Christmas, Parties and The Nativity

Where did 2013 fly too?   I think it must be a sign of my getting old but it seems that time whips round so much more quickly these days!

For me this Christmas season has been one of business, preparation and of revisiting the stories at its heart.

In the last few weeks it has been a real privilage for me to attend local pre-school settings as part of their parties, of end of term celebrations sharing in the fun and telling the Nativity story in a fresh way for many listeners. 

Coming together, putting the book down and telling it from the heart, unfolding a wonder with voice and gesture, holding the space to marvel together at the characters, at the angels, at a time gone by.

These characters are so familiar to many of us that we often forget that with each year of a child's development their perception changes, they notice or remember something new, or in later years find comfort in the ritual of tradition.

I wish you and yours the peace and comfort of being together this Christmas, and oportunities to cherish the moments, stories of memories gone by and adventures yet to come. 

Happy New Year Everyone.

Heads and Tales, Storytelling Cafe in Ringwood

Heads up it's Heads and Tales, 8pm tomorrow September 19th at The Boston Tea Party Cafe, in the centre of Ringwood.

The theme for the first half tomorrow is Jealousy and Friendship from myself and other New Forest Tellers together with a few floor spots available for those who dare.

After a refreshment break to re-fill your mugs and plates with delicious treats from the cafe we will settle back to hear visiting guest tellers Michael and Wendy Dacre, Master storytellers from the West Country.

You may have seen or heard Michael at our wonderful "Field of Stories" event but he has promised to leave the Giants at home this visit.

More information about Wendy and Michael here or better still come along and see us all for yourself!

Plenty of free parking available at The Furlong so invite a friend. Then find the Cafe next to Waitrose

Melksham Food and Drink Festival 2013

Stories for the Food Fayre 

With my pockets stuffed with Foodie Themed Tales I travelled across the border last weekend to Melksham, Wiltshire for their increasingly popular Food and Drink Festival.

It was chilly but the weather turned out drier than that forecast, luckily avoiding the deluge that struck other parts of the country!

Tucked away under the most beautiful tree in the grounds of the Assembly Hall I set up an inviting space for families to enjoy a smorgasboard of delicious stories. 

The children picked which pocket they wanted from my belt, thus choosing the story, but it was no surprise to me how it was more the stories that chose them.  Especially for one delighted little boy when he unknowingly picked "The Magic Porridge Pot" and yes, he just so happened to be a porridge lover, at its best with Honey on top - just like the little girl in the story.

Another tale that went down well was that of The Three Wishes, also known as 'Sausage Nose' when one of the characters ends up with a string of sausages magically attached to their face. It caused much laughter and I hope they will recall it when they next sit down to Bangers and Mash. I hope they don't get told off for playing with their food as a result!

I think that many families were surprised to see I had no story books, instead telling from my heart and my head. Yet they were well pleased with their first experience of this.  And in true oral tradition though I told the story of "The Talking Carrot" many times throughout the day it never came out quite the same twice.  

The festival itself was well attended but it was a bit cold for sitting around, maybe I should have entered the popular chilli eating competition to warm myself up... but then again looking at the green faces of those who did I was safer sticking to my Storytelling.

It was a great day, well organised by Pam and her team, I hope by now they have recovered from all their hard work and look forward to see them again another time. 

The Sting in The Tale 2013

 10 Years of Storytelling in East Dorset

What a privilege to be part of this festival, on the committee and as a performer!

The highlight for me was our day of celebration at The Centre of Ancient Technology: "A Field of Stories".

This full day event was organised by myself, Graham Rogers and others from the New Forest Storytellers, in collaboration with staff and volunteers from the centre.   There was a full programme of story telling from us throughout the day, a story round, demonstrations by traditional craftspeople - woodworkers, weavers, felters, basketmakers, hands on craft for the children, food, fun, music and frivolities.  Plus we were visited by Giants and Dragons, courtesy of Wendy and Michael Dacre, and an outdoor puppet show from Hand to Mouth Theatre.

Being the middle Wednesday among other Sting Performances we were unsure of how many people would come, but come they did in 100's and the site was buzzing. If you have never been to the Ancient Technology Centre do keep and eye on their website for open days and other Storytelling events and get yourself there. Since walking across the bridge at the ATC is literally like stepping across the threshold to another world. With its five replica buildings including the nationally acclaimed storytelling venue The Earthouse, the Viking Longhouse and the Forge there was plenty of cover had it rained, but as you can see from the photos the sun shone all day long!

Inside The Earthouse

In the music industry people often release accoustic albums and I can't help drawing a comparison with that to our wonderful day. People came with their picnics, enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere, soaked up story after story and enjoyed being with each other far away from modern technology, sound systems, screens and mobile phones, it literally was entertainment "Unplugged"

I am so proud to have been part of this day, having the opportunity to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of Sting in the Tale and thank those behind its inception.  But most of all I loved seeing the delight on peoples faces, hearing them laugh













and for the chance to perform again in The Earthouse escorting eager listeners to faraway places in their imaginations.

If only the land could speak...

What a Setting, What a Place, What Stories have Lived Here... 

It has been such a varied and wonderful summer for me starting with a fortnight in Devon, on a campsite by the beach in Start Bay.  Such a great opportunity to be fully human, engage with others, talk face to face with strangers, tell anecdotes, yarns and hear the stories of the place and of the people.

At the pub, queuing for ice-cream, at the shop, doing the washing up at the communal sinks, waiting at the water tap. There is something about life slowing down on a campsite that allows us to breathe, things become simpler and for stories to live through being shared.

If only the land could speak... 

We often say the phrase but we forget that it is through us opening our mouths, sharing and listening to each other that those stories can be breathed into life again. It's by taking time to sit in a place, allowing our imagination to roam that the land can speak by prompting a memory or thought, or creating a new story to tell about our being there.

The best thing is it doesn't have to be just for holidays...  and that's what I love about being a storyteller.

Hampshire Storyteller turns Pirate

With plenty of Yar-Aah and Yo-Ho I was delighted to unleash my debut performance of Pirates Aboard on the landlubbers of Romsey Primary School.

Children from Sunhill Juniors, Arlesford, had a sneak preview of one of the tales at their annual Story night the week before, but the interweaving of two entertaining and exaggerated salty yarns with sing along songs, props, and interactive sound effects into a full length performance went down a storm.


The project, crafted on request to fit the schools themed Pirate day, was a huge hit and youngsters and teachers sat wide eyed and eager to hear the stories unfold.

Though purely fictional and at times fantastical, my pirate stories give a flavour of all that is fondly attributed to these bunch of ruffians. With plenty of piratical vocabulary, treasure islands and predictable elements, all washed down with a tot of the magical make for a wonderful voyage on the seas of the imagination.

Summer in the New Forest!

What a difference a week can make!

With the children back at school for their final stint of the year and the sun blazing at last it might be easy to forget the wild and windy weather at Hordle Walhampton's Summer Fete.

But though the wind buffeted our tent of tales, its banners and flags waved wildly inviting children in for sessions of stories and adventures in their imagination.

Throughout the afternoon groups of children attended age matched performances in the cozy decorated space, it was the best place to be and not only because it was out of the weather!

With wide eyes they journeyed to muddy farmyards, enchanted woods, African plains, across seas and home to castles in time for tea.

I am looking forward to returning to this charming school in Lymmington for more next year, but perhaps with a bigger tent so Parents and Grandparents can listen too!