Beyond the Border 2020 Location and Programme Revealed
Beyond the Border, Wales’ leading International Storytelling Festival have announced their new home for the 2020 festival and some of the artists performing under the programme theme, Reimagining our Futures.
For over 25 years, Beyond the Border has been Wales’ leading International Storytelling Festival bringing stories and people together, from Wales and the World, through an inspirational biennial festival.
The new location, the National Trust’s Dinefwr Park, in Carmarthenshire will host the Beyond the Border 2020 Festival from 3-5 July.
Artistic Director, Naomi Wilds said, “We’ve spent the last 12 months exploring and testing some exciting locations to be the host venue for the festival. We wanted to complement some of the other storytelling festivals already taking place in Wales, such as Aberystwyth which hosts a great festival with Ceredigion museum this year plus events which happen around the country such as Young Storyteller of the Year in North Wales. The partnership with the National Trust Dinefwr is really exciting. It’s a stunning location, with the magical escapism which has always been a strong part of what the festival offers. The location is full of wonderful stories of Welsh history, and legends. Dinefwr was one of the venues where we piloted a programme of storytelling earlier this year and audiences new and old loved the location and the way the programme could engage with the landscape.”
As well as the location announcement Beyond the Border have also revealed the theme of the 2020 Festival, Reimagining our Futures, which will shine a light on new ideas and approaches, as well as new homegrown talent. Naomi Wilds said, “‘Reimagining Our Futures’ picks up on the positive opportunities change can bring, while also connecting us to the many different pathways forward we might choose. Stories are infinitely varied and flexible and while they’re entertaining us, allow us to step into other ways of being, all at the same time as having great fun! Within this overarching theme are linked strands which include:
- Land, Language and Home
- Reimagining the Self and Communities
- Stars, as fixed point to guide our way, and
- Generation Inspire
The Reimagining our Futures programme will be a mix of artists known to audiences as well as new voices. Some of the artists already confirmed are Daniel Morden, Michael Harvey, Tim Ralphs, Phil Okwedy and Mickey Price, Tamar Eluned Williams, Mair Tomos Ifans, Cath Little and Amy Douglas, and also international artists confirmed so far, Mimesis Heidi Dahlsveen (Norway) Abbi Patrix and Linda Edsjô (France).
Beyond the Border’s Engagement Co-ordinator, Tamar Eluned Williams, is also working with four local schools who will be performing at the opening ceremony on the Friday night of the festival.
While storytelling is central to the weekend event, the festival incorporates a programme of music, craft, nature and wellbeing which are woven around and through the programming.
“While Beyond the Border is mostly for adults, we will have a strong strand of high-quality accessible family and young people’s programming in 2020 Festival.”
Limited Early Bird tickets go on sale on Friday 8 November via beyondtheborder.com starting from £110 for adults, £50 for children aged 6-17 and family tickets £272. There are also Festival and onsite camping tickets available. Full price weekend tickets and day tickets will go on sale in 2020.
Beyond the Border International Storytelling Festival is supported by Arts Council of Wales, The Major Events Unit, Creative Europe and the Federation of European Storytelling.