Hugh Lupton author page

Hugh Lupton biography

Hugh Lupton is a British storyteller, author, poet and lyricist whose work includes traditional folk tales, mythology and historical narratives. He became a professional storyteller in 1981, initially working largely in schools. In 1985, he co-founded the Company of Storytellers with Ben Haggarty and Sally Pomme Clayton. The company toured Britain for twelve years, performing in theatres and arts centres, running workshops and contributing to educational projects, including the National Oracy Project.

Lupton’s children’s books include Tales of Wisdom and Wonder (1998), illustrated by Niamh Sharkey, and The Story Tree: Tales to Read Aloud (2001), illustrated by Sophie Fatus. Both were published by Barefoot Books and bring together traditional stories from different cultures. The Story Tree contains seven folk tales from countries including Germany, Norway and Russia. His other collections include The Songs of Birds (2000), illustrated by Steve Palin, and Riddle Me This! (2007), illustrated by Sophie Fatus.

Lupton has collaborated with Welsh storyteller Daniel Morden on retellings of classical Greek mythology for younger readers. Their books, published by Barefoot Books, include The Adventures of Odysseus (2006), illustrated by Christina Balit, The Adventures of Achilles (2012), illustrated by Carole Hénaff, and Greek Myths: Three Heroic Tales (2017). The Adventures of Odysseus recounts the Greek hero’s dangerous journey home following the Trojan War, including his encounters with gods and monsters.

Alongside his children’s writing, Lupton has published Norfolk Folk Tales (2014) with The History Press and the novels The Ballad of John Clare (2010) and The Assembly of the Severed Head (2018). His storytelling performances have taken place at venues including the National Theatre, the Barbican and the Royal Shakespeare Company’s Swan Theatre. In 2006, Lupton and Daniel Morden received the Classical Association Prize for their contribution to public understanding of the classics.