A great interview with Dave Brewis, the filmmaker behind the incredible new TV series 'Gatherings', a documentary following the folk customs and gatherings in the UK. We chat about filming Sowerby Bridge Rushbearing, The Haxey Hood, Bonfire in Rye, Jedburgh Hand Ba, Abbots Bromley Horn Dance and the Burry Man.

Watch the series here at gatherings.tv

Available on Apple TV, Amazon Prime and YouTube movies.

We have also discussed similar folk gatherings in some previous episodes

Hastings Jack in the Green - https://dreamswarm-podcast.castos.com/episodes/jack-in-the-green-hastings-jack

Mummers Plays - https://dreamswarm-podcast.castos.com/episodes/christmas-mummers-plays-wantage-mummers

Krampus Runs - https://dreamswarm-podcast.castos.com/episodes/krampus-with-al-ridenhour

We speak to Jarod Winchester, a screenwriter from south India about representations of LQBTQ characters in Hindu mythology and folklore and also in fantasy films and novels.

Jarod also runs The Story Dude YouTube channel about craftng compelling stories https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCesB31SaHnfVcygrm0Tj6RQ

He also runs Spring Whales Productions showcasing films for LGBTQ audiences https://www.youtube.com/@springwhalesproductions

We are re-joined by returning heroine Alexandra Beaumont, auther of new fantasy novel 'Dissonance of Birdsong'. We chat about how her new novel has been influenced by folklore and by her experiences of Cornwall.

You can buy 'Dissonance of Birdsong' and her other fantasy novel 'Testament of the Stars' here

Follow Alexandra Beaumont on X here @ABeaumontWriter 

RIP Terence Davies, one of our favourite filmmakers, who died this week. No guests on this episode, just Andy talking about what he loves about Terence Davies' films. Davies' was one of the best ever at using film to explore themes of memory and the passage of time. His magic-realist style has been a big influence and one of the reasons we set up the DreamSwarm platform to begin with. This is a 15-minute chat about his autobiographical films.

Introduction to Terence Davies and his magic-realist films

Non-linear associational structures

Breaking the link between sound and images

Memories altered by the act of filmmaking narration

Where to get started with Terence Davies' films

'In comes I, Old Father Christmas...'

We love the pageantry of the Christmas period. For our festive Christmas special we are joined by Sem from the Wantage Mummers group.

We learn all about the traditions of English mummers plays which take place over the Christmas period.

You can learn more about the Wantage Mummers group and other societies here 

https://www.wantagemummers.org.uk/

Director George Popov returns to the podcast to dicuss his folklore and folk horror documentary 'Sideworld: Terrors of the Sea'. He explains how they created this mix of documentary and narrative and why there is such faascination with the folklore of the sea.

You can watch 'Sideworld: Terrors of the Sea' here https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/B0B5PVMRM7/ref=atv_dp_share_cu_r

You can follow Sideworld on twitter here https://twitter.com/Sideworld_UK

We are joined by Maria Galizia and Caitlin Bramwell who are the hosts of the new Newcastle Witches Podcast. We delve into the history of my home city to investigate the Newcastle Witch trials and the nature of witch hunting in the 17th century.

You can learn more and listen to the Newcastle Witches Podcast here 

You can learn more about campaigns to pardon convicted witches with Witches of Scotland here

Our Midsummer Special episode celebrating William Shakespeare's play 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'. We're joined by expert Shakespeare practitioner Ben Spiller from the 1623 Theatre company to discuss the play and how Ben eplores Shakespeare with marginalised groups of people. A great episode to celebrate the magic of Midsummer.

Themes in Midsummer Night's Dream

Puck and fairy characters

Surreal imagery

The supernatural in other Shakespeare plays.

You can follow Ben and 1623 Theatre Company online here 1623 website

and on Twitter 1623 Twitter

This episode focuses on the character of Robin Hood. We interview Thadeus Papke, the host of Into the Greenwood podcast which is all about Robin Hood. Thadeus has amazing knowledge and love for this folklore character so we took a deep dive into the origins and depictions of the character.

We highly recoomend listening to the Into the Greenwood podcast here

For further dives into the Robin Hood legend we also recommend The Bold Outlaw website

You can follow Into the Greenwood on Twitter, Instagram and facebook @IntoGreenwood

We are joined by Keith Leech, the organiser of Hastings Jack in the Green Festival. Keith explains the history of the Jack in the Green tradition and how this pageantry is performed all over the South of England to celebrate the coming of spring and summer.

Hastings Jack in the Green festival takes place 29th April to 2nd May

Find out mre at www.hastingstraditionaljackinthegreen.co.uk

For other events and more historyof Jack in the Green and the Green Man traditions and more events around the UK look at The COmpany of the Green Man www.thecompanyofthegreenman.wordpress.com