Black Shuck Festival hailed a triumph, as crowds flock to the legend’s hometown

A Festival inspired by the legend of Black Shuck has been hailed a triumph.

The Black Shuck Festival saw the community of Bungay collaborating to celebrate the folklore of the ghostly black dog that haunts East Anglia.

Creatives from across the country united to reinterpret the legend through music, performance, storytelling, exhibition and puppetry.

The market town of Bungay holds claim to Black Shuck more than any other location.

Legend has it that on 4th August 1577, a wild black dog burst through the doors of St Mary’s Church in the town killing two praying parishioners during a terrible storm.

Across the Festival weekend visitors were immersed in the rich folklore of the region which has inspired artists for generations.

Illustrator and writer James Mayhew, who is on the Black Shuck Festival Committee, said: “This extraordinary festival proved to be bigger than any individual, it was a triumph of community and collaboration.

“We are lucky indeed to have such a rich tradition of folklore in this region, and such a huge range of creative talents to reinterpret them. From the incredible giant puppets, to exhibitions, music, performance and storytelling, the town was bristling with magic.”

The Festival kicked off on the Friday with a workshop at St. Mary’s Church, organised by the Churches Conservation Trust, which saw over 50 children throughout the day busily creating artwork of Bungay’s Black Dog and the church’s stained glass windows whilst listening to familyfriendly stories.

The Bungay Black Dog running club ran from Blythburgh to Bungay, retracing Black Shuck’s infamous journey in 1577, carrying an effigy of the beast before receiving a hand-made commemorative medal.

That evening, Black Shuck himself was interviewed as part of the sold-out Cabaret at the town’s Fisher Theatre. Lounging comfortably on his sofa, he was most surprised when the interviewer brought on surprise guests – his victims from the killings in the church.

Despite the weekend’s inclement weather – which Black Shuck is known to bring with him – events were sold out and packed out.

The next day, Virtuoso William Fergusson gave a concert in St. Mary’s Church, before organisers impressively relocated the Festival’s parade and carnival to the Fisher Theatre as the storm moved in.

The Green Children and The Festival Queen paraded, the Samba band played, James Mayhew told and illustrated the Black Dog of Bungay story and the audience put their demon cards onto the funeral pyre to banish their own personal demons for another year.

Fire sprites danced while the effigy of Black Shuck was also ritually and symbolically burned.

Parade director Toto Martinez built the processional giant sculptures of the children of green Woolpit and Black Shuck as well as the Festival Queen and fire sprites costumes.

Polly Wright, one of the Festival’s organisers, said: “Thanks to the incredible Fisher team and all the artists, helpers and community, Saturday afternoon became the most brilliant thing in the face of adverse and stressful conditions.”

People queued in the rain around the block to get into the theatre, entertained by Tudor musicians, Ghostbusters and giant bats and all were in high spirits.

Darren France from the Fisher Theatre said: “On behalf of everyone at the Fisher Theatre, it was a pleasure to support the Black Shuck Festival community in sharing such wonderful creativity with the hundreds of people who came to Bungay for this very special event.”

Jay Rubicon from Kettering, who had come to Bungay especially for the Festival said: “Coming to a place so full of creatives, writers, artists, musicians, it made me feel like I was coming to a place like home.

“We’ve been welcomed and made to feel like family. The greatest thing is that this story has been able to bring people like us here, to experience this.”

There were two evening events on the Saturday, the Straunge & Terrible Wunder at St. Mary’s Church was followed by the Black Dog Disco in the cellar of the Three Tuns – one of the most haunted pubs in East Anglia.

At St. Mary’s the audience were treated to a varied programme, starting with a poem written and performed by 11-year-old Juniper Timberlake accompanied by a 13-foot-tall Black Shuck parading through the aisles.

Audiences were delighted by music from Martin Newell and his Hosepipe Band, the ever-popular Willpower and The Feathered Thorns.

Black Shuck made an appearance and proceeded to clamber over the pews, trying his best to distract from the telling of his story by the Reverend Abraham Fleming – performed by surprise guest, stand-up comedian Stewart Lee.

On the Sunday, the Fisher Theatre hosted sold-out performances of Pinocchio from the Norwich Puppet Theatre and Little Shuck and His Friends, written by Victoria Panton-Bacon, with music from William Drew-Batty.

The final event – and another sell-out – was upstairs at the Three Tuns where Helen Bruce gave a talk on the folklore surrounding Black Dog myths and legends and Christopher Reeve told of Bungay’s notorious characters from the past – and the ghosts who to this day haunt the pub.

Throughout the Festival, organisers ran a pop-up shop in the Market Place and two art exhibitions – one in the Bell Gallery in Earsham Street and one at the Three Tuns.

Across the weekend, the whole town benefitted from the huge number of visitors who came to Bungay for the Festival.

Emma Beese, of No. 11 interiors, said: “The hard work of the Black Shuck Festival volunteers brought huge benefits to the town in terms of trade. The town was full of visitors and, despite the atrocious weather, we ourselves had three phenomenal days of trading. Initiatives such as these really highlight what can be achieved by talented, artistic and hardworking volunteers!”

Another of those visitors, Jackdaw Faust from Liverpool – who many will have noticed in his own striking Black Shuck mask – said: “The Black Shuck may be known as an omen of death and destruction; some may see him as a manifestation of dark thoughts and inner demons. But to me, because of this Festival, he will always represent community, passion, and the welcoming of everything weird and wonderful. “

For more information visit www.blackshuckfestival.com