Five people sit round the campfire telling tales in the latest community production from HT2, Harrogate Theatre's Outreach Department.

These Dales walkers are en route to witness the Burning of the Bartle, a long-standing tradition in North Yorkshire. That's the starting point for storytelling about such things as hellhounds, spirits of the mines and the village that vanished beneath the lake.

The myths, legends and folklore of North Yorkshire have been gathered by writer-directors Steve Ansell and Madeleine Frost through interviews with local people.

Telling stories as if you're having a normal conversation isn't easy and some of the performers appear happier and more at ease than others in delivering their lines.

But the script cleverly joins together dozens of Dales stories into a seamless 40 minutes of campfire talk, with several of the stories acted out for our delight.

Who can resist learning about haunted houses, chanting monks, sheep-stealing fairies and the white stallion - or white stag, depending who's telling the story - that presages death.

There are further performances at Grassington Octagon (May 19), Settle Victoria Hall (May 20), Masham Town Hall (May 21) and Pateley Bridge Playhouse (May 22).

Published: ??/??/2004