Carl Merry - Into the Shadowlands

At the next gathering on April 3rd we have another guest teller - Carl Merry telling:

'Into the Shadowlands'

Carl will be taking us on a journey to the margins that lie between the world we know and the “Otherworld” of the Fair Folk. Were it not for the wisdom of a woman, a lover who teaches an elf the meaning of love and a willing pupil, there could be no survival. Even then, in the last days when traditions are either forgotten or ignored the fairy host must ride once more or face extinction.


An excellent programme..... I liked the beautiful, gently sad mood, leavened with humour.
Cambridge Storytelling Club 

Carl is of Welsh and Irish decent, something that has flavoured his performances and given him an interest in the fairy folk! He is now based in Essex and is a founder member of the Essex Storytellers.  He has told all over the county and the rest of East Anglia both as a solo performer and as part of the Essex group.

Carl Merry

For more info on Carl visit his website here.. http://www.carltales.com/

As per usual we meet at 7.30 for an 8.00pm start, so don't be late lest Jim has your guts for garters! 

Su Squire tells - The Fool, the Weaver and the Heart of The Labyrinth

Thanks to all who joined us for our last session where we all enjoyed Marion Leeper's performance of 'The Kitchen Cat'. A subtle blend of humour, designer fairies, real life and true emotion. At our next gathering in March one of our regulars, Su Squire will be premiering her new performance:

The Fool, The Weaver & The Heart of the Labyrinth

A tale of love, loss and the extraordinary power of stories. In a far off land, a courageous fool embarks on a perilous journey to meet with a mysterious weaver of tales and find that which has been lost.

Su's performance is just one small part of a bigger project 'Chrysalis Tales' which aims to use storytelling and other related art forms for the exploration and expression of people's thoughts and feelings relating to death and bereavement in a way that is ultimately positive and life affirming. As Su says:

Possibly the simplest and most portable of art forms, storytelling seems a good starting point for the project. I believe that stories speak a language that touches a part of our selves that our everyday language cannot always reach - a language of symbols and archetypes that goes straight to the heart of the matter. In their own remarkable way stories connect us through time and space with every human being who has ever known or will one day know the pain and grief of loss, bringing comfort and reassurance whilst offering hope that there is, to coin a phrase, light at the end of the tunnel. At their most powerful, they remind us of how truly mysterious and wonderful life is.

There will also be some time set by for stories from the floor, so come prepared  and  Su was hoping that some of the regulars might share stories that deal with death and bereavement in some form or fashion.

To find out more about the project visit the Chrysalis tales Facebook Site here

And for more on Su Squire check out her biog here

As per useual we meet at 7.30 for an 8.00pm start, so don't be late lest Jim has your guts for garters! 

Coming up in 2013 - Marion Leeper 'The Kitchen Cat'

It's a new year at the Undercroft with any amount of guest tellers coming to share their tales with us…

On March 6th we have Su Squire, one of our regulars putting together a performance for us (More detail to come) On April 3rd we'll be joined by Carl Merry performing 'Into The Shadowlands' - A series of Irish Tales. Whilst on July 3rd it will be Dominic Kelly telling 'Crow' which "melts together folkltale & folklore, biography & myth".  In September after our summer break we will be joined by Ana Lines, also resident at Birmingham Storytelling Cafe and also possibly Tom Phillips who runs Good Impressions Storytelling Club in Hinkley. Also look out for performances from our regulars including Liam Carroll and Jim Kavanagh.

But prior to all of that we are joined by Marion Leeper of the Cambridge Storytellers telling:

The Kitchen Cat

'She couldn't remember who she was, but she knew that once she had been someone important...' Scraps of memory, legend, and black lace woven together to tell one woman's rags to riches story, La Gata Borralheira - the Kitchen Cat - will take you on a romp through the folktales and cocktail dresses of 1950s Europe.  Marion’s mix of traditional tales and family history is funny, moving, grotesque and tragic by turns.

Marion's is an hour long session, so there will still be time for stories from the floor. Anyone wishing to tell should let me know as spaces will be limited.

We hope to see many of you there (Weather permitting) at 7.30 for an 8.00 start, lest Jim have your guts for garters!

Dave Tong - The Yarnsmith
Artwork by Jim Kavanagh

Important News!

