Commemorative photograph of Bloomsday 2018 outside Hastings Library Photo Alex Brattell

Success of Bloomsday1066

On 16 June, Bloomsday1066 came to Hastings Library, celebrated with readings from James Joyce’s novel, Ulysses, the events of which took place in Dublin on that day in 1904. 

Focussing on episode nine, where Joyce’s alter ego, Stephen Dedalus debates Shakespeare’s Hamlet with three librarians, local dramatist Mike Punter read from the book, Emily Carding played Hamlet and Yumimo Seki performed Hamlet’s confrontation with the ghost of his father. Librarian Mr Henry Young took the place of Mr Richard Best in Episode 9 of Ulysses and hosted the morning to great applause in full 1904 attire.

Emily Carding as Hamlet and Yumino Seki as Ghost with the librarians and Stephen Dedalus (Michael Punter) Photo Alex Brattell

Later in the afternoon, Barbaros hosted afternoon tea at the café Grand Rue de Péra in Queen’s Road, whilst Peter Ford led the audience in a round of musical hall songs from the time, many of which are referenced in the book. The events were conceived by Lucy Brennan-Shiel and Bloomsday 1066 is now the project name for Bloomsday events run by The Joyce Group, a new charity to celebrate the life and work of James Joyce in Hastings. The Ulysses reading group will start back in September on Episode 11 at Grande Café Rue de Pera, Queens Road on 12 September from 7pm to 8.30pm.

Librarians and Buck Mulligan (from left to right – Howard Colyer, writer & artist, Brian Docherty poet and writer, Harry Lyons and Michael Mitchell Photo Alex Brattell

The events were part funded by the Isabel Blackman and Magdalen & Lasher charities, and the staff of Hastings Library are thanked for giving up their time and space, in what was a joyful launch for events in the new library.

The ‘real’ librarians posing as 1904 Photo Alex Brattell

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