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"Truly riveting talks, always enjoy these - a great way to spend an evening with some pals. Already looking forward to the next one."
-Alexander P
Details
How has folklore shaped how we view ourselves and homes? Explore the power of folklore, its symbols and role in today’s society. With Q&A.
Throughout history, women have typically been the guardians of bodies of knowledge not recognised by the elite due to exclusion from education and learned culture. This includes what is called folklore, the knowledge of how to live and survive in a dangerous world governed by chance and by intended evil. In this talk we will explore one branch of that knowledge, which is still half consciously practised by many people today: folklore about how to guard and seal the house and the body against unwanted or evil powers.
We will begin by exploring our own household ‘rituals’ and the anxiety that can come with leaving the house, briefly discussing Tuppence Middleton's book about obsessive compulsive disorder on leaving the house. We will then dive deep into centuries old folklore rituals, including witch marks, threshold rituals, cleansing rituals, especially around the fireplace and the chimney, Santa Claus, and the role of household spirits or brownies in safeguarding or in menacing the household. We will discuss the way this invisible work has always been done by women, often in secret and in the teeth of disapproval from male relatives and ecclesiastical hierarchies. We will learn about its relation to what is called ‘housework’ and the way our ancestors thought about the connections between the body and the house.
How Our Prices Work
How Our Prices Work
The MAC is a charity dedicated to creativity, culture, and connection - every £1 we make goes directly into supporting our transformative arts and community programmes. Therefore a booking fee of £1 per ticket* will apply to all bookings made through our website and over the phone.
*There is no booking fee charge for bookings made in person, free events, school groups, community groups, personal assistant tickets, children’s tickets and 16=24 member tickets.
Dates & Times
| Standard | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wed 3 Sep 2025 | 8:00pm | Early Bird Offer: automatic 10% off the first 100 tickets | Limited availability | £16.95 | Book Now |
Meet the Speaker
Diane Purkiss
Diane Purkiss is Professor of English at the University of Oxford, and a fellow of Keble College. She has published on witchcraft, fairies, and also on the English Civil War, the occasion of England's biggest witchhunt. She has been in more than a dozen television documentaries; she even has an IMdb entry and a Wikipedia page… She has spoken to general audiences at numerous literary festivals and to many local history societies.
Reviews
"Expertly run, talks are always super informative and a lot of fun! Couldn’t recommend these enough! 5 star."
-Owen S
"Been to a few talks and all have been super interesting. An enjoyable evening to go to either alone or with friends. The talks make for stimulating conversation. Highly recommend!"
-Daisy J
Accessibility
Accessible Seats
Wheelchair Accessible Seats
We have 6 dedicated wheelchair seats in our Downstairs Theatre – two on the balcony and four on the ground floor (please see seats listed below). These seats are locked off sale on our website so that we can keep them available for wheelchair users. To book a wheelchair accessible seat please call our box office team at 028 9023 5053.
Wheelchair Accessible Seats:
Stalls
- Row A1-2 and A18-19 (accessible via ground floor)
- Row L1-2 and L18-19 (accessible via floor 1 via lift)
Balcony
- Row P22-23 and 20-21 (accessible via floor 2 via lift)
Seats with no steps
If you have any issues with steps, we have a number of seats available with no steps to access.
Rows with no steps:
- Row A in the Stalls (accessible via ground floor)
- Row L in the Stalls (accessible via floor 1 via lift)
- Row P in the Balcony (accessible via floor 2 via lift)
Hearing Loop
There is an induction loop in our Downstairs Theatre which is available during all performances. The loop amplifies the sound of the show via customer’s hearing aid or earphones alongside our infrared devices.
- Infrared necklace – compatible with hearing aids switched to channel T.
- Infrared headset – for customers with no hearing aid.
To book an infrared necklace/headset ahead of your visit, please contact our box office at [email protected] or via phone at 028 9023 5053.
Join our Access Register
The MAC has developed an Access Register which aims to help us do all possible to meet your needs when visiting us‚ whatever your needs may be. We welcome you to join our Access Register here.
Carer’s Ticket Policy
If you require a personal assistant or carer, you are entitled to a free carer’s ticket. Please contact our box office at [email protected] or via phone at 028 9023 5053 to book a free carer’s ticket.
More Information…
For more information on accessibility at the MAC please see our website here.
For any further questions, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us via email at [email protected] or call us on 028 9023 5053.
