Review: LoreFolk - The Whiting's On The Wall (04.10.2025)

Norfolk-based verbatim theatre company, The Whiting's On The Wall, began their tour of LoreFolk at The Garage in Norwich, and left a rapt audience with a thirst for more info on the folklore tales and local legends that are still recounted to this day.

Fronted by company founder, Katie-anna Whiting, LoreFolk features a handful of stories volunteered by visitors to the Norfolk Book Fair. And it's their strange tales, eerie happenings, and bizarre turns of phrase that take centre stage, as Whiting performs their words, verbatim.

First and foremost, Whiting's characterisations were excellent - whether it was an old boy down the pub, a slightly awkwardly spoken younger man, or a more mature woman recalling her mother's quirks, Whiting charmingly captured their unvarnished essence perfectly.

Added to that, LoreFolk was thoughtfully staged with atmospheric music from SkinnyBoy Tunes underscoring much of the gentle action, and creative use of various props including an old school overhead projector aiding the visual appeal of the show.

It was at times frustratingly short on detail, but being a verbatim piece meant the company were limited to the info they'd been gifted. But perhaps therein lies the takeaway from the show - if the tales have piqued your interest, why not carry out some research, and play your part in keeping local folklore alive.

LoreFolk continues its tour of venues across Norfolk and Suffolk throughout October and a bit of November. Visit thewhitingsonthewall.com for more details.