Bullets, Bears, Busójárás

Dr Stuart Mitchell hosts theCurious Histories'series of charity talks. He's a historian who works at the Open University, chairing its Masters' programme in local history from 2018 to 2022. He's lived in Brighton for more than a decade and is especially keen to bring the curious and unconventional side of his subject to a wider audience.

Curious Histories

The cult of Gavrilo Princip, esoteric folk traditions in Romania and Hungary, and a family history told through three teddy bears.

East Street Tap

Curious Histories: Charity History Talks

Benefitting a number of small charities, the Curious Histories lecture series showcases the half-forgotten, unconventional and overlooked stories of the past. It runs at a variety of venues across Brighton and Hove and also incorporates online talks.

Our rescheduled <a href="https://www.foodandfriendship.org.uk/blank-1" title="https://www.foodandfriendship.org.uk/blank-1" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Food and Friendship</a> fundraiser features three Eastern European flavoured tales, as Suzanne Rolfe, Annika Mombauer, and Pete Fijalkowski take us on some unorthodox historical journeys. Join us at Brighton's friendly, quirky East Street Tap. Doors will open at 7pm, with first talk beginning around 7.30pm. There will be an interval, and we aim to finish about half-nine. Our talks: The Three BearsLeading us from Stalinist Siberia, via Poland and Surrey, to his latest musical exploits, Pete Fij tells the story of three teddy bears that belonged to members of his family. Gavrilo Princip: Villain or Hero?Professor Annika Mombauer takes us from pre-First World War Sarajevo to twenty-first century Serbia to uncover the strange case of Gavrilo Princip. He seems destined to be remembered in the public mind as the assassin of Archduke Franz Ferdinand and, perhaps, as the man who started the First World War. There is, however, far more to his story, and to his legacy, than popularly imagined. Bears, Gourds, and Romanian CursesAs part of her ongoing explorations into Europe's folkloric celebrations, Suzanne Rolfe recently visited the bear dances of Romania and the Busójárás masked festival of Hungary. Here, she'll be examining their origins and survival, and how these strange festivities are practiced today. Our speakers: Suzanne Rolfe is a lecturer, artist, and public speaker based in Brighton. <a href="https://substack.com/@sooxanne" title="https://substack.com/@sooxanne" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Her work</a> centres on exploring and photographing the strange and esoteric masked festivals of Europe, including Krampus of Austria, Kukeri of Bulgaria, and Busójárás of Hungary. These encounters form the starting point for research, storytelling, and curating exhibitions. Through her practice, Suzanne enjoys creating spaces that share the knowledge, curiosity, and lived experience of these festivals with the wider public. Pete Fij runs one of Sussex's most well-known spoken word events, the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/SpeakEasyClubNights" title="https://www.facebook.com/SpeakEasyClubNights" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Speakeasy Club</a> in Worthing. He's appearing at Curious Histories for a third time, following his thrilling tales of Wojtek the soldier bear in 2024 and sports-and-adventure comics last year. He's also an accomplished <a href="https://youtu.be/hdvGHNdmxA0?si=m6u3jqBbEPb51gQt" title="https://youtu.be/hdvGHNdmxA0?si=m6u3jqBbEPb51gQt" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">singer-songwriter</a> and a "brilliant storyteller and raconteur" (David Bramwell of Brighton's Catalyst Club). Annika Mombauer is Professor of Modern European History at the Open University and an international expert on the origins of the First World War. She is the author of numerous books and articles, notably <a href="https://www.routledge.com/The-Causes-of-the-First-World-War-The-Long-Blame-Game/Mombauer/p/book/9780815347941" title="https://www.routledge.com/The-Causes-of-the-First-World-War-The-Long-Blame-Game/Mombauer/p/book/9780815347941" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">The Causes of the First World War: The Long Blame Game</a> (Routledge) and <a href="https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/helmuth-von-moltke-and-the-origins-of-the-first-world-war" title="https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/helmuth-von-moltke-and-the-origins-of-the-first-world-war" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Helmuth von Moltke and the Origins of the First World War</a> (CUP). Our chosen charity: We're asking for a small donation to attend the lecture, but we're delighted to say that all proceeds from the show will be going to help <a href="https://www.foodandfriendship.org.uk/blank-1" title="https://www.foodandfriendship.org.uk/blank-1" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Food and Friendship</a>. It's a small and intensely local charity which provides lunch clubs for the elderly and those with learning disabilities in Brighton and Hove. Many of its guests suffer reduced social networks due to bereavement, restricted mobility, health conditions such as dementia, and sensory impairments. Food and Friendship's lunch clubs provide a vital social lifeline that helps people feel connected to their community and improves their mental wellbeing. FAQsHow do I find out more about Curious Histories?You can follow us <a href="https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/curious-histories-29797630479" title="https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/curious-histories-29797630479" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">here on eventbrite</a>, or join our public <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/CuriousHistoriesHoveBrighton" title="https://www.facebook.com/groups/CuriousHistoriesHoveBrighton" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">facebook chat group</a>.How does the ticketing work?The tickets are by donation and we request £5 per person. If you would like to get more than one ticket, simply enter a figure in multiples of five. In other words, £10 buys you two tickets, £15 buys three, and so on.What's the easiest way to get to the East Street Tap?It's towards the southern end of East Street, in the Lanes. On-street parking in the vicinity is very limited, but the NCP theatre car park on Church Street is reasonably close. Better still, all major city bus routes stop within a three-minute walk of the venue (alight at North Street). Brighton railway station is approximately a fifteen-minute walk from the pub.What refreshments will be available?Buy your drinks in the bar downstairs before the event and at the interval - you can bring them up to the show.How does this Curious Histories event support good causes?We're delighted to say that proceeds from the show will be going to help Food &amp; Friendship.Are there ID or minimum age requirements to attend the talks?The event will be held in licensed premises, so sadly minimum age is 18.Do I have to bring my printed ticket to the event?No, we will have a list of names on the door.What if I've bought a ticket but am unable to come?If you're not able to come, you are welcome to offer your ticket to someone else. If you can't give your ticket to another person, drop Curious Histories a line - if the event is sold out we may be able to re-sell it for you.Will latecomers be admitted?Talks will begin at approx 7.30pm, but there will be some places reserved for latecomers.Is there wheelchair access to the venue?Unfortunately, the nature of the building makes wheelchair access to the upper floor of the pub impossible.

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Bullets, Bears, Busójárás

Good to know

Location

East Street Tap

How do you want to get there?

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Prisoners of Norman Cross, the World's First POW Camp

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