Thursday 17th April // 7pm

Come and experience a new short films set during the Witch Trails.

Synopsis: East Anglia, 1584. When a young woman goes into labour a group of women, led by the local midwife, guide her through the trials of labour. But as they celebrate the safe arrival of new life, a greater danger arrives at the door.

Gossip tells the untold story of witches as they really were - midwives, healers, women with knowledge and power.

Gossip was made alongside the local community, counting both Essex locals and real NHS midwives among the cast and crew.

“With Gossip I wanted to tell a story of solidarity and draw a line between the witch trials and the ongoing struggle for reproductive justice and control over our bodies. Naming the film Gossip, a word that changed from meaning friendship to one of denigration and ridicule, highlights the psychological attack as well as the direct violence. The gossip we formed of both professional actors and midwives became not only the heart of the film you see but the entire filmmaking process.”

Hannah Renton, Director & Co-Writer

Friday 25th Apr // 7 PM

In the famed month of showers we reflect on Folk lore and practice that is closer to home. Ways of reading and predicting the weather, spirits and characters connected with the places we live and the heritage crafts and practices tied up with the homes we build for ourselves.

- Hear from some of our favourite local -Heritage Craft champions Jo (Lace Art Social) and Lucy (Corndolly Folklore/Straw club) about their chosen practices!

- Learn a little about Clog Morris from Colchester side AnnieMation AND have a go!

Saturday 17th May - Colchester Castle // 7pm

Come along to a very special gig curated as part of our month of events celebrating Queer Folklore. Experience two of the most exciting new contemporary folk bands on the UK circuit AND get access to the castle after hours!

This space is fully wheelchair accessible.

(A limited number of carer tickets are available)

All profits generated from this gig will be donated to The OutHouse.

Lunatraktors - Award-winning ‘broken folk’ experimentalists — Lunatraktors strip down Anglo-Celtic traditionals to the bare bones of vocal harmony and percussive dance, before expanding into weird, playful spaces with eclectic acoustic beats, accordion, whistles and deep drones. Ancient and contemporary, mournful and joyously deranged, Lunatraktors are ‘simply different’ (RTÉ Lyric FM). MOJO Top Ten Folk Albums 2019 & 2021.

Goblin Band - They can play and they can sing and they’re fearless… When I saw Goblin Band singing recently, I just thought, “Why didn’t I think of that?… They move stuff around… They go back to versions that we were too snotty to touch and they turn them into stomps.

Martin Carthy

Taken from this great TradFolk Interview!

Saturday 17th May (Daytime)

More information coming soon!

These workshops are connected to our celebration of Queer Foklore.

Saturday 17th May

10pm til late

Keep the party going after our Castle Session with a specially curated smorgasboard of folkloric delights! Expect dark drag, music, story, song and plenty of dancing !

"Cabaret from THE BEYOND"  

Join us as we present a folkloric, otherworldly and spook-soaked smorgasboard of acts selected from THE BEYOND. Beyond time, Beyond reason, Beyond the limits of our earthly human imaginations... All artfully wrangled from the edge of understanding by our freaky and fabulous host, Perry Berline!  

The first edition of our strange and marvellous new cabaret will also act as an after party for the first EAFC Castle Sessions gig. Keep the party going or just join us at the late and deeply dark hour where all the creatures of the night come alive...

A collection will be in place for donations to local hero charity, The OutHouse.   

More information to come soon!

Friday 30th May // 7pm

Join us back home at the Minories for an evening of talks, storytelling and ritual, reflecting on Queer Folklore. Exploring the historical, the traditional and the future opportunity that lies in openly and proudly working at the intersection between folk and queerness.

POSTPONED TIL JULY 25th

Join us for an evening of stories, talks and song all centred around folk lore, characters and practices connected to water

Siren songs performed by Eleanor Cornell with The Gin Triplets

Artist Elinor Rowlands discusses the Biodivergent Sights & Sounds Project

Gemma and Bethan bring stories from watery places to thrill and delight

Plenty more to be announced