East Archive – Daedalus Theatre Company

Associate Artist Spotlight: Sef Townsend

By DaedalusAdmin on Monday, February 23, 2026

Photo of Sef Townsend at A Season of Bangla Drama by Rehan Jamil (2017)

Our second East spotlight is on global storyteller, interfaith peace advocate and Londoner Sef Townsend, who is of mixed Jewish and traveller heritage. Sef co-founded the East Storytelling Project alongside Paul Burgess and Shamim Azad back in 2014. Tasnim Siddiqa Amin had a chat with Sef one Saturday afternoon about his 30-year career in storytelling, his love for the East End and his latest creative projects.

Listen to the interview here:

Tell us about yourself

I’m a storyteller. I’ve been telling stories for a long time. But what are the contexts that I tell? So, I go regularly to schools, and I work with children from really young until they’re really quite old, actually. I’m also involved in peace and reconciliation work. And I’ve worked in Israel and Palestine, Armenia, Azerbaijan, South Africa, areas of conflict or post-conflict. I have been brought in to try and create some conversations between people who, according to their background, are supposed to dislike each other.

Announcing the lineup for Ten Years East!

By DaedalusAdmin on Saturday, November 18, 2023

Paul Burgess, Andy Bannister and Michele Chowrimootoo. Image credit: Tasnim Siddiqa Amin

As part of A Season of Bangla Drama, Sunday 19th November 2023, 5:30PM we return to the iconic East London venue Rich Mix, where the East storytelling started in December 2013.

We have an exciting evening of stories and live music for you, and are thrilled to announce the incredible talent that will be taking the stage this Sunday. Farah Naz makes a return to EAST with the story of ‘The Queen of Sheba and Solomon’, we will hear the tale of ‘Rochael the Gossip’ from John Heyderman, Andy Bannister of The Black Smock Band singing ‘The Water is Wide’ and a reimagining of ‘The Sultana’s Dream’ from EAST newcomer Tasnim Siddiqa Amin. We’re also joined by musician and singer Hasan Ahmed and percussionist Michele Chowrimootoo.

Associate Artists The Company

Hear from our artists

By DaedalusAdmin on Friday, November 17, 2023

We’ve been Instagram sharing reels from some of our artists, including East lead artists Sef Townsend, Shamim Azad and Paul Burgess, along with intros to artists such as Tasnim Siddiqa Amin, Hasan Ahmed and Farah Naz. Catch them on our Instagram feed, and maybe give us a follow!

Events Participation The Company

Daedalus October Newsletter

By DaedalusAdmin on Saturday, October 28, 2023

Dear friends,

Welcome to our October newsletter.

Ten Years East – tickets now on sale!

Join us for a relaxed evening of compelling stories and unforgettable songs from across the diverse cultures of East London.

Ten Years East is a celebration of love as a language that crosses borders and breaks boundaries, that remembers lost homelands and dreams of new frontiers. After a decade of performances, workshops and gatherings, the East storytelling project now presents an exciting lineup of musicians and storytellers in this family-friendly event.

With material spanning the globe to reflect the rich cultures of our East End, from English folklore to Bengali tales and Jewish songs, you are warmly welcomed to celebrate Ten Years East.

Events Major Projects Professional Development

Protest Song Exchange

By DaedalusAdmin on Saturday, January 29, 2022

When?

11:30am-1pm, Sunday 6th February 2022

What?

This is an exciting opportunity for musicians and others with an interest in current and historical protest to get together and share songs, music and knowledge. Hosted by Daedalus Theatre Company and The Black Smock Band as part of the Mobile Incitement project, and also connected with the storytelling project East, the session offers an open, creative space for cultural exchange and collaboration, and to develop new skills and ways of working.

This is paid professional development opportunity, not a public event. Places are limited. That said, do get in touch if you’re interested in taking part.

Participation

East Voices – now live!

By DaedalusAdmin on Thursday, December 16, 2021

The title says it. The East Voices digital series is now live, and you can watch here:

View the East Archive

With stories both true and traditional from countries as diverse as Vietnam, Poland and Mauritius, and from voices that include first-time storytellers alongside experience professionals, the East Voices digital series truly reflects and celebrates the diversity and cultural richness of East London and beyond.

Do also keep coming back – there are more stories to be added. And please feel free to talk to us if you have a story to tell.

Associate Artists Participation Partners and Collaborators

East on BBC London

By DaedalusAdmin on Wednesday, October 27, 2021

Sef just did a fantastic interview on Jeanette Kwakye’s BBC London Radio show. You need to listen! It includes a clip from Michele Chowrimooto’s story, and some really brilliant observations from Sef about the role of storytelling, the importance of sharing stories across cultures, how the East Voices project works, and how to approach sharing your personal story for the first time.

Jeanette’s shows are great, but if you want to jump straight to Sef’s interview you can start at 01:36:38.

Go to East Archive for Michele’s story and many others.

Associate Artists Events Participation Partners and Collaborators

You’re invited! East Voices Digital Series Online Launch Event

By DaedalusAdmin on Friday, October 15, 2021

Stories and songs from London’s East End communities and beyond. This online event celebrates the launch of East Voices Digital Series.

Since June, Daedalus Theatre Company, in partnership with Numbi Arts, Bishwo Shahitto Kendro and Rua Arts, has hosted workshops and collaborated with East Londoners and a host of guest artists, to gather stories and music. We’re excited to now launch a series of storytelling videos hosted on the East Archive.

Associate Artists Events Participation Partners and Collaborators

Intro to Storytelling – BSL workshop

By DaedalusAdmin on Sunday, September 26, 2021

We’re really excited to be teaming up with Sign for All for this workshop led by two amazing storytellers. Here are the details:

Date: Sat 9 October

Time: 10.30am – 12 noon

Location: Online via Zoom

What is it? A fun introduction to storytelling, exploring how we tell stories physically, with words and using BSL. This session will be BSL interpreted & facilitated by professional storyteller Sef Townsend and Deepa Shastri who is a Deaf theatre access consultant, BSL performer and presenter.

How to book: Contact info@signforallcommunity.co.uk to book your place and get the Zoom link.

Participation

EAST VOICES: Call-out for New Storytellers

By DaedalusAdmin on Thursday, May 27, 2021

Audio version of text:

A special welcome for BSL users:

Do you have a love of stories? Do you listen to stories and long to tell your own?

We are looking for East Londoners who want to learn the skills of storytelling. World-class professional storytellers Sef Townsend & Shamim Azad, alongside artistic director Paul Burgess, will guide you through a process to help you share a story which will be part of the East Voices Digital Archive.

East Voices offers new storytellers free coaching with three sessions including a one-to-one session. You will have the choice of sharing a traditional story from your own cultural heritage or to tell a story from your own lived experience. These stories will be recorded and shared on the East Voices Digital Archive.

Tag Archives: East Archive

Ten Years East – tickets now on sale!