Month: January 2024

Just a reminder that this week is National Storytelling Week, as promoted by the Society for Storytelling (who seem to have decided that now is a good time to refresh their whole website, which is to say, the site is currently down…;-)

If storytelling still means little more to you than reading bedtime tales, to children, from illustrated books, then DEFINITELY LEAVE THE YOUNGER KIDS AT HOME and come to see one of the sassiest tellers of traditional tales that I think I’ve ever seen: Sarah Liisa Wilkinson’s “Strange Girls, Beautiful Monsters” is on at the Cowes Combined Services Club, Tuesday, Jan. 30th, 2024, 7pm, tickets available here. Not really for children..

On Thursday, Feb 1st, ‘Tis Tales teller Monty will again be performing with Island based harpist Theresa Ellis at Babushka Books in Shanklin. There were enough names on the reserve list following the sold out performance last week to make it seem rude not to offer another opportunity to see this new collaboration, but as before, advance booking is essential, either on 07511 220038‬ / 01983 652880 or via the bookshop directly.

Both these events are word of mouth marketing driven — we can’t rely on online algos to share our posts, and the island print press don’t seem to run with our press releases — so please help spread the word — and the idea of — storytelling that’s not (just) for children…

PS If you’ve seen our telling, you’ll know this has nothing to do with reading books to kids. And it’s nothing to do with the “Isle of Wight Story Festival”, which is focussed on selling illustrated childrens’ books to families with kids (and there’s nothing wrong with that; but that’s not what performance storytelling is about…;-)

It’s that time of year when the National Storytelling Week comes around again — Saturday, 27th January – Sunday, 4th February 2024 — and we’re starting things off early with a performance by ‘Tis Tales teller, Monty, alongside harpist Theresa Ellis, at Babushka Books, Shanklin, on the theme of Tradtional Tales from England and Wales.

Poor Sir Orfeo, a King of Winchester whose wife has been taken prisoner by the fairies. A master harper, can he beguile the good people to win her back?

For the sorceress Ceridwen, a year and a day is a price she’ll happy pay to brew a potion of inspiration for her talentless. But when the prize goes elsewhere, a magical chase ensues….

And you’ve maybe heard tales tell of the ravens of the Tower of London, protecting England from invasion, but how did they come to be there? The tale starts in Wales, when the King of Ireland calls on Bendigeidfran, aka Bran the Blessed, or the Blessed Crow, seeking to marry the Welsh King’s sister, Branwen.

Tickets for “Traditional Tales of England and Wales” on Friday, January 26th, 2024, are available in advance from Babushka Books, Shanklin, or via ‭07511 220038‬ / 01983 652880. Advance booking essential.

On Saturday, January 27th, Monty will also be telling a short set of tales at the launch of the Figlet Literary magazine, a new magazine published by Jean G. Owen. The venue is the Community Hall ( CHOYD), in Yarmouth, 2 till 5, admission free but please book in advance to help give an idea of numbers…

On Sunday, 28th January, 2024, there is an invitation only event at Monkton Arts, Ryde, for member of the Island Storytellers and participants of the Somewhen Storytelling supported storytelling workshops, as run by storyteller Nell Phoenix over the last few months.

On Tuesday, January 30th, 2024, as part of the Somewhen Storytelling promoted events, we’re delighted to have Sarah Liisa Wilkinson performing her show Strange Girls, Beautiful Monsters, in what is likely to be a high energy telling of some fantastic tales, featuring, hilarity and adventure, and not a little danger, told from a perspective with a strong female gaze.

Cowes Combined Services & Social Club, Cowes, PO31 7AJ

Tuesday 30th January 2024, 7pm-9.30pm (timed to fit with Red Jet sailings (just around the corner) to/from Southampton…)

Running time: 75 minutes

Tickets: £10 (incl. booking fee).

DO NOT MISS THIS SHOW…!

As the new year begins, what better way to start than with a Somewhen Storytelling promoted storytelling event in Cowes as part of National Storytelling Week….

If you haven’t been to a storytelling show before, try this one…

A girl enters the woods clutching a skull with burning eyesAnother tumbles out of a barrel and falls in loveA third erupts into the world riding a goatOne more opens a forbidden door…

If you like long form narrative comedians, you might find you like storytelling too…

Sarah Liisa Wilkinson invites you to meet some very strange girls and some very beguiling monsters from the fairytale forest. This is a world of Baba Yagas and bloodstained dolls, wide-eyed girls and spoon wielding sisters, lovestruck trolls, and lovers who hide monstrous secrets behind their charms.Dark, funny and enchanted – these are stories with iron teeth.

Cowes Combined Services & Social Club, Cowes, PO31 7AJ

Tuesday 30th January 2024, 7pm-9.30pm (timed to fit with Red Jet sailings (just around the corner) to/from Southampton…)

Running time: 75 minutes

Tickets: £10 (incl. booking fee)

Monty says: “I saw Sarah Liisa for the first time last year, performing this show, and was absolutely blown away by the energy and humour of it. A brilliant example of what storytelling can be. I can’t wait to see it again. This show will be a treat not to be missed… DO NOT MISS THIS SHOW!”

If you’re not sure what storytelling is, here’s a rare video of Sara Liisa telling a tale…