About

‘Beauty & the Beast’ is often called the oldest fairy tale. It was first told thousands of years ago, and there are more than a thousand different variants around the world. In this lecture Dr Kate Forsyth delves deep into its intriguing history, following its evolution from ancient myth to Disney’s singing teapots, while exploring what this beloved fairy tale can teach us about compassion, courtesy, and the necessity of consent. She will also share with the audience her own fascination with the story, and the different ways she has drawn upon it in her creative work.

Dr Kate Forsyth is an award-winning author, poet, and performance storyteller whose books spin together art, folklore, history, and myth into spellbinding new tales. Her historical novels for adults include Psykhe, a reimagining of the ancient Greek myth of ‘Eros and Psykhe’; The Wild Girl, the story of the forbidden romance behind the Grimm brothers’ famous fairy tales; The Beast’s Garden, a retelling of ‘Beauty and The Beast’ set in Nazi Germany; and Bitter Greens, a reimagining of ‘Rapunzel’ which won the American Library Award for Best Historical Fiction. Kate Forsyth’s Long-Lost Fairy-Tales, illustrated by Lorena Carrington, is a selection of twenty-one little known wonder tales from around the world, brought back to life for the modern-day reader. Kate has a BA in literature, a MA in creative writing, and a Doctorate of Creative Arts in fairytale and mythic studies, focusing on the history, science and purpose of storytelling. An accredited master storyteller with the Australian Guild of Storytellers, she runs writing and cultural retreats in Australia, Greece, and the United Kingdom.

Event Details:

Lecture in Cinema A: 10.30-11.30am
Book signing in GOMA Cinema Foyer: 11.30am-12.30pm