130yRS OF BEAR STORIES

Patrick Barr as Joe with Gina the bear, filming for Dennis Potter's TV play A Beast with Two Backs in 1968.

It's 130 years since the notorious 'killing of the bears' - an incident that has reverberated down the years as one of the indicative stories of the Forest of Dean. Reading the Forest is marking this grizzly anniversary by exploring the fictions, histories, poems and films that have drawn on those gruesome events -  130yrs of bear stories. Join us on the exact anniversary, the 26th April, at The Malt Shovel for the Un-bear-able Pub Quiz - an evening of local history and bear themed questions to test your trivia knowledge. On Saturday 27th April we're at Ruardean Memorial Hall for an exhibition, screenings, talk and discussion. Amongst the display will be original documents from the trial, and examples of the poetry and prose inspired by the events. Amongst the film clips being shown will be the BBC feature from 1964, whilst the talk, 1'30 years later: Bear facts, Bear stories and Bearing history’, will be focusing on how the story has been used and abused down the years. The day will be rounded off with a local panel discussion chaired by BBC Gloucestershire's Kate Clark and hopefully lots of lively debate from everyone at the event. 

Friday 26th April: The Unbearable Pub Quiz
The Malt Shovel, Ruardean, GL179TW.
8pm start.
£1 per-person to join the quiz, proceeds to animal charity World Animal Protection. Maximum team size 6 people. 

Saturday 27th April: Bear Stories
Ruardean Memorial Hall, Ruardean, GL179UP
Free entry
​(donations accepted to animal charityWorld Animal Protection)
Exhibition opens 12noon, screenings from 12.30, talk at 2pm, panel discussion & open forum from 3.15. 

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