ON OUR RADAR

Kalevala

Katy Cawkwell and fellow storytellers present tales from Finland’s national epic poem in Exeter’s oldest building.

Leigh Curtis

St Nicholas Priory is hosting an evening of storytelling to celebrate Kalevala Day on Friday 28 February.

Led by storyteller Katy Cawkwell, and the latest in a series of Story Blaze events, the evening will feature stories from epic poem Kalevala.

The Kalevala tells the story of the creation of earth. It was compiled in the 19th century from oral folklore and mythology and is regarded as the national epic of Karelia and Finland.

Kalevala Day is celebrated in Finland on 28 February each year, in honour of the epic.

The event will also feature local storytellers Robin Eastoe, Rosamund Clare, John Wehner, Chuffy Jenkins, Henry Everett and Clare Viner.

Joukhainen's revenge by Akseli Gallen-Kallelan Joukhainen’s revenge by Akseli Gallen-Kallelan. Source: Wikimedia Commons.

Katy Cawkwell began professional storytelling in 1996.

She creates performances based on traditional narratives and has put on shows at storytelling festivals and clubs and appeared at venues including the Barbican Centre and Soho Theatre.

She is also currently hosting storytelling workshops in Clyst St George.

Subscribe to The Exeter Digest - Exeter Observer's essential free email newsletter

Your personal information will be processed and stored in accordance with our Privacy Policy

Kalevala takes place at 7.30pm on Friday 28 February 2025 at St Nicholas Priory. It is suitable for ages 12 and over.

For more information visit the St Nicholas Priory website.

Tickets cost £5 and are available via the Ticketsource website.

Democracy doesn't work when people don't know who is deciding what on whose behalf and what the costs and consequences of those decisions will be.

Exeter Observer is proving that reader-funded media can deliver the independent public interest journalism our local democracy needs.

Upgrade to a paid Exeter Observer subscription to support our work and get access to exclusive premium content and more.

More stories
Devon & Cornwall Police deputy chief constable Jim Colwell, previous chief constable Will Kerr and interim chief constable James Vaughan

Devon & Cornwall Police deputy chief constable Jim Colwell receives 18-month misconduct warning

Outcome of Independent Office for Police Conduct investigation delivered day before retirement of suspended chief constable Will Kerr announced, with Police and Crime Commissioner Alison Hernandez unwilling to say whether “golden handshake” agreed.

Newtown active travel scheme map

Newtown active travel scheme approved after four years of public consultations

Joint Devon County Council and Exeter City Council project includes road closure, car parking changes and contraflow Clifton Hill cycle lane.

South West peninsula 2025 spending review road and rail investment map

Dawlish rail resilience, Exeter A379 bridge renewal and Cullompton M5 J28 schemes all shelved after spending review

Government road and rail funding announcement billed as “the biggest boost to England's transport infrastructure in a generation” largely passes Devon and Cornwall by while leaving final phase of South West Rail Resilience Programme undelivered.

Illustrative floor plan of new redevelopment proposals

New Heavitree Road police station student accommodation and “co-living” complex proposals submitted to Exeter City council

Application for full planning permission for 813-room scheme in seven blocks follows decision to reject previously-proposed 955-room scheme in two blocks which was subsequently upheld at appeal.

Change in bus passenger journey numbers 2019-20 to 2023-24 by England local transport area bar chart

National Audit Office finds decline in Devon bus passenger journey numbers among largest in country

Devon journeys down 28% – seventh from bottom across 85 areas – while journeys in Cornwall increased by more than 40%.

Danny Barnes

Danny Barnes received full £15,000 Devon County Council allowance during 2024-25

Heavitree & Whipton Barton councillor failed to sign off £14,600 community grants after attending only two of fifteen public meetings and is alleged to have worked for Scottish Labour MP Imogen Walker since shortly after last year’s general elections.

, updated