Monday, September 10, 2012

Breakout at the Undercroft

Thank you to all those who joined us at the Undercroft after our summer break. Not only did we have over 40 in the audience, but also three new tellers to the club - Roger joined us all the way from Leicestershire and cleared up the mystery of why some monkey's bums are bare. Rachel told us of the terrible deeds of Black Shuck, whilst Amrita told us an Inuit story about 'Shit Man'. He was not alone in lowering the tone (Albeit in a wonderful way) as we also heard tell of a man who was destined to sleep with his right middle finger stuck up his wife's  bum in order to stop her from straying! To know more of that particular story go to http://talesfromtheyarnsmith.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/the-cuckold-and-ring.html

We are also pleased to see that many of the regulars are telling beyond and above the  ancient brick and stone vaults of the Undercroft. Firstly we have Liam Carroll and Dave Tonge telling Tales through Time at Wymondham Library on the 19th of this month..


The performance is part of the Wymondham Literary Festival, which this year focuses on 'A sense of place', although we have moved away from a literal translation of the theme, preferring instead to explore a sense of place in terms of our changing relationship with religion in all its forms and throughout the ages.

Also this month we have another outing to Suzanne the Story Weavers new storytelling club, Tales and Ales at Geldeston Locks on the boarder with Suffolk (So be careful!) its on the 20th and the theme is Magical Harvest Moon


Visit the locks website for more info.. http://www.geldestonlocks.co.uk/

In October another Undercroft regular, Sarah Walker is organising a storytelling tent at the Magdalen/Augustine Street Fair. Its on the13th and to find out more vistit their blog here.. /http://magdalenstreet.blogspot.co.uk/

And finally at the end of October on the 26th, some of us from the Undercroft will be telling Tales from the Otherworld. Ritual, Custom and Stories to mark the beginning of the Dark Season. It's a set of stories aimed at teenagers that have a celtic feel and are definitely not the typical spooky halloween fare traditionally told at that time of year. The Session is part of the Scottish Storytelling Centres 'Tell a Story Day' initiative on the 26th and anyone else wanting to set up an event can visit their site here... http://www.scottishstorytellingcentre.co.uk/festival/tasd.asp

Storytelling Training
So as you can see we at the Undercroft are bursting out thither and yon and anyone else wanting to join us can start by coming to our storytelling workshop on the 17th of October at the Undercroft where some of the regulars will share their tips and tricks and also some storytelling activities.  It's an informal session aimed at beginners and those who want to hone their skills. For more information watch this space and also our Facebook page.


Our next storytelling gathering is on October 3rd and the theme is Transformation. I'm sure many of us will be celebrating the changing seasons, when the leaves transform from green to brown to golden and there is a waft of wood smoke in the air, but as usual i'm sure our tellers will take their stories here, there and anywhere else for that matter.  We meet at 7.30 for and 8.00 start, so be on time or Jim will transform into a great green monster and definitely have your guts for garters!
Art work by Jim Kavanaugh