Wednesday 23 March 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm

With a top hat from a junk shop and mail-order wand, pioneering storyteller and writer Sally Pomme Clayton explores the secret world of the magician. In this intimate, enchanting performance, she mixes fact with fiction, fragments of myth with antique jokes; dazzling fairytales and snippets of culture and science, forgotten folklore to mysterious images on tarot cards. Casting a shimmer of stories, with a song on her mandolin and a spotted handkerchief, she shifts from humour to horror, romance to rumour, searching for real magic. Join her as she opens her suitcase to discover smoke and mirrors, takes off her top hat to find out what’s fake and what’s real.

“One of the country’s most highly regarded storytellers…she awakens the imagination.” The Independent.

Pomme explores foolish and rebellious apprentices and asks why apprentices are depicted as female and magicians male? She turns magic on its head with stories of powerful female magicians. Meet arch magician Elena the Wise and her rival the King of Jinns. Hear the oldest version of The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, from Ancient Egypt. In this slight-of-hand world, objects talk, girls become doves, the magician goes mad, and you can enter another world! Join Pomme on her fairytale quest to discover what is real and what illusion, who is the apprentice and who the teacher.
“A richly evoked, magical story of many layers. Transported to so many times and places. A true magician of words.” Bakehouse Theatre.

This performance will consist of two 50 minutes halves, with an interval. It is suitable for ages 14+

*****

This event will be in-person at Exeter Custom House. We have increased capacity at Quay Words events, so you may be sitting next to someone who is not in your household. We are still taking precautions to ensure our audiences are protected from Covid 19. For this reason we ask that you please consider wearing a mask when not seated and moving around the building. We will be keeping windows open to ensure good ventilation in the building so you may want to bring an extra layer. Please do not attend Quay Words events if you have symptoms of Covid-19 or are feeling unwell.

Tickets are limited and available on a first come-first served basis. Please only book if you intend to be part of the in person audience on 23rd March 2022.

Please provide your full name, email address and phone number when booking. We can accommodate free tickets for carers or personal assistants if needed. Please email us on customhouse@literatureworks.org.uk after booking to let us know if you would like to book one of these tickets.

Book with confidence, any changes in guidance that prevent the event from going ahead in person will result in a refund of the ticket price.