A Pint of Festive Stories in Winchester

 Merry Christmas One and All!
It was a magical story night in the cellar of The Hyde Tavern this month. 

A pot of spiced cider bubbled in the corner and the room held its breath waiting for visitors to arrive and share stories and mince pies around the fireside.

Though we were few in number the warmth of heart and companionship was not diminished.  


Tales of feasting, late night and unexpected visitors, mistletoe, a masquerade ball, a juggler, a dancing cowboy & the Russian legend of Babouska framed the event beautifully.  

A huge thank you to those who told stories with me and those who listened and drew in close around the fire. It was a wonderful way to celebrate our first Christmas in this amazing venue, we hope there will be many more to come. 

Next month January 9th at 8pm we will be gathering once more for tales of Snow and Ice. Excitingly our programme of stories already including two hauntingly beautiful Russian tales to be told by Mike and Jane.  

Do join us the theme might be chilly but we hope the fire will be roaring... 

Memories are made of this...

Don't forget, this Wednesday, 14th Novemember @8pm, stories and reminiscences on the theme of 'Remember' 


Come along and join us in the cellar
 of the Hyde Tavern Pub, Winchester.
  
Create yourself a new memory that is more colourful than this grey November drizzle.



Lend us your ears, imagination and memories to weave a bespoke evening of tales, a night you won't forget!
  

Storytelling Workshop with Havant Early Learning Partnership

Just a few photos from the amazing day I had yesterday with the HELP project, at Sharps Copse Children's Centre.  I was excited to deliver a workshop to a local cluster of Preschool and Foundation Stage Staff, exploring the true magic of Stories and Storytelling to develop language, literacy and creativity in young children. 

My aim was to enthuse, re-enchant and explore how sharing tales meets children where they are, strengthens and enhances both communication and relationships. You are never "Just telling a story?". 

There was laughter, colour, songs, stories, objects, fabrics and buckets of enthusiasm as I took people through how many of the early years curriculum objectives can be met with 'story' and shared techniques, hints and tips.   Time flew and the air was humming, as people gleaned ideas, remembered and validated how to turn storytime into a main event rather than an extra, or time filler! 

From the questions and feedback at the end of the session, I went home confident that the local children would reap the benefit and my mission for the day had been accomplished!

What's on in the New Forest Tomorrow?

Stories on the farm have been going down extremely well at Beaulieu today as part of at the Out of Town Centre open day "The Countryside on Show".  

It was my first visit to this fantastic centre, run by the Countryside Education Trust, the air was full of the sights, sound and smells of a wide variety goats, horses, chickens, pigs... and alive with the thrum of activity.

As Taprisha and I set up among the hay bales in the barn we were inspected by a wandering flock of white geese, who also waddled by at other times - including while I told of Goosey Loosey and Chicken Licken.  With our stage set including welcoming flags to attract attention and woodland animal toys nestled among the straw, we were ready for our audiences.

And what lovely audiences they were! Lots of smiling faces and giggles, lots of joining with key phrases in familiar favourite tales and singing along with songs and ditties in new ones.

  "And he huffed and he puffed and he..."  
           
  "Can't catch me I'm the ...." 


It was great to see families enjoying their time listening together, and with encouragement even those without kids in tow found themselves being drawn to the barn to listen.

Amelia and Lacey's story fun was made all the more complete when they won a cuddly owl in our raffle - don't they look proud!

Big Smiles from the Raffle Winners

Next Raffle Prize:
This Lovely Badger

The best news is that if you missed out today, then the fun continues tomorrow with pony rides, meet the animals, goat milking, mud oven pizza making, falconry, woodworking, tasty speciality burgers and of course more STORYTELLING! 

Hope to see you there perhaps - it's a great setting and a wonderful day out, click the links above to find out more.  

ps. It stayed dry but wellies are a very good idea!

Storytelling with Year 4

This week I spent an afternoon taking children adventuring in the rain forest and climbing mountains in South America with courageous parrots saving the day in both stories.

90 children and me were squished into a Year 4 classroom but together we travelled great distances in our imaginations.

I had a fantastic time and so did the children who were lost deep in the images - even looking behind them to see the approaching storm clouds and mountain tops - fabulous.

Thank you Springhill Catholic Primary, I enjoyed being part of your book week, I hope you invite me back again soon!

