The ancient Greek myth Psyche and Eros is so full of wisdom it has been called a new map of love. Psyche (spirit, breath, soul) is a mortal maid. Eros is the god of desirous love. When the two meet, heaven and earth are changed. It’s a story of challenges and transformation; from girl to woman, boy to man, loss to reunion, servitude to equality. In each moment of despair Psyche receives help from the natural world; the humble ant, the spirit of the river through a little green reed that speaks to her with a voice like music, the mighty eagle. There are ferocious rams with fleece of gold, the fearsome three headed dog Cerberus, the great shepherd god Pan teaching Echo to sing. And Aphrodite.

Dawne McFarlane and musicians Maryem Tollar and Sophia Grigoriadis interweave story and music with divine vocals and ancient instruments that have travelled as the story has travelled through the ages. First written down in 107 CE by Apuleius, a Roman born in North Africa, the story travelled throughout Europe and around the world. Resonant for our times, it invites us to renew our union with the natural world and imagine new ways forward.

Dawne McFarlane is a storyteller, educator and performer who has been sharing the art of storytelling for more than 30 years across Canada and internationally at festivals and in classrooms. Dawne was the Artistic Director of Toronto Storytelling Festivals 2019/20/21, and is co-author with Georgiana Keable of Fairytales, Families and Forests: Storytelling with Young Children (Hawthorn Press). 

MaryemTollar is an award-winning Egyptian-Canadian vocalist renowned for her world music performances. She performs with several Toronto musical groups including Al Qahwa (Traditional Arabic Music and Original Compositions), Turkwaz (Traditional Turkish, Greek, Arabic and Balkan vocal repertoire), LuA (co-led by Shameema Soni), Tabiba (intergenerational pan Arab drum and vocal ensemble). 

Sophia Grigoriadis is a musician and teacher. Over the past 30 years her study of Greek, Balkan and Middle Eastern singing and percussion has led her to compose, perform and tour with many Toronto world and fusion ensembles. 

Visit https://universalhall.co.uk/event/psyche-and-eros-ws/ for the workshop details.

£8 General Admission / £5 Concessions