One of our oldest traditions is that of storytelling. It is our way of conveying important truths about life to future generations and our way of entertaining ourselves in the dark winter nights. All cultures have their own stories and yet across the cultures there are recurring themes about how the world was made, of wicked step parents, of giants and monsters. Storytelling is a living, growing tradition, as more and more people rediscover the pleasure of both listening to and telling stories.

Linda came to storytelling when she went to story rounds and workshops at Sidmouth Folk Festival. She discovered that she could tell stories and that she really enjoyed it. Since nervously telling her first story at Sidmouth she has now told stories for a variety of audiences, ranging from school children in schools, WI groups and a Halloween event in the local inn.

Linda and her husband Tony often work together in planning and presenting their programmes. These may include music on flute and harp. Events so far include:

National Media Museum, Bradford: telling stories for the opening launch of the Tony Ray Jones photographic retrospective exhibition. (October 2004)

Guy Fawkes Night at East Riddlesden Hall, Keighley. (National Trust). A story performance blending the Guy Fawkes plot with wedding preparations in the Hall of the time.

Story telling in North York Moors National Park Centre.

Storytelling at Hutton-le-Hole Folk Museum.

WASS STORYTELLING CIRCLE

Wass Storytelling Circle began in September 2008 when a group of people who were interested in developing their storytelling skills met in the Finnish Kota in the garden of Linda and Tony's house. This seats fifteen people around a central fire and provides a splendid atmosphere for storytelling. The group meets at 7.30pm on the third Tuesday of the month.

Additional storytellers are always welcome,
as are people who simply enjoy
listening to stories.

To listen to a short sample of a
story from the CD click here.

Please contact Linda on 01347 868703
before coming because of the limited space.

STORYTELLING EVENTS

The last storytelling fund raising event was Winter Tales with six storytellers involved. We raised £200 for Macmillan Cancer Charity. There will be another similar event in 2016.

STORYTELLING IN SCHOOLS

Linda and Tony have worked together telling a variety of multicultural stories in five schools in East Yorkshire as part of their global education programme. Stories from Indonesia, South America, Europe and North American Indian traditions were matched to the age group. Each class then worked on one story, presenting it to the rest of the school at the end of the day.

Other work in schools includes telling Egyptian and Viking stories, stories with a strong moral thread, a Tudor dance workshop, and after school sessions on dance and music making