Yde and Olive at Sheffield Storyforge

Yde and Olive: A medieval lesbian romance

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 monarchs 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.