A storytelling festival is back for another year of stories, music and live drawings.

Hastings Storytelling Festival, now in its 13th year, holds events for all ages in venues across Hastings and St Leonards.

It celebrates the theme of hope and joy, selected by author and patron Lauren Child, with original stories told through spoken word, music, poetry, puppetry, song and movement.

Some of the events are free and others can be booked by visiting: https://www.hastingsstoryfest.org.uk/2024

Theresa Lola, an award-winning poet and writer, features at the event tonight. She was featured in the Forces for Change issue of British Vogue as a next generation talent.

Theresa will perform at the Horse and Groom in Mercatoria, St Leonards, at 7pm. This event is pay what you can at the door.

Brighton Gay Men's Chorus will be performing (Image: Nick Ford) The festival’s headline show on Friday is Triple Harmonies: A Night of Vocal Brilliance, featuring award-winning women’s a capella group Black Voices led by Carol Pemberton, a selection of arias from Barefoot Opera and the original Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus.

The week-long festival concludes on Saturday at the White Rock Theatre with the new festival patron Axel Scheffler presenting his latest book Jonty Gentoo: The Adventures of a Penguin published with Julia Donaldson. Expect stories, live drawings and opportunity for questions… and maybe a Gruffalo.

Sandra Garner, the festival’s chairwoman, said: “It’s great to have these artists who can captivate audiences in so many ways.

“Attendees are able to escape the day to day and completely immerse themselves in some fantastic storytelling experiences.”