Talisman

In the concrete courtyard of a crumbling Soviet tower block, an old woman sits with her memories.

A young woman stands before an endless, shadowed forest. She carries her talisman, her mother’s gift from years ago. Behind her, the world is burning. Ahead, she risks darkness, hunger and death. 

But at the boundary between worlds, there is wisdom to be found – or bargained for.

TALISMAN is a theatre show set in the forests of Western Russia during the German invasion of 1941-2. It is a weaving of traditional Slavic wonder tales with historical narrative, raising questions of morality, resilience and the nature of Home. At the heart of the show, the wisdom of Baba Yaga invites us to look at the choices we might make, when all good choices are gone.

Using puppetry, light and shadow, music and storytelling, Talisman is an evocative and visceral piece of theatre by three highly skilled artists, based in the South West. 

“I loved the familiarity of the characters, blended into a new form. Imaginative puppetry and evocative live music. The story fits so well into a war setting. Felt very relevant for today/these times. Brilliant!”

“You took me far, far away, into Russia, and the unknown realm – into the “beyond”. A challenging experience to be in the real world of war, rather than the world of symbolism and metaphor. I felt it was dangerous territory mixing the two worlds and yet I went with you and feel moved and inspired by the courage and insights in this piece.”

Suitable for ages 12+ 

Content warning: some visual and verbal references to wartime brutality.

Three Hands Theatre are:

Ronnie Conboy was brought up on tall tales and wild songs as the daughter of an Irishman in Wales. She discovered the world of storytelling in a dark forest at the Autumn equinox, and has been chasing tales ever since. She tells stories from Ireland, Wales and Northern Europe, bringing old tales alive and potent for today's listeners.

James Richardson has been puppeteering professionally since 1999. He worked as a maker and performer with PuppetCraft for 10 years before starting his own company, Angel Heart Theatre in 2007. His love for puppetry and storytelling stems from his childhood when he put on shows for his younger brothers and listened to his grandad telling far-fetched yarns of adventures in far-away places.

Lisa Rowe has been immersed in East European, Russian and Balkan music for over 25 years. Her love of this music began with hearing Hungarian singer Marta Sebastyen and Muzsikas, whose passionate tunes and songs she learned and took out busking onto the streets of Bath. Since then she has played violin and accordion in various bands, including Hazaar, Druzba and Zeffe.