Review of Roisin Murray's 'As Time Goes By'

It was another crowded night at the Undercroft, which was particularly pleasing considering that the last meet was only two weeks ago and I put on an extra one off performance of Dame Fortunes Wheel only a few weeks before that.

Clearly there were many looking forward to hearing our first guest teller, Roisin Murray as there was a hushed silence yet also a papable excitement  and heightened anticipation that we regulars rarely enjoy! Probably because Roisin sat silently, yet owning the space even before I finally got round to introducing her. She was an island of calm that belied the intensity of her first story of the death of Beowulf - A tale that just suddenly appeared before us having grown seamlessly out of her introduction to George; a man wrestling with retirement and the onset of old age. I truly felt for George, although we didn't have time to dwell upon his fears as we like George were time and again transported to other times and places, culminating in the story of Baucis and Philemon  and the last flowering of their  lifelong love and companionship. All of which proved to George and indeed all of us in the Undercroft that regardless of what the young might think, life does not end at 30!

 

Roisin in full flow

Apologies for the grainy image, but what can you do?

Roisin told with passion, but with a mischievous glint in her eye and many fabulous asides that kept her connected with the audience. A warm and generous teller with a great sense of irreverence that I and everyone else really enjoyed. As one audience member wrote in the all new Undercroft Comments Book: Roisin's stories were amazing. Full of humour and very human. A true study of emotion, wonder and humanity. I was spellbound throughout.

Roisin was followed by tales from the floor with her husband Wallace stepping in to fill the gap of a few missing regulars and he too told a very moving story that made for another well needed island of calm in a second half made up of many a silly tale. Something the Undercroft does well.

Our next gathering is on June 6th and the theme is Magick and Mysterie. A good loose theme, because as always it means tellers can take their stories here, there and anywhere else for that matter. As usual we meet at 7.30 for and 8.00 start, so be on time  or Jim will have your guts for garters

Dave Tonge - The Yarnsmith

Weds 2 May 2012 - Roisin Murray + Review of our Grimm Tales

This evening we have professional teller Roisin Murray as our guest, who will  take the second part of the evening to treat us to As Time Goes By. I haven't seen this performance, but from what Roisin has told me it's about growing old disgracefully.....

Roisin Murray

What happens after Happy Ever After, when the bright young things have lived a bit? Does age bring them wisdom, or make them fools? For many the real adventure begins when there is a bit of snow on the roof and the embers are softly glowing, as Roisin will show with these tales of would-be seducers, jealous mothers and canny couples.

“Wonderful stories with a deep message” 

M. Bridges performance of Many Tongues in the Holy Land, University of Derby Multi Faith Centre

“Roisin, I found, had something of the worldly, quirky charm of Pam Ayres, although she looks and sounds nothing like her;”

Nick Quentin Wolf, Writer and Broadcaster 

Roisin runs ASTORy or Two storytelling club in Deal, Kent and got into storytelling after working as an educator and consultant across three different continents. I kept searching for the hidden spark that lit the fire for people. Using stories to help my work, a flash of insight changed my life. Purposeful story IS the spark! I began to work with and sit at the feet of many masters over the years, and now mindfully interweave story with other skills to entertain, educate, coach and help reduce conflict between people. Since then she has used storytelling to help with community cohesion, to build bridges between different faith groups and to aid refugees and asylum seekers as well at to entertain at schools, dinners and clubs.

To find out more about Roisin visit her website:

http://www.morethanstories.org.uk/


Stop Press! Roisin will take the first part of the evening, so make sure to get there in good time so we can try to start at 8pm.

At last nights' gathering (April 18), we honoured the 200th anniversary of the first publication of the Bothers Grimm fairy tales by telling Grimm stories all evening. I wasn't sure about this one, because although there are classics like Hansel & Gretel and Rumpelstiltskin, my impression is that many of the more obscure ones are obscure for a reason!

It was a full house, with ten tales told, and it was a rich mix of surprises, humour and originality as each teller approached their chosen "Grimm" in a totally individual way.  Well done, everyone, for turning up such a good evening (I guess we should thank the Brothers, too) and thanks also to the many new faces who came along.  Why we even had people from as far afield as Ipswich...

Not all tellers got to tell their Grimms, and some of those who did had more than one prepared.  As Roisin will only take the first half of the night on Weds 2 May, we may be able to fit in some of the untold tales after. If you want to do so, contact Dave at: theyarnsmith@yahoo.co.uk

Dave Tonge  & The Gob