THE BARD OF AYLESBURY

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The Bard of Aylesbury is an exciting  new role created by Unbound in partnership with Aylesbury Town Council. 

A bard is a storyteller who represents the creativity and culture of the  place after which they’re named. They're recognised as an historical public figure who attends events and special occasions in the town – somewhere between a town crier, a poet Laurette, and a court jester!

Bards are called upon to offer a moment of creativity or culture. Their job is to celebrate the parish and all that happens within it through a creative medium. 

Bards serve an annual term in the role before passing on the mantle to a new performer. The Bard of Aylesbury for 2023-2024 is Gareth Johnson, whom many may recognise from appearances in all manner of Unbound productions performed in Aylesbury and beyond!

When the current bard's term in the role comes to an end, we'll be hosting the Bardic Trials, where anyone from the town with a passion for telling great stories can step up and perform. A panel of judges drawn from across Aylesbury will then nominate the next Bard for 2024-2025, who'll inherit the emerald cape!

If you're holding an event in Aylesbury and would like the bard to make an appearance, then get in touch! The bard can perform a range of duties from formal readings at special occasions, to helping open events or venues with a specially-written poem. These occasions can - availability allowing - be booked for free, and are coordinated by Unbound and Queens Park Arts Centre.

As part of Unbound's wider storytelling activity, the bard can also be booked for longer performances of themed storytelling to suit any occasion. There is a fee for these bookings (to cover writing and prep time), which we're happy to discuss if needed.

To make an enquiry, fill out the contact form below.

Our heartfelt thanks to Aylesbury Town Council for their generous support in launching this exciting new project - a celebration of storytelling for our home town.