Skip to main content

Shapeshifters: A History

This event is cancelled. John is not coming to the UK at this time. We wish him all the best. Here is a recording of a similar talk John did for us online in the very early days of the first Covid lockdown. 



Real or imaginary, shapeshifters lurk deep in our psyches and remain formidable cultural icons. The myths and magic surrounding shapeshifters are brought vividly to life in John B. Kachuba’s compelling and original cultural history.

Tuesday 10 September 2024

7 pm doors. 7.30 pm start. 

£5 / £3 Concessions Advance Booking

The Miller, 96 Snowsfields, London Bridge, London SE1 3SS
Tube and Rail: London Bridge
Facebook Page 

There is something about a shapeshifter – a person who can transform into an animal – that captures our imagination; and causes us to want to howl at the moon or flit through the night like a bat. Werewolves, vampires, demons, and other weird creatures appeal to our animal nature, our dark side, and our desire to break free of the bonds of society and proper behaviour. Rituals in early cultures worldwide seemingly allowed shamans, sorcerers, witches, and wizards to transform at will into animals and back again.

Today millions of people believe that shapeshifters walk among us and may even be world leaders. Real or imaginary, shapeshifters lurk deep in our psyches and remain formidable cultural icons. The myths and magic surrounding shapeshifters are brought vividly to life in John B. Kachuba’s compelling and original cultural history. Featuring a fantastic and ghoulish array of examples from history, literature, film, TV, and computer games, Shapeshifters explores our secret desire to become something other than human.


Shapeshifters: A History will be available to buy on the night.

John B. Kachuba is an award-winning author and Creative Writing instructor at Ohio University. He has investigated over one hundred haunted locations worldwide; his books include Ghosthunters (2007) and Dark Entry (2018).

Tuesday 10 September 2024

7 pm doors. 7.30 pm start. 

£5 / £3 Concessions Advance Booking

The Miller, 96 Snowsfields, London Bridge, London SE1 3SS
Tube and Rail: London Bridge
Facebook Page 


Comments

Popular posts from this blog

The Haunted Landscape 2025: Ghosts, Magic and Lore

Whose claws are scratching at the church door? What’s that ghost tumbling over the moor? Who’s that figure cut into the earth? What can I do to lift this curse?  Join us for a legendary trip through the seventh Haunted Landscape, our day of expert talks on British ghosts, magic, and folklore. Photo by Henrik L. on Unsplash The Haunted Landscape: Ghosts, Magic and Lore 22 November 2025 10 am - 5 pm  In advance: Standard £25 / Living Support £17 / Student £21 (inc. £2 venue levy) Advance Tickets Online: £12   (inc. £2 venue levy)  Advance Tickets Conway Hall , 25 Red Lion Square, London, WC1R 4RL Tube: Holborn London Fortean Email List Age Recommendation: All ages. Under 16s must be accompanied by an adult. Photo by AJO JOSE on Unsplash Going to the Haunted Landscape, online and at Conway Hall, next Saturday? Or planning to? It'll be a deep, dark dive into British folklore with some fine speakers.  Here is the schedule for the day:  10:00 Intro  1...

Strange Central 2026: Mysteries, Monsters, Ghosts and UFOs

A day of ghosts, monsters, UFOs and Fortean strangeness on 18 April 202 at Conway Hall, central London and online. Join the London Fortean Society for a day of deep dives into the paranormal world. We will be hosting expert talks on ghost hunting, flying saucers, sea monsters, sasquatches, and more. Saturday 18 April 2026 10 am - 5 pm In advance: Standard £25 / Living Support £17 / Student £21 (inc. £2 venue levy) Advance Tickets Online: £12 (inc. £2 venue levy) Advance Tickets Conway Hall , 25 Red Lion Square, London, WC1R 4RL Getting to Conway Hall Join the London Fortean Email List All ages. Under 16s must be accompanied by an adult. Darren Naish: Sea Monsters Past and Present Ever since ancient times, people have believed that giant, monstrous animals inhabit the seas. If such creatures are real, could they have a direct relationship to the giant sea reptiles - in particular, the long-necked plesiosaurs - of the geological past? Join esteemed author and palaeozoologist Dr Darren ...
  *** TUBE STRIKE *** Although the tube strike has been called off, we'd already shifted the date of our next meeting at the Bell, Jeremy Harte speaking on Gypsies and the Supernatural , from Tuesday July 25 to Tuesday August 1 . Please note that we're sticking with this new date.