“There is at least one spot in the world where fairies are still believed in, and where, if you look in the right places, they may still be found, and that is Ellan Vannin, the Isle of Man.” - Sophia Morrison
Inspired by the traditional Manx Fairytales collected and compiled by Sophia Morrison, 'Mona's Isle' is a podcast and story which weaves a new seam through the rich tapestry of folklore of the Isle of Man. Featuring a cast of familiar Manx voices (along with special guest stars John Rhys-Davies and Samantha Barks) and set to a mystical, original score composed by David Kilgallon.
The podcast, supported by the Isle of Man Arts Council and Culture Vannin is up to its eleventh episode (so far), we sat down to chat with creator and narrator Kyle Withington, about the origins of the podcast and what we can look forward to next in the unfolding story of 'Mona's Isle'.
Tell us about yourself and your project?
Hi, I’m Kyle and I narrate the Mona's Isle podcast. I’m a multimedia artist, performer, and born and raised Manxman. I spent my younger years involved in the island’s incredible amateur theatre scene and aboard the cherished ‘ComputerBus’ that visited the island’s schools.
Mona’s Isle is a fiction podcast in the folk and fairy genre aimed at those on the island who love our incredible and unique folklore, and to hopefully inspire others further afield to learn more about our beautiful island too.
Episode by episode we follow Ashley, Rory, and their father Arty as they travel to Isle of Man and stay with the eccentric Granny Mona to fulfil their mother’s last wish. Along the way we meet beasts both malignant and benign, and unearth a family secret that will change the island forever.
What first inspired the podcast?
The show was really my ‘lockdown project’. Having grown up on the island I am now settled in the UK, and like so many, the pandemic kept me from coming over to see family. I’ve always loved the folk stories of the island, having first heard them in my time at Auldyn Infants School and Dhoon School.
Returning to them as an adult, I was taken by just how fragmented they seemed so (with a little creative license) I wrote the premise for Mona’s Isle, a tale that brings them into one literary ‘world’ — all told as a podcast — a medium that comes close to the oral tradition these stories were born out of.
It’s my greatest hope for the project that it inspires those who love Manx tales already, but is also accessible to those who may not yet know much about them, or our beautiful island.
How did you get John Rhys-Davies involved with joining the voice cast for episode one?
John happened to be recording for a different project at the same studio we were privileged to be allowed to use for recording the show. We bumped into him briefly one day at the end of our session and a few months later I sent a message asking if he’d lend his voice to the Irish Giant, Finn McCooil. He was an absolutely great sport, giving the lines the full John Rhys-Davies treatment and even giving us some great roars to use when Finn famously throws the great clod of earth that becomes the Isle of Man.
The recording came through as an email to me on my birthday last year, which was quite the surprise!
Which episode has been your favourite so far and why?
My favourite episode to date is ‘Comeovers’ (episode 10) — the second in our latest batch of episodes. It all takes place in Ballaglass Glen as the Maughold community gather for a duck race. Writing it really took me back to the amazing time I had attending events held by the Maughold Social Club back when I was the age of Rory and Ashley (the show’s principal characters). Our amazing audio designer, Douglas North, did an incredible job with the sound-scaping on this episode, and you really feel like you’re right there in the action.
Can we expect a spooky Hop-tu-Naa special at some point?
You can look forward to the dramatic finale of part 2 of the series at Hop-tu-Naa this year. Although the episode is not set on Hop-tu-Naa night, it does feature some wicked enchantments and the frightful Maughold coven in action!
The island has such a rich history of folklore and fairytales, are there any particular tales you’d love to incorporate into the story of Mona’s Isle?
There are so many! The real beauty of Manx lore is the variety, and that’s precisely what I’ve aimed to celebrate in Mona’s Isle so far. Some stories told in the show are straight retellings of classic tales (The Giant’s Battle in Episode 1 and the Buggane of St Trinian’s in Episode 5), while others are just whispers of tales and superstitions. I do have big plans for retelling the story of Jinny the Witch in the Mona’s Isle ‘world’ - so hang tight on that one.
Have you always been interested in Manx folklore and fairytales?
Yes! In fact, during my studies as a Masters student, I wrote an essay on how the modern Manx identity has been shaped by our folklore and mythology. It’s called ‘The Myths of Modern Mann’ and is listed in the MNH archive and on the iMuseum website.
Do you think a podcast of this nature was something that the island had been missing?
Yes, I really do think this podcast is something the island’s been missing. We have a great deal of content out there that retells the folklore of the island, as collected by antiquarians like Sophia Morrison or A. W. Moore, but little exists that aims to tell these stories again in a way that resonates with the modern media landscape we live in today. Arguably the oral tradition these tales come from has now expanded to include the world of podcasts - where anyone in the world can choose to sit around the fire and listen to your story.
This new age also asks for new methods of telling stories too. The serialisation of content on streaming services like Netflix, Amazon and Disney+ has lead audiences to view ‘lore’ in a new way - desiring content that places them within an immersive ‘world’ built by the teller. The Isle of Man’s folklore is so rich and vibrant it has every right to be represented in this new landscape for new audiences, whilst also giving those very familiar with Manx tales a different way to enjoy them too.
In much the same way that a fairy dies each time someone says they don’t believe, folklore is only as alive as those who choose to tell it or listen to it. Mona’s Isle hopes to use the best of modern storytelling and platforms to open that door wide to anyone who wants to warm themselves by that fire.
What has the reaction been like to the podcast?
Reaction to the first 8 episodes of the show has been truly lovely so far! People have particularly remarked on how much they love the wonderful Manx score written for us by the incredibly talented David Kilgallon, who has also acted as our resident Manx language expert on the show.
Here are some direct quotes from audience members:
“I’ve just listened across the ocean in Canada. Very lovely and brought a tear to my eye. Looking forward to more episodes!”
“Beautiful, hypnotic score and poignant storyline. Quality acting - looking forward to next installment.”
“This sounds wonderful! I’m newly arrived on the Isle of Man, so this is perfect for me!”
How did you find out about Isle of Man Arts Council and what funding was available to you?
I’ve known of the Arts Council since I was about 10 and first entered the Young Filmmaker of Mann competition they ran each year! This project was the second time I’ve been successful in applying for Arts Council funding as they also funded the production of ‘Gurfa’ my dissertation film when I was a final-year University student which later won Best Manx Independent Film at the Isle of Man Film Festival in 2017.
What type of funding did you apply for?
I applied for and was awarded joint grant funding from the Isle of Man Arts Council and Culture Vannin. This covered the production of the show’s first 14 episodes.
Would you have been able to do this without Isle of Man Arts Council funding?
The grant funding we were awarded has given us the opportunity to give what is essentially a grass-roots creative project the full, professional audio treatment. The cast, recording, original score and mixing of the show are on par with any big-name audio drama, and build an atmosphere that our fledgling audience has come to love. We owe this to the support both institutions have given us and are so grateful that both the Arts Council and Culture Vannin are there to support projects like this one!
Would you apply again to the Isle of Man Arts Council?
Absolutely - I’ve loved Mona’s Isle and I have the bug now! It’s fantastic to have such a brilliant team and funding dedicated to making great creative ideas possible on the island.
