Cutpurses, pedlars, great sewafarers, wealthy merchants, cobbblers, ploughmen and even the devil himself are to be heard in Tudor Tales of Terror: Family Tales, part of a Telling Tales Weekend at the Ashmolean Museum.

Performed by Past Imagined, this heady brew of lively tales brings to life the characters of the Tudor world. It is a family event on Sunday at 2pm and is free but places are limited so you will need to book.

Tonight at 6pm, it's the turn of the Stuarts in Jacobean Jests and Stories of the Sensational Stuarts.

It is a celebration of the period with a distinctive blend of japes, jokes and wonders that throw light on the 1600s.

This is aimed at children at children aged over 12 and adults. Tickets cost £5. Again booking is essential.

Tomorrow sees an all-day event devoted to the art of storytelling.

This will explore the practical skills of the art and will cover choosing, adapting and remembering stories, using your voice and gesture, eye contact and facing your audience. How to deveIop deas will also be looked at.

The Telling Tales workshop is for adults and is from 10am to 3.30pm. Cost is £35 and booking is essential.

For bookings and further information, call 01865 278015.