUFT
Saturday 18 June 5-6 pm, Outdoor Stage, Shute School (Church if wet)
Flora is a poet whose work has been widely published. Her poetry has been shortlisted for the Exeter Poetry Prize, and chosen for publication by Jo Shapcott and Hollie McNish among others. She has performed her poetry at venues such as Shakespeare & Company Bookstore in Paris, the Poetry Café in London and the Phoenix Centre in Exeter. Flora is also an existential psychotherapist and creativity coach. She has an Instagram page @poet.therapist.baker, where she explores the intersections between mental health, creativity, maternity, poetry, self-help and nutritional psychology. Her debut collection I am a Spider Mother is inspired by the work of artist and sculptor Louise Bourgeois - including her spider sculptures and woven tapestries - Cruft explores her personal experience of family love, loss and transformation through a playfully surreal and sensuous lens.
Saturday 18 June 5-6 pm, Outdoor Stage, Shute School (Church if wet)
Flora is a poet whose work has been widely published. Her poetry has been shortlisted for the Exeter Poetry Prize, and chosen for publication by Jo Shapcott and Hollie McNish among others. She has performed her poetry at venues such as Shakespeare & Company Bookstore in Paris, the Poetry Café in London and the Phoenix Centre in Exeter. Flora is also an existential psychotherapist and creativity coach. She has an Instagram page @poet.therapist.baker, where she explores the intersections between mental health, creativity, maternity, poetry, self-help and nutritional psychology. Her debut collection I am a Spider Mother is inspired by the work of artist and sculptor Louise Bourgeois - including her spider sculptures and woven tapestries - Cruft explores her personal experience of family love, loss and transformation through a playfully surreal and sensuous lens.
RICHARD EDMONDS - Landscape walk
Sunday 19 June 11-12:30 pm, meet Shute Gate House
Richard is a geologist whose life long interest was sparked by a walk on Charmouth beach as a boy many years ago. He has been immersed in rocks and fossils his entire life following a degree in Geology at the University of Hull. He has been warden of the Charmouth Heritage Coast Centre; Jurassic Coast Project Officer with Dorset County Council; and Earth Science Manager with the dual task of monitoring, managing and protecting the core interests of the World Heritage Site along with inputting geological expertise. On this walk we will be walking through the woodlands around Shute and along its quiet tracks. What lies below? Why are the valleys where they are? Why are the slopes shallow at the bottom of the hills and steeper at the top? Why do all the hills have flat tops? Why does the soil change between the valleys and the hill tops? What stone is used for building? All the questions you have always wanted to know the answers to but were too embarrassed to ask a geologist!
Sunday 19 June 11-12:30 pm, meet Shute Gate House
Richard is a geologist whose life long interest was sparked by a walk on Charmouth beach as a boy many years ago. He has been immersed in rocks and fossils his entire life following a degree in Geology at the University of Hull. He has been warden of the Charmouth Heritage Coast Centre; Jurassic Coast Project Officer with Dorset County Council; and Earth Science Manager with the dual task of monitoring, managing and protecting the core interests of the World Heritage Site along with inputting geological expertise. On this walk we will be walking through the woodlands around Shute and along its quiet tracks. What lies below? Why are the valleys where they are? Why are the slopes shallow at the bottom of the hills and steeper at the top? Why do all the hills have flat tops? Why does the soil change between the valleys and the hill tops? What stone is used for building? All the questions you have always wanted to know the answers to but were too embarrassed to ask a geologist!
SALUD BOTELLA - Flamenco
Saturday 18 June 7-8:30 pm, Shute Church
Born in Spain and based in south-west England, Salud Bottella started dancing at the age of eight. She has been schooled in Flamenco, Spanish Classical and Folk, Ballet and Contemporary, as well as training as an actress at the Escuela del Actor in Valencia. Salud draws on her wide-ranging artistic background to perform highly acclaimed and unique one-woman shows combining dance with elements such as poetry, humour, improvised audience interaction and rap. Her themes include the passion and mystery of duende - the enigmatic force at the heart of Flamenco - as well as self-expression and discovery through dance. In addition to her stage acts, Salud has developed dance-presentations for schools, educating younger audiences about Flamenco.
Saturday 18 June 7-8:30 pm, Shute Church
Born in Spain and based in south-west England, Salud Bottella started dancing at the age of eight. She has been schooled in Flamenco, Spanish Classical and Folk, Ballet and Contemporary, as well as training as an actress at the Escuela del Actor in Valencia. Salud draws on her wide-ranging artistic background to perform highly acclaimed and unique one-woman shows combining dance with elements such as poetry, humour, improvised audience interaction and rap. Her themes include the passion and mystery of duende - the enigmatic force at the heart of Flamenco - as well as self-expression and discovery through dance. In addition to her stage acts, Salud has developed dance-presentations for schools, educating younger audiences about Flamenco.
