Storytelling has been woven into IYOGA Fest from the very beginning. There is something deeply fitting about gathering to hear a story told well — it asks of us the same quality of attention that yoga asks of us on the mat: presence, openness, and a willingness to be moved. Over the years we have been fortunate to welcome some wonderful storytellers and performers to our evening programme, each bringing their own world to life for our community.

After an outstanding performance at IYOGA Fest 2025, we are absolutely delighted to welcome back world-renowned storyteller Emily Hennessey and sitar player extraordinaire Sheema Mukherjee — this time with their breathtaking retelling of the Ramayana.

Deep in the forest where Rama and Sita live in exile, eyes watch their every move and the universe shimmers with illusion. When Sita is kidnapped by the ten-headed demon king, Rama needs all the help he can get. Who better to have on your side than a shape-shifting monkey? But there's only one thing worse than a bloodthirsty demon, and that's his Big Brother. As Rama lies helpless on the battlefield, it's time for Sita's little known story to unfold.

Expect the unexpected.

Emily is a dynamic performance storyteller steeped in the mythology, landscapes and storytelling traditions of India — she has journeyed over 10,000 miles across the country by train, bus, rattling rickshaw and rickety bicycle, studied Kathakali dance-drama in Kerala and worked with storytelling schools in Tamil Nadu. Her performances have graced the Royal Opera House, Shakespeare's Globe, the British Museum and storytelling festivals across India and Europe.

Sheema Mukherjee is an internationally renowned sitar player and composer, best known for her work with Transglobal Underground and The Imagined Village. Her work was featured during the 2012 Summer Olympics. Brought up between Britain and India, she studied under two of the great masters of North Indian classical music, and brings a rare depth of musical heritage to everything she plays.

Together, they are simply unmissable.

Find out more about Emily at emilyhennessey.co.uk and Sheema at mukherjee.co.uk

In 2025, Emily Hennessey and Sheema Mukherjee made their IYOGA Fest debut with KALI — and it was an evening none of us will forget in a hurry. The audience were on their feet at the end, and the call to bring them back this year was immediate and unanimous.

KALI plunges headlong into the wild heart of Hindu mythology — a world of radical transformation where demure housewife becomes bloodthirsty goddess, and where a cosmic evil can only be met with the full, terrifying force of the divine feminine. When an evil power spreads its clawed hands across the world, Kali's time has come.

Emily's storytelling is electrifying — physical, fearless and deeply rooted in a lifetime of study and travel in India. Sheema Mukherjee's sitar weaves through the performance not just as accompaniment but as a living, breathing presence in the story itself. Together they conjure palaces and forests, demons and goddesses, with nothing but voice, instrument and imagination.

Find out more about Emily at emilyhennessey.co.uk and Sheema at mukherjee.co.uk

Cliff Eastabrook — better known as The Travelling Talesman — brought his extraordinary storytelling to IYOGA Fest 2024, and the room was rapt. With over twenty years of professional experience performing myths, legends and folktales from the snows of Northern Europe to the sands of the Middle East, Cliff is a master of his craft. His performances are immersive, meticulously researched and filled with the kind of humour and suspense that keeps you leaning forward in your seat long after you think you know where the story is going. A wonderful evening. Find out more at thetravellingtalesman.co.uk

Amanda Kane-Smith of Merry-go-Round Storytelling brought her warmth, energy and actor's instincts to IYOGA Fest 2022. With a background in performing arts as both actor and director, Amanda tells stories for all ages and all kinds of occasions — from intimate gatherings to large-scale outdoor events. Her bespoke, interactive approach means no two performances are quite alike, and her session at IYOGA Fest was a joy from start to finish. Find out more at merry-go-roundstorytelling.co.uk

Michael O'Leary — known as the Hagstone Storyteller — was the first storyteller to perform at IYOGA Fest, and we loved him so much we invited him back. Based in Southampton, Michael draws on ancient myths and legends to create stories that are by turns funny, spine-tingling and deeply engaging. His interactive, lively style brings audiences in rather than leaving them as passive listeners — and more than one IYOGA Fest participant has found themselves unexpectedly on their feet. Find out more at michaelolearystoryteller.com