2008 is the National Year of Reading, with October dedicated to the spoken word. This mini festival celebrates the fairytale for the young and old alike, with three weeks of stories told by some of the UK's most accomplished raconteurs.

21-26 Oct: Daniel Morden tells his Dark Tales From The Woods. Expect mysterious, wonder-filled Welsh Roma fairytales, in which the classic patterns from folklore reappear: the shape-shifter, the quest, the mysterious helper and the youngest sibling of the three who triumphs. Tue-Fri 11:00 & 13:45, Sat & Sun 14:30

28 Oct-2 Nov: Ben Haggarty and Tuup tell stories exploring the old tradition of the Day Of The Dead, the Mexican festival. With story-telling filled with mystery and a little bit of menace, the tales provide an authentic alternative to Halloween and reconnect with the old custom of honouring dead ancestors. Tue-Fri 11:00 & 14:30, Sat 14:30 & 20:00, Sun 14:30

4-9 Nov: Sally Pomme Clayton tells her story The Golden Castle That Hung In The Air. Thrown out of his home, Vasily stumbles into a dark forest and finds a picture of a girl pinned to a tree. With only a shabby grey donkey for company, he sets off to the edge of the world to find her. Tue-Fri 11:00 & 13:45, Sat & Sun 14:30