Hastings Storytelling Festival

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Hastings Storytelling Festival

Hastings Storytelling Festival is a registered charity, supported by Arts Council England.

Each October it brings live storytelling, music, dance, poetry and performance to Hastings & St Leonards.

05/03/2026

📚 Happy World Book Day!

Today we’re celebrating the books, characters and stories that spark imagination everywhere!

From all of us at Hastings Storytelling Festival, we hope your day is full of brilliant costumes, favourite characters and storytelling magic. ✨

Throwback to the sensational at Hastings Storytelling Festival 2025 🦭

28/01/2026

It will soon be National Storytelling Week! (2–8 Feb 2026). A UK wide celebration of the art, joy and power of telling and sharing stories with one another.

This year’s theme invites us to explore the many ways stories weave into our lives and our world through imagination, sound, rhythm and memory.

We’re looking back with fondness at moments from Hastings Storytelling Festival 2025 - from storytellers sharing tales to communities gathering to experience stories through performance and play.

✨ We’re feeling inspired as we chat and plan about Hastings Storytelling Festival 2026...looking forward to sharing our plans with you!

Find out more about National Storytelling Week 2026 via

16/12/2025

⏰✨ FINAL CALL - AUCTION ENDS TONIGHT ✨⏰

🐧 This is your last chance to take Jonty Gentoo home.

You’re watching the story behind this artwork...from Axel Scheffler illustrating Jonty Gentoo live at Hastings Storytelling Festival, to the real-life penguins that inspired him, to the finished A1 original illustration now up for auction.

This one-of-a-kind piece is signed, dated, and completely unique and tonight is the final opportunity to bid.

💛 Every bid supports the Hastings Storytelling Festival charity, helping us bring authors, artists and creative storytelling into our local schools and communities.

🐧 HOW TO BID (ENDS TONIGHT)

📩 Send us a DM on Instagram with your bid
⏰ Auction closes TONIGHT at 11:59pm
🏆 Highest bid wins (reserve applies)
📦 Postage added if not local

If you’ve been thinking “maybe…” then this is the moment.
Own a piece of storytelling history and help us keep stories alive. ✨

09/12/2025

🎄✨🐧 1 week left to bid on a piece of storytelling history. The perfect Christmas gift for a book lover or Gruffalo fan!

This A1 original illustration of Jonty Gentoo was drawn LIVE by The Gruffalo’s illustrator Axel Scheffler during Hastings Storytelling Festival 2025 - signed, dated, and one of a kind.

If you’ve been thinking about placing a bid… now is the moment.
And with Christmas just around the corner, this could be a truly unforgettable gift.

Every bid helps us bring more storytelling, author visits and creative workshops into local schools and communities next year. ❤️

🐧 HOW TO BID

📩 Send us a DM on Instagram with your bid
⏰ Auction closes 16 Dec, 11:59pm
🔒 Reserve applies
📦 Postage added if you’re not local

04/12/2025

A huge thank you to and for shining a light on our Schools Programme this year 🙏📰

During Hastings Storytelling Festival 2025, we worked with 11 local schools, delivering 30 storytelling, dance, art and cultural workshops, including a special visit from The Gruffalo’s illustrator Axel Scheffler.

Together, we helped pupils explore creativity, imagination and the joy of stories.
We’re so grateful to our local media for helping share this work with the wider community 💛

25/11/2025

🐧 You’re watching the exact moment Jonty Gentoo came to life…
This original illustration by The Gruffalo’s illustrator Axel Scheffler is the one we’re auctioning, drawn LIVE at Hastings Storytelling Festival 2025!

If you’d love to own a piece of storytelling history, bidding is still open!

Every bid helps us bring more authors, artists and creative workshops to our local schools and communities 💛

🐧 HOW TO BID

📩 Send us a DM on Instagram with your bid
🏆 Highest bid by 16 Dec, 11:59pm wins
🔒 Reserve price applies
📦 Postage added if not local to Hastings

Don’t miss your chance to take home this one-of-a-kind piece ✨

18/11/2025

✨ AUCTION NOW OPEN (via Instagram only!)
Own “Jonty Gentoo” an original A1 illustration by Axel Scheffler, drawn live during his sold-out event at Hastings Storytelling Festival 2025. ✏️🐧

This is a one-of-a-kind artwork, signed and dated by Axel himself, and we’re releasing it through a special Instagram charity auction to raise funds for our festival’s work in our schools and the community.

🐧 HOW TO BID (Instagram only)

👉 To take part, head to our Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/hastingsstorytellingfestival
👉 Send us a DM on Instagram with your bid
👉 The highest bid at the close wins
👉 A reserve price applies
👉 Auction closes Tuesday 16 December at 11:59pm
👉 Postage & packaging added if the winner is not local to Hastings

All funds raised will support storytelling workshops, author visits and creative events for local children and families. 💛

Please help us raise funds and share with your friends, family, school and audience.

Good luck...and happy bidding!

14/11/2025

✨ Something VERY special is coming… ✏️🐧
This month we’re launching the first in a series of exclusive charity art auctions, featuring original illustrations created live by Axel Scheffler, illustrator of The Gruffalo and Patron of Hastings Storytelling Festival.

The first artwork will be revealed on Tuesday 18th Nov, and it’s a truly unique piece from this year’s festival.

👉 Please note: Bidding will take place only on our Instagram account.
Follow us here on Instagram to take part: https://www.instagram.com/hastingsstorytellingfestival

All funds raised will support our charity’s work bringing creative storytelling into local schools and communities. ❤️

Drop a 🙂 in the comments if your're excited!

Stay tuned… 👀

13/11/2025

💬 Why stories matter…

We spent 11 days this October seeing how storytelling connects our town...through dance, performance, music, curiosity and imagination. 💫

As wraps up, we’re already thinking big for our 15th anniversary festival next year! 🎉
Here’s to more stories, more connections, and more creativity in 2026. 🌟

👀 What would you love to see as part of ? Tell us below! 💛

12/11/2025

✨ Faces of the Festival ✨

From storytellers and dancers to families and volunteers...these are just some of the people who brought Hastings Storytelling Festival 2025 to life.

Thank you to everyone who shared a story, a smile, or a dance with us this year 💫

📸 Tag yourself or your friends if you spot them!

Image credit

10/11/2025

✨ A little sneak peek… ✨

See The Gruffalo illustrator Axel Scheffler’s original artwork up close at

His ‘Welcome’ exhibition, an extension of the festival, celebrates friendship, kindness and the joy of stories.

🎨 Open until Jan 2026 | Free entry
📸 Tag us in your museum snaps!

07/11/2025

Stories that connect a community 💫 Check out the 2025 festival photo galleries now LIVE online at hastingsstoryfest.org.uk

See highlights from 11 days of storytelling, dance, poetry, music and more.

🎥 Spot yourself or a friend? Tag us in your videos or photos!

Address

Hastings

Website

http://www.hastingsstoryfest.org.uk/

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