Warm up your imagination in Winchester

Golden light is turning grey, Mists begin to rule the day...

This month the theme at our Winchester Story night is Autumn, Mists and Mysteries.  

Come and join us, deep in the depths of the Hyde Tavern Cellar and enter in to the world of your imagination. 

Discover some of the secrets of the Lincolnshire Carrs told by Mike Rogers (the very first story I heard him tell!) and help me unlock an old folk tale of 'The Key Flower'. Hear further tales or personal stories from myself, Steph and other regulars, and maybe even contribute a memory or two yourself.

All are welcome, we gather in the bar from 7.30pm onwards and descend to our cosy telling space at 8pm -10pm (with a top up and comfort break in the middle). Hope to see you there!

Off to visit the Forest Row Festival...

It may be the weekend, but this Friday will see me heading back to school-  not just any school though but The International School of Storytelling! 

I can hardly believe a whole year has passed since I was there studying on their full time course "The Heart and Craft of the Storyteller", and now another cohort of budding tellers have started their adventure...

As part of the festival I will have opportunities to hear both familiar colleagues and new voices telling stories in many different settings and contexts,including stories for children by the hearth in a home, a village hall and on storywalks. 

The icing on the cake will be an evening performance by Rachel Rose Reid in the College's Story Hut. The place that became my home for those 3 months, filled with laughter, stories, music and friendship, and many performances

It will be a wonderful weekend of nostalgia, walking the woods, new tales,  networking, and a chance to spend quality time browsing the School's library shelves. 

I'm really looking forward to it, I only hope the weather is kind since I will be sleeping in my tent!  

Tonight in Winchester...

And it all starts tonight in Winchester, Wykeham Tales serves up another Pint of Stories for your delight and entertainment.

This month's theme is Trees, Woods and Forests
Join us for an 8pm start in the cellar of The Hyde Tavern, Winchester.  

Hear about The Dryad of the Old Oak Tree, The Birch and the Shepherdess and other adventures from myself, Steph and the regulars.


Then as the evening draws to a close I'll be jumping into my car and driving off to the woods of Epping Forest ready for a course in London in the morning.  "Using Personal Stories in Palliative Care" at St Ethelburga's Centre for Peace and Reconciliation led by Roi Gal-Or.

Oui Oui, Stories en Vacance in France

What an amazing adventure, this August I have been exploring the Charante region in France, near Cognac with all of so my husband's family, including my 5 nieces, 1 nephew and Megan.

Over the two weeks I was certainly put through my story telling paces, with tales told in the pool, in the car, during a power cut, round the barbecue, in chateau gardens, towers, caves, and of course bedtimes.

One of my favourite moments was when the two 8year olds' room got taken over by the others who didn't want to miss out. Fiona returned from the bathroom and with one look at her own bed threw her hands up in the air and exclaimed "and where am I supposed to sit!" Her face was a picture.

There are of course many fine true stories to be told about our fortnight including: swimming with mice (not dolphins, yes-mice!), the mysterious dead bird that turned out to be an old sock and the night the door to our bedroom jammed till 'operation rescue' in the morning. May sound a nightmare holiday to you but buy me a drink and you'll quickly come to see the funny side.

But for now it's back in the UK for adventures and new story work opportunities. I'm refreshed and ready... bring it on!

Just Ringing to Say - Come to a great night out in Winchester!

 Ding dong, Stories calling...

 If you fancy a night out away from the Olympic Rings come and spend the evening with us storytelling and story-listening in the cellar of The Hyde Tavern, Winchester for 8pm this Thursday, 8th August.

Discover how our regular tellers interpret the theme of  Rings,  and take the opportunity to contribute with stories yourselves.  The tales this month may be wide and varied, but will surely entertain you.

Find out whose wedding ring escaped being swallowed by a Kraken, who used to read stories at the top of the bell ringers tower... and who might dare to enter the circus ring as a clown!

Hope to see you there, or put the next one in your diary now, for 12th September 

Telling Beyond the Border

Well I've just about dried and unpacked all my camping gear but as the photos show, the sun did shine some of the weekend at the Welsh International Storytelling Festival at the start of July.

To be truthful it was such a good festival, brimming with tales and talent that the wet weather in the evenings did little to dampen my spirits. Over the weekend a plethora of professional tellers took to the many different venues around the beautiful grounds of St Donat's Castle.


