Storytelling/Presentations
Costumed Storytelling & Character Presentations for periods from late Medieval to WWII
As well as straightforward period focussed storytelling in historic dress I also offer an increasing range of character based presentations that are specific to time and place:
In the earlier periods I depict I concentrate on stories from Britain and Europe ; these may be either from a vernacular tradition (where the fantastical saints’ stories of my childhood also tend to resurface) or adaptations that come from popular contemporary writers such as Petrarch, Chaucer and Shakespeare .
As time moves on I also incorporate stories from a broader spectrum to include glimpses of the New World, the fruits of exotic explorations - or the effects of 'progress'.
I have offered some topics on the following pages as examples and roughly in a chronological order:
- Chaucer for Children: with Sister Florens
- A Cycle of Life
- Dragon Tailes
- Here & There - & Short Sharp Shakespeare!
- An Age of Excess
- The Best of Times, the Worst of Times: Mrs Mayhew & Mrs Rudd
- Two Women Whinging: Nelly & Sarah's Home Front
However, stories featuring romance or jealousy; the seasons or cycle of life, death and renewal; animals and nature could be specifically tailored to events for most historical periods (I also feel, in particular, that dragons work just about anywhere and anywhen)
The themes of good stories really are universal: ambition, bravery and curiosity; illusions and miracles; journeys and discoveries; worldliness or simplicity; frivolity and disobedience; loyalty or deceit; radiant youth and crabbed age…
I have recently been working on a diversity project to make African and Antipodean animal tales more widely known - and lately also researching so called urban myths as modern ghost stories.
I’ve been happy additionally to design presentations for all sorts of non-historical events and occasions including naming ceremonies, saint’s days, weddings - and even, once, a divorce!
I tell my stories in modern voice and suitably pitched for each attending audience: I especially ensure that (grand)parents are kept amused and duly impressed by the moral tenor of my material.
I am also happy to lead discussions or to plan more formal storytelling or reminiscence workshops.
