From theatre, music and performance, to art, literature, and history, the Black Shuck Festival will offer exciting and thrilling activities for all ages and abilities, immersing visitors in the rich folklore of the region, set in the stunning natural environment of Bungay and the Waveney valley.
The East Anglian legend of Black Shuck tells of a wild black dog that entered Bungay’s St Mary’s Church during a violent storm on 4 August 1577. The animal then reappeared at Blythburgh church, where it was trapped and its claw marks, burned into the surface of the door, can be seen to this day.
For centuries, visitors and residents alike have marvelled at the details of these mysterious events and its protagonist, The Black Dog of Bungay, or Black Shuck. There remains a lingering superstition that Black Shuck still haunts the dark, lonesome lanes of Bungay and other Suffolk towns.
Living in the collective imaginations of local writers and artists of all mediums, the Black Shuck legend still influences the works produced here and continually attracts visitors to this unique and wonderful town.
The festival was established in 2022 to reclaim the legend, and the date, for the town of Bungay.
To take part in this year’s festival as a performer or volunteer, please email info@blackshuckfestival.com
Read Reverend Abraham Fleming’s account of the “Straunge and Terrible Wunder”!