Familiar names included Taffy Thomas, Hugh Lupton, Nick Hennesy, Ben Haggerty, Sally Pomme Clayton, Jamie Crawford , Malcolm Green, Xanthe Gresham and Cat Weatheril. It was a delight to pick and  choose from such a chocolate box of styles and techniques.


In addition were music, stalls, a few workshops and a particularly interesting panel discussion on the topic of 'Stories for Health' which grabbed my attention straight away, encouraged me and has given me links to follow up for the future. 


Another highlight was the opportunity to tell myself on the stage of the People's Palace venue, as part of the True Stories Told Live sessions. It was a wonderful experience to tell a personal story in such a programme. The audience were hanging on each tellers words with expectancy and empathy, as real stories about real experiences unfolded, and we shared in 'being human'.


It was great fun to attend the weekend with my story telling buddies from College ~Sonia and Bronia, and meet up with day visitors from other New Forest Storytellers too! 

The next 'Beyond the Border' will be in 2014, I'm very much looking forward to going again. I wonder if I'll see you there?...

The Beach below the Campsite.

Southampton Storyteller heads Beyond the Border

The car is packed, the cat has now mastered his new cat flap and I'm heading off to St Donat's Castle in Wales. This weekend is their International Storytelling Festival ' Beyond the Border'!

If you want to know more about the whats going on at the festival check out this link:  Beyond the Border 
I'm looking forward to tales galore and meeting up with some of my friends from the International School of Storytelling too...


And yes... I am camping!!!!! 

Winchester Hat Fair and Storytelling

Wherever you look there seems to be an abundance of hats!  Increased appearance in the media since the Royal wedding last year, the beginning of the month for the Jubilee and today the start of Ascot. Now it's festival time and in Hampshire alone there are many more hats set to come...


Winchester Hat Fair, Britain's longest running Festival of Street Theatre and Outdoor Arts, returns annually on the first weekend of July from Friday 6th to Sunday 8th July 2012. A crazy, colourful celebration of theatre and music, now in its 37th year, where entertainers perform voluntarily in exchange for money to be thrown into their hats. 


Alas I will be out of the county that weekend BUT in honour of the event we will be dedicating our next story gathering at the Hyde Tavern to the topic.

Join us 8pm on the 11th of July for  HATS and TALES  

Stories of Hats, Veils, Heads or however else our regular storytellers interpret the theme!

  

Winchester Storytelling Event: Flaming June!

Check your diaries, the 2nd Wednesday of the month is fast approaching... Set your clocks for 8pm!  

Join us, on the 13th of June for a summer evening of stories.  
Come and escape the rain in the creative hotspot of the Hyde Tavern cellar... 


Who cares if the sun only features in our imagination, the welcome will be warm and the pint of stories fiery.

Hampshire Children's Centre Prepare for the Jubilee

Inside and Outside! The Centre in Havant maximised Storytelling opportunities for both its Nursery children and then it's Royal Jubilee Fun Day. With stories,  finger rhymes and songs on a royal theme I helped unlock a treasure chest of creativity and imagination. Great fun was had by children, staff , myself... and after the picnic lunch outside, parents joined in too. I'm now looking forward to more magic next week with a booking in Fareham.

World Peace, Cake and Stories in Ringwood

Last Thursday we had another wonderful night of stories at The Boston Tea Party with the New Forest Storytellers -Heads and Tales Story Cafe
The theme was War and Peace, and stories ranged from tales about building bridges, raging sea storms, a soldier and a Tinderbox, a unique story of an old lady and a German poem. To close, with magic in the air my telling of a Russian Wondertale  "The Speedy Messenger". 


It was great evening and the home baked Millionaires shortbread delicious.  Join us next month for more cakes and stories, 21st June @8pm 

Story Goose on the Loose in Dorset Schools

Plans for the East Dorset Story Festival are progressing nicely. This week schools nearby will soon be receiving promotional postcards for each child and the chance to win free tickets as part of the Golden Goose Competition 

For me, the most exciting thing is that each school will also receive an especially commissioned education pack written by myself to help teachers explore the story of the Golden Goose and oral storytelling methods. I'm very much looking forward to hearing how the promotion goes, and get feedback about the resources...