Following on from the success of The Twisting Field, which was the finale to York's recent Literature Festival, Read Write York is offering a pair of free tickets to another adult storytelling event taking place next week.

Shonaleigh Cumbers and Rick Wilson return to York with Helen East and Hassan Erraji to perform 'Unbridled', a new storytelling and musical performance that interweaves traditional tales of people being silenced with contemporary accounts gathered from workshops and personal experience. The title refers to the Scold's Bridle, which was a mouth clamp device used to punish talkative women whose  speech was considered 'riotous' or 'troublesome'. The artists have drawn on personal experiences, dreams, family stories, their combined knowledge of folktales, beliefs, and music from their diverse backgrounds, as well as a huge amount of traditional material, individual testimony and community experience.

'Unbridled' will be performed on Thursday 10 May at the Friargate Theatre and tickets are priced between £4 and £6. To stand a chance of winning a free pair of tickets, email your name, address and telephone number to anne.mortimer@york.gov.uk no later than Monday 7 May. Entries should be clearly marked 'Unbridled competition'.

Other events include the 'Vikings, Ghosts and way-back-when'  session taking place this Thursday 3 May, which will be hosted by  Adrian Spendlow and attended by two special guests, Ron and Connie Spendlow. Ron is known for his stories about the steam days of the railway and will be sharing stories from his forthcoming DVD. Connie travels widely entertaining audiences with tales from her book, in particular Navy Blue Knickers and Things That Go Bump In The Night. Performances start at 8pm at Williams Bar on Goodramgate. Admission is £3 per person.

Also taking place this Thursday evening at 7.30pm, local author Tricia Walker will be visiting Borders on Davygate to launch her book Benedict's Brother. This follows the overwhelmingly positive response to her blog of the same name.

On Friday 4 May York Poetry Society will host an evening of 'Poems of Betrayal and Infidelity' led by Linda Sheridan. Taking place at Jacob's Well on Trinity Street between 7.30pm and 9.30pm, the session is an informal gathering of poetry lovers who meet on the first Friday of each month to read, discuss and learn about poetry. Visitors are welcome and the £2 admission fee includes refreshments.

To add your details to the mailing list for the Read Write York e-newsletter, contact  Anne Mortimer on 01904 552838 or email anne.mortimer@york.gov.uk. Anne can also provide more information about the events outlined above.