Storytelling in Southampton Junior Schools

Yesterday I was very proud to return to Townhill Junior School, to help launch their Book Week events.  Last year they had been my first Juniors booking when I started my business, and I was delighted to meet some familiar faces. Full of expectation the current Year 4's remembered both the Roman Myth I shared with them and me myself, which can't be a bad recommendation can it?

This year, I was back telling to every age group across the school. Throughout the day we travelled backwards in time with Myths & Legends, adventured with Perseus in Ancient Greece, heard stories involving Mountains and shared wisdoms from the Indian Jataka tales. At times it was a squash and a squeeze with 90 children in some year groups, but the children didn't mind and leaned forward eagerly to hear every word.  After the stories the children were keen to ask questions, the boys especially had lots of questions about the action heroes and made links to versions they already knew. Others wanted to know how I became a storyteller and how I learned my tales.

"I loved your stories, I could really see the pictures" said one girl in Year 4 and at lunchtime a Year 5 boy stuck his head round the door of the classroom and said boldly "I hear you are a great storyteller". Word on the playground had spread!

It was a fantastic day and especially wonderful to be welcomed back by such a friendly school, I wish them a fabulous book week, and hope to visit them again soon.

Summer Storytelling Festival in Dorset

Have just been down in sunny East Dorset at a planning meeting with the team from The Sting in the Tale.
Great to see how their plans for this the 9th successive festival of stories are coming together. Their new look website is now live and is full of the latest updates. If you are looking for something to do in the South this summer why not check it out.  I told as part of last years launch night at the Earth House with the New Forest Storytellers and the atmosphere was amazing. Click the links to find out more...  

500 Words

Over the next few days I will be spending time reading entries to this short story competition, as championed by Chris Evans on his popular Breakfast show.
As one of the many volunteer judges across the UK I have a collection of 45 stories from the 9yrs and under category, to read and rank according to the marking scheme.  I am very excited at the opportunity to explore the products of these young imaginations...

Great Stories, Great Cake, Great Venue.

Festooned with sparkly fabric, a giant ceramic pot and a fez or two, the first meeting of The New Forest Storytellers at The Boston Tea Party Cafe was deemed a success by all.
Storytellers and visitors together on the first floor filled virtually every seat, and each sampled at least one of the delicious offerings from the cake stand.
There were lots of new faces among our listeners and many seemed eager to come back again next month on April 19th.

Heading out tonight for Arabian Adventures.

Tonight the Boston Tea Party Cafe in Ringwood will come alive with stories of Genies, Sultans, Princes, Bazaars and the bizarre.  The New Forest Storytellers will be flexing their story muscles and trying out this, their new regular venue for the first time. If you're at a loose end, why not join us? 

 

Down in the Cellar...

The cellar was swept, tidied and made cosy, and at 7.30pm we waited in the bar to see who would come along to join us. 

By 8pm there were 12 of us, familiar faces and a few new ones. A special  'keen-ness award' goes to Steve who arrived extra early, then popped out to fetch some tea from the nearby kebab shop. The pub itself does not serve meals, but will provide eating utensils and sauces for those who bring their own. This foodie equivalent of corkage a steal at £1 and a smile, and part of the quirky charm of this venue. It's friendly staff, lack of music/machines and a fine selection of real ales and other beverages make it definitely worth a visit any day of the week.

Throughout the evening, Jan our landlady cheerily continued asking people if they knew about the storytelling and at half time we gained a couple more!  Myself, Steph, Jane, Mike R, and Mike O all told stories on animal themes ranging from Monkeys, Jellyfish, Bears and Dragons.  New member Alice Chadwick came prepared to tell and dared a dragon tale too. Captain, our four legged listener for the night was particularly enthralled by Mike's story of the Diamond button eating hen! 

 The evening finished around 10pm and all of our newbies commented how much fun they'd had.  Each promised to back next time, so if you want a good seat you may have to turn up early like Steve!


Put it in your diaries, April 11th for stories of 'Helpers and Heroes' at the Hyde Tavern, Winchester.

A Morning Packed with Wonder!

The stage was set.... the children arrived... and pretty soon we were flying off into our imaginations with stories of castles, heroes, soaring eagles, brave parrots and a magical lake at the end of the world.
Children of all ages from Hollybrook Infant School were wide eyed and caught in the moment as the stories unfolded. What a privilege to share in it with them. I love my job! 

A Pint Of Stories with Wykeham Tales

If you want to follow events for the Winchester storytelling bookmark its listing at:

http://www.clubbz.com/club/35031/winchester/a-pint-of-stories-with-wykeham-tales

or http://www.merlinsdiary.com/events/view/4917/wykeham-tales

Meeting every 2nd Wednesday of the month 8pm -10ish in the cellar of The Hyde Tavern, Winchester, SO237DY.

Not just a Pocket but a WEEK full of Stories!

Suzanne has been working hard getting ready for a number of Storytelling bookings and meetings around her part of Hampshire over the next few days.
With  a meeting about the Sting in the Tale Festival, another Pint of Stories night at the Hyde Tavern Winchester, a morning at Hollybrook Infants and an evening with the New Forest Storytellers, it's going to be a great week. Watch this space...