Theatre / storytelling
Bristol storyteller Corinne Harragin shares new spoken word piece on ancient river folklore
Corinne Harragin has been telling stories on stages around the UK for a decade.
She describes her creative preoccupation with “finding pockets of enchanted forest within the contemporary urban sprawl”, and “bringing fresh questions to ancient myths and folk tales for adult audiences”.
Regular audiences to Story Jam will also know Harragin from her guest appearances on the touring ‘myth-off’ game show, Women Who Gave No F**ks.
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Corinne Harrigan – photo: Hattie Ellis
Based at the University of Bristol, where she is a research associate, she is currently exploring our human connection to water, through a storytelling lens.
The project (funded by the Brigstow Institute) is called Storying the Avon, and dives deep into the ancient myth and folklore surrounding our waterways, reconnecting people with their importance of our rivers and springs at a time when they are experiencing severe environmental degradation.
“With over 4,000 miles of polluted waterways, Britain and Ireland’s rivers are in ruin”, says Harragin.
“This vibrant new tapestry of transporting tales winds through stories that have shaped our relationship with rivers, the lifeblood of our landscape.”
Photo: courtesy of Corinne Harrigan
Many of these tales are brought to life in her new spoken word piece, Troubled Waters, which comes to The Wardrobe Theatre in September ahead of further south west dates into the autumn.
Harrigan’s approach has met with widespread praise from audiences and conservationists alike, including the charity Avon Wildlife Trust, who want to see at least one in every four people taking action to help restore their local environment.
“Rivers sustain the natural environment, wildlife and people in equal measure”, they say. “People have to feel part of something to feel motivated to care for it – Troubled Waters is an impressive production that will inspire people to re-establish their connection with our rivers, helping to protect them.”
2025 storytelling tour of Troubled Waters – photo: Corinne Harragin
Corinne Harragin: Troubled Waters is at The Wardrobe Theatre on September 17-18 at 7.30pm, with mid-October dates to follow in Clevedon and Bath. Tickets for the Bristol shows are available at www.thewardrobetheatre.com. Visit www.corinneharragin.co.uk or follow @corinneharraginstorytelling for more information and updates.
The next Women Who Gave No F**ks is at Tobacco Factory Theatres on September 18-20 at 7.30pm (lineup still to be announced).
Main photo: Hattie Ellis
Read next:
- A River’s Song celebrates ‘mistreated and neglected south Bristol river’
- Spirit of the river Avon comes to life
- ‘An antidote to pink, pastel and Barbie dolls’: meet the ‘Women Who Gave No F**ks’
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