hugh lupton
Hugh Lupton is one of Britain’s leading storytellers. His interest in traditional music, in street theatre, in live poetry, and in myth, resulted in him becoming a professional storyteller in 1981 (there were perhaps half a dozen in Britain at the time), working largely in schools.
In 1985 he formed the Company of Storytellers with Ben Haggarty and Pomme Clayton with a view to taking storytelling to adult audiences (until that point it had been perceived as an art-form for children).
Hugh has also worked in collaboration with many artists including singer and composer Helen Chadwick, percussionist Rick Wilson, and with artist Liz McGowan, widening and challenging the possibilities of the form. His collaboration with Chris Wood won 'Best Original Song' award in the 2006 BBC folk awards for ‘One in a Million’and his work with Daniel Morden on the Greek epics (The Iliad, the Odyssey and Metamorphoses) has also received wide acclaim winning the 2006 Classical Association prize for ‘the most significant contribution to the public understanding of the classics’. In 2005 Hugh Lupton had work commissioned by the National Theatre and BBC radio 3’s Late Junction.
Hugh Lupton’s annual week-long workshops on Myth and Landscape (co-run with Eric Maddern) at the Ty Newydd writers centre in North Wales have explored much of the Anglo-Celtic mythological repertoire, and have inspired a generation of tellers.
He has toured Africa and South America for the British Council and regularly performs in Europe and the USA. He has published several collections of folk-tales including the award winning Tales of Wisdom and Wonder described by the Independent as ‘Lucid and haunting… a book to treasure.’ He has appeared on radio and television (most recently Late Junction on radio 3, Something Understood on radio 4, King Arthur on the Discovery Channel and Beowulf for the Open University on BBC 2). He has continued with his involvement in education throughout his career.
In 2007 Hugh added four new shows to his repertoire: 'On Common Ground' (with Chris Wood) his exploration of the life of John Clare and the effect of the Enclosures. 'Icarus' (with Daniel Morden), commissioned by Hay Festival and the National Theatre, a new chapter in their on-going Greek project, exploring the price of knowledge. 'The Liberty Tree' (with Nick Hennessey) commissioned by the Festival at the Edge, exploring Robin Hood as an archetype of English dissent. And 'Christmas Champions', commissioned by the Sage Gateshead, a celebration of the English Mummer's Play.... all will be touring in 2008.