A PAIR of Cumbria-based performers will be unleashing a world of stories collected on travels across the county.

Storyteller Emily Hennessey and singer-songwriter Kirsten Taylor have shows in Thursby and Gosforth this autumn, presenting their new production, Fell to Fire.

Cumbria is a treasure-trove of tales, from haunting folklore to ancient myths of frost giants and trolls left behind, along with so much Old Norse language, by old visitors.

Moving, wild, witty and alluring, this show will fire audiences' imaginations and unveil a captivating epic landscape.

Performance storyteller Emily has performed around the world, and with her Swedish background, Emily also loves to tell Scandinavian folktales and Norse mythology. Recent performances include a tour of India with the British Council, the Royal Opera House, the Viking Ship Museum in Denmark, Soho Theatre, Richmix and Beyond the Border Storytelling Festival.

Well-known South Lakes-based performer and vocal tutor Kirsten trained at The Sage Gateshead, and has been running community singing group Song Birds for a number of years. Some of the biggest shows she's played have been performances for Nelson Mandela in Johannesburg Stadium, and for Prince Charles at High Grove.

In creating Fell to Fire, the pair ran workshops to find stories from Cumbrians, and as part of planning the show they went on many walks and explored interesting places across the region.

Kirsten says: "We met lovely people along the way, ready to part with interesting local facts and fiction.

"We found some great places on purpose and by accident, only managing to get a lost once, but in doing so we found a beautiful place near Urswick where trees grew from the cracks in the limestone."

The first Fell to Fire show, under the Arts Out West banner, takes place at Thursby Parish Hall on Saturday October 14, with an appearance at Gosforth Public Hall on Friday November 17.

Tickets for each show are available from the respective venues, and via www.kirkgatearts.org.uk