On August 4, 1577, a wild black dog is said to have burst through the doors of St Mary's Church in Bungay killing two praying parishioners during a terrible storm.
The story has helped shape the town ever since, and this year the Bungay Black Shuck Festival will once again celebrate its greatest folklore tale with a range of entertainment and creative opportunities.
The popularity of the legend has seen the image of Black Shuck, or the Black Dog, incorporated into the town’s coat of arms, depicted on buildings and the beast’s name immortalised in the names of businesses and organisations, such as the Black Dog Running Club, throughout the community.
The festival is now in its third year.
Stuart Pearson Wright, Joint festival organiser and artist, said: “The story of Black Shuck is important to the people of Bungay because of the way in which folk tales and legends confer a sense of regional or local identity.
"This helps foster a sense of belonging and connection to a place.
“The art of storytelling is fundamental to being human and has been intrinsic to our culture
throughout our evolution.
"It represents the best of us: the sharing of wisdom, wit and lore, often around a fire and almost always accompanied by food. Therefore, it is imperative to keep storytelling and folklore alive.
“The tale of Black Shuck and his terrible deeds in Bungay is also, by any standards, a fantastic
story.
"It could be interpreted in many ways: as a werewolf myth, a piece of Christian propaganda, it could be connected to Norse mythology and the tales of Odin’s wild hunt, or perhaps Shuck is simply a manifestation of our darkest fears and neuroses, the idea of chaos and the unknown.
"Either way, the story provides us with an opportunity to explore, interpret and relive this
extraordinary story for perpetuity.”
A visit to the town across the festival weekend of August 2-4 will reveal theatre, music,
puppetry, dance, film, exhibitions, storytelling, poetry, a disco, comedy, creative and wellbeing
workshops, tours, a carnival, a costume parade, fun run and the ever-popular Shuck Shop.
For more information visit www.blackshuckfestival.com
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