There is no gathering in January...
The next gathering will be Weds 6 February 2013   

In the meantime, New Year Best Wishes to tellers & listeners all, and we hope to see you in what may well be a chilly February.  There is no particular theme for the February gathering, so wrap up, keep warm & don't bring anything too long.. 

from Norwich Guildhall, circa 1450

Until then, here's a historic Norwich angel to enrich your lives...

The Gobbo

Winter 2012 - Sophie Snell and Irish Tales

On November 7th we have the fantastic Sophie Snell coming to the Undercroft and she'll be telling her 'Seven Deadly Sins':

Sophie Snell

“Bless me Father, for I have sinned!” A young girl hiding in the confessional overhears her neighbours’ confessions. As she listens with growing unease, stories unfold that should never be told…  At turns dark and comic, be prepared for thrills and spills on this rollicking ride through the Seven Deadly Sins!

"A very expressive performer…  Viscerally thrilling… intellectually satisfying.  Recommended."  

Stephanie Billen, Chairman - Buxton Festival Fringe, re  'Seven Deadly Sins' July 2010.

"To possess that charisma, that energy, that memory! Spellbinding and better than any film or TV... a beautiful piece... Fantastic evening - wonderful!" 

Amanda Bowman, BBC Radio Nottingham, SDS Notts Libraries StoryFest, March 2010.

  

Sophie is a leading light of the Derby Flying Donkeys and is a performance storyteller known for her warm, engaging and animated style of storytelling and a deliciously wicked sense of humour.  She has a wide repertoire of tales from around the globe, but a particular interest in the lesser known folk tales of the British Isles – quirky, fun, fantastical, tales that twist and turn and quickly hook and hold the audience - whether adult or children.  Sophie performs and leads workshops in schools, libraries, festivals, storytelling clubs, tourist and arts venues.  

 

I for one can recommend Sophie and I've never seen a storyteller who inhabits their stories quite like she does!  Dave Tonge - The Yarnsmith

For more info about Sophie visit her website: www.sophiesnell.co.uk

If that wasn't enough to give you palpitations, on December 5th two of our regulars, Jim Kavanagh and Liam Carroll will be telling some of their favourite Irish tales:

 
Liam Carroll

Jim Kavanagh*

Whose Bull Is It Anyway?

A prelude to The Tain Bo Cuilagne: the oldest tale in Europe, of mighty deeds & daring cattle raids in ancient Ireland, with talking eels, a thirsty corpse and a warrior Queen so shameless & dangerous you'll be needing a drink yourself before the tales even begun...

Jim and Liam  have a common interest in the mythology of Ireland, and have put their heads together to present a selection from this vast body of fascinating archaic lore.  Written down by Irish monks as far back as the 700's, these tales are believed to originate from much older oral traditions, providing a glimpse into the society of Celtic warrior aristocracy which never came under the direct influence of Rome.  They crackle with a rich imagery & energetic magic from a world where the written word never took hold, and is almost totally beyond our modern sensibilities.  You'll definitely be needing a pint...

Jim and Liam will be telling an hour long set so there will still be time for tales from the floor. Be sure to come early and put your name down if you wish to tell, lest Jim have your guts for garters..

For more info about Liam visit his blog page here..

*Alas we have no details about Jim, so he will just have to remain an enigma...

Dave Tong - The Yarnsmith

Taster storytelling workshop at the Undercroft

As you can see from our header our next storytelling gathering takes place on November 7th when we will be joined by Professional Storyteller, Sophie Snell.

Although prior to that we are also running a one off workshop aimed at both beginners and those with some storytelling experience. It's going to be an informal gathering at the Undercroft on October 17th and will run from 8.00 till 10.00ish with a 15 min break thrown in for good measure.

As I said it's a taster session with some of the regulars sharing their tips and tricks on many different aspects of storytelling including, voice, facial expression, gesture, movement and also how to both adapt and remember stories. There will be some practical exercises and games included in the session and if there is time participants may well have the chance if they wish to tell at the end of the evening. Stories will be provided, but by all means bring a short tale with you!

A list of useful books and websites will also be provided and if successful we will be offering more focused sessions in 2013.

For more information and to book a place on the workshop contact theyarnsmith@yahoo.co.uk

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!

Dave Tonge - The Yarnsmith 

Art work by Jim Kavanaugh