Bringing a sparkle of magic to the Festival of Stories in 2025:
Cassandra Wye has travelled the world, for over 30 years, telling stories from Barbados to Borneo, from the heart of the rainforest to the roof of the world. Fizzing with exuberance, energy and enthusiasm, their love of stories and storytelling knows no boundaries. Cassandra swoops audiences of all ages off on unforgettable adventures wherever they go.
Cassandra passionately believes that storytelling can and should be for everyone - and has pioneered ground-breaking inclusive storytelling initiatives in the UK, USA, Africa and Asia to increase access to arts and education for marginalised children and young people.
Ellie Sandall has worked as a freelance author and illustrator for seventeen years, graduating from Cambridge School of Art with an MA in children’s book illustration in 2007. Ellie creates picture books for two to six-year-olds, generally featuring animal characters and nature. The characters are often based on animals Ellie sketched while visiting zoos, and Ellie’s latest book, 'Balancing Bernie', features many dogs including Ellie’s own Basset Hound.
Ellie works largely in watercolour, pastel, crayon and collage, and loves experimenting with a mixed media approach. Ellie likes to create books inspired by the interactions between siblings, friends and family groups. The books have a playful feel, and the artwork features lots of colours, patterns, and textures.
Alongside Ellie’s illustration work, Ellie enjoys working with children and running art classes and finds children’s natural creativity and enjoyment of experimenting with materials inspirational.
Marion Leeper has been a supporter of Talking Together in Cambridgeshire and the Festival of Stories from the start and has delivered many storytelling sessions to families across Cambridgeshire on our behalf, as well as storytelling workshops for those working with children.
Marion is a weaver of words, and teller of legends, fables and tall tales, with surprises galore in their coat of many pockets. Marion is well-known in Cambridgeshire for their amazing story mat, and outdoor show 'Love Stories for the Earth', and for the fun, the silly songs, and the chances to join in when the stories start.
Nicola Wallis worked as a primary and nursery teacher for many years and is now a Practitioner Researcher at the Fitzwilliam Museum, specialising in early childhood. They love sharing objects and artwork from the Museum with people, and seeing what new stories they might inspire. Nicola believes that everyone's stories are important and worth listening to.