BEN SHORT on Burn
Sunday 3-4 pm, Shute Church
Ben Short is a charcoal burner and woodman, based in West Dorset. Fifteen
years ago he worked as an advertising creative in London. On the outside, Ben Short looked like he has it all - a successful career in advertising, a flat in a trendy area of London, an expensive motorbike ... But inside, he's a wreck. Burn is the story of his transformation from advertising exec in the city to charcoal burner in the woods: a frank and inspiring memoir about letting go of what we're told to want, risking everything to find happiness and the brutal salve of nature. Exquisitely written and laced with folklore and the practical insights of someone who has truly worked the land, Burn is a hopeful story of transformation, a celebration of manual work and craft, and a love letter to the English countryside. Burn has had rave reviews including in The Sunday Times. Ben will be in conversation with Festival director Sam Knights.
Sunday 3-4 pm, Shute Church
Ben Short is a charcoal burner and woodman, based in West Dorset. Fifteen
years ago he worked as an advertising creative in London. On the outside, Ben Short looked like he has it all - a successful career in advertising, a flat in a trendy area of London, an expensive motorbike ... But inside, he's a wreck. Burn is the story of his transformation from advertising exec in the city to charcoal burner in the woods: a frank and inspiring memoir about letting go of what we're told to want, risking everything to find happiness and the brutal salve of nature. Exquisitely written and laced with folklore and the practical insights of someone who has truly worked the land, Burn is a hopeful story of transformation, a celebration of manual work and craft, and a love letter to the English countryside. Burn has had rave reviews including in The Sunday Times. Ben will be in conversation with Festival director Sam Knights.
CARLA STEENKAMP SHEILLS - Street Dance Workshop
Saturday 18 June 10-11:30 am, Grounds Shute School
Carla is a South African professional ballet dancer who has performed and taught worldwide. She is the founder of her own ballet company my-ballet.uk. As a tutor, the approach she use with her pupils is to adapt the classical form to suit those of us with hip replacements, knee problems, vertebral fusions and a huge range of ailments even just stiffening of the joints. Carla also has wide experience of working with children in school and adapting the teaching of classical ballet to suit all ages, and abilities. She is currently mentoring a new generation of ballet teachers who will teach in accordance with her methods and philosophy.
Saturday 18 June 10-11:30 am, Grounds Shute School
Carla is a South African professional ballet dancer who has performed and taught worldwide. She is the founder of her own ballet company my-ballet.uk. As a tutor, the approach she use with her pupils is to adapt the classical form to suit those of us with hip replacements, knee problems, vertebral fusions and a huge range of ailments even just stiffening of the joints. Carla also has wide experience of working with children in school and adapting the teaching of classical ballet to suit all ages, and abilities. She is currently mentoring a new generation of ballet teachers who will teach in accordance with her methods and philosophy.
JANICE BOOTH
Saturday 18 June 3:30-4:30 pm, Shute Church
Janice's working life has included stage management, compiling puzzle magazines, selling haberdashery in Harrods, overseas rural development, extensive solo travel and copy-editing for Bradt. Co-author of the Bradt Rwanda guide, she has also co-written (with Hilary Bradt) Slow South Devon & Dartmoor and Slow East Devon & the Jurassic Coast. Socotra, sometimes known as the Galapagos of the Indian Ocean, resembles a fantasy film set with its pink rocks, chubby Desert Roses and Dragon’s Blood trees like giant mushrooms. Barely larger than Cornwall and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2008, this stunningly beautiful island combines otherworldly landscapes with a host of unique fauna and flora. Hilary and Janice visited the island just before the first Covid-induced lockdown, and spent their early incarceration happily writing its only English-language guidebook.
Saturday 18 June 3:30-4:30 pm, Shute Church
Janice's working life has included stage management, compiling puzzle magazines, selling haberdashery in Harrods, overseas rural development, extensive solo travel and copy-editing for Bradt. Co-author of the Bradt Rwanda guide, she has also co-written (with Hilary Bradt) Slow South Devon & Dartmoor and Slow East Devon & the Jurassic Coast. Socotra, sometimes known as the Galapagos of the Indian Ocean, resembles a fantasy film set with its pink rocks, chubby Desert Roses and Dragon’s Blood trees like giant mushrooms. Barely larger than Cornwall and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2008, this stunningly beautiful island combines otherworldly landscapes with a host of unique fauna and flora. Hilary and Janice visited the island just before the first Covid-induced lockdown, and spent their early incarceration happily writing its only English-language guidebook.