Storyteller and academic Daisy Black presents a remarkable thirteenth-century tale of disguise, high adventure, public baths, gender fluidity, straight-talking angels, and the power of queer love.
Detailed Description
Yde and Olive: A medieval love story
Keele University Chapel | Monday 24 November 2025
6:30 - 8:30pm
FREE ENTRY
The baby’s first clothes were wide bands of wool. Their small limbs were bound, tenderly and
close, to help them grow strong. To help them grow straight.
From their cradle, they could hear the uttered prayers of a priest, the rush of poured water.
The baby blinked as drops of holy water flicked across their brow.
They were given a name. Yde.
And with it came flocking other words. ‘She’. And ‘Her’.
Baby Yde scrunched up her nose, and yawned.
Yde grew up reading of knights, sieges and her own mother’s daring deeds. So when faced
with an unwanted marriage, she knew she’d rather fly across the frozen sea than sit around
and wait for it to happen. Disguising herself as a man, Yde cuts her own paths to freedom,
fighting battles, outwitting thieves, winning over kings and finding comfort in her new
clothing. Until one day, she meets her match in Olive: a woman whose spirit is every bit as
courageous as her own…
Storyteller and academic Daisy Black presents a remarkable thirteenth-century tale of
disguise, high adventure, public baths, gender fluidity, straight-talking angels, and the power
of queer love.
Weaving together medieval narrative with modern folk song, this performance will take you
from birthing chambers to military barracks, through moonlit country lanes and woods
stained with slaughter, and from quiet chapels to court chambers crackling with gossip.
This show is 90 minutes long, and suitable for ages 13 and up. Children under 16 should be
accompanied by an adult.
Feedback from the world premiere at the Gender and Medieval Studies conference,
Lincoln:
‘A beautiful mix of pathos and humour. I found it mesmerising and moving’.
‘Incredible storytelling…medieval queer and trans joy’.
‘I loved hearing about medieval queer history and experiencing such a beautifully told story!
Immersive and full of suspense and empathy.’
‘Such a powerful and accessible way to share a story and create something so beautiful about
tolerance.’
PARKING & HOW TO FIND US: Parking is free on campus after 5pm on a weekday and during the weekend. The closest car park to the University Chapel is the pay and display car park located on Union Square. Campus map here: https://www.keele.ac.uk/about/howtofindus/maps/keele-campus-map.pdf
Keele Chapel is in Building 7 on this map. This car park is free during the evening and at weekends and pay and display during weekdays until 5pm only.
ACCESS:https://www.accessable.co.uk/keele-university/access-guides/chapel
