THE CHELMSLEY TALES
Discover the stories hidden in Chelmsley Wood.
The Chelmsley Tales is a collection of magical stories inspired by the folklore, history and imagination of Chelmsley Wood. Created with Solihull-based artists and rooted in local legends, these tales celebrate the people, places and myths that make Chelmsley unique.
What began as a live outdoor theatre show has now been reimagined as a series of beautifully produced audio stories, so families, schools and curious listeners can enjoy them wherever they are.
Listen to The Chelmsley Tales!
Discover four audio adventures inspired by the history, folklore and legends of Chelmsley Wood.
Created and performed by Charis McRoberts, Ruth Mestel and Skylar Mabry, with additional voices by Nathan Blyth and sound by Elizabeth J. Birch, each tale is accompanied by original illustrations from Ronnie Cashmore, the Chelmsley Wood artist whose stories first inspired The Chelmsley Tales.
Choose a tale below, press play and step into the weird and wonderful world of Chelmsley Wood...
Chelmund and The Woodlings
Deep in the woods of Chelmsley, a group of children stumble upon a mysterious Woodling with a tale to tell. Discover the story of the fearsome Saxon Chelmund, his battle with the mischievous creatures of the forest, and the unusual agreement that might just explain why things still mysteriously go missing in Chelmsley Wood today…
The Grinnall and The White Hart
Proud King Henry sets out into the woods of Kingshurst, determined to hunt the legendary White Hart of Coleshill. But when he ignores a mysterious Grinnall’s warning, his hunt takes a terrifying turn – and the King discovers why the creatures of the forest should always be treated with respect.
Eliza Lott
Beautiful and ambitious Eliza Lott marries the wealthy old Ezra Wisefellow with her sights firmly set on his fortune. But when she seeks the help of a mischievous Woodling to speed up her plans, she soon discovers that appearances can be deceiving – and her wicked scheme might just come back to haunt her.
The Mountebank
Roll up, roll up and meet Dr Jack Curesure, a travelling showman with a miracle tonic that promises to cure absolutely anything! But when his long-suffering assistant Tom has had enough of eating toads and fooling the crowds, Dr Jack’s spectacular scam is in danger of being exposed.
The Story Behind the Tales
In summer 2024, The Chelmsley Tale was commissioned by Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council as part of Fresh Air Theatre Festival, bringing free outdoor theatre to parks across Solihull. Performed by Skylar Mabry, Ruth Mestel and Charis McRoberts, the show combined storytelling, comedy and folklore to introduce audiences to the mythical Woodlings and the curious characters of Chelmsley's past.
Following its success, Solihull CEP secured additional funding to take the production into 30 schools across the borough during 2025. Thousands of children experienced the performance alongside creative drama workshops exploring local history, identity and storytelling.
Now, the stories have been transformed into a lasting audio collection, allowing even more people to discover the legends of Chelmsley Wood.
