Category: Blog

  • Introduction to Storytelling Workshop – 14 April 2018

    Hello! Back by popular demand, Beeston Tales will be offering an Introduction to Storytelling course on 14th April, at our usual home, The White Lion. It will run from 10.30 am to around 4pm, with a break for lunch. Maybe you want to tell better stories to your children or grandchildren – or maybe you…

  • From White Lion to LeftLion

    LeftLion ran a recent article on the top literary organisations in Nottingham and we were very excited to see Beeston Tales make the list. Here’s the relevant section in full: “Think you can spin a yarn? Fancy yourself adept at keeping listeners gripped until the very end? Down at The White Lion in Beeston stands…

  • 3Troubadours workshop on 13th April

    Hello all, In April, we have the amazing 3Troubadours visiting us at Beeston Tales. They’ll be performing on the Wednesday night at our regular club night, but we’re lucky enough that they are staying around on the Thursday to run a one day Performance Storytelling Laboratory for us. Performance storytelling Labo with 3Troubadours 3Troubadours is…

  • The Story Forge – passing the baton

    Welcome to 2017. I am groggy with the jetlag of landing back in the UK. It was an interesting New Year’s Eve, midnight rushing West to meet us as we flew East towards the sunrise. It’s a time of change and one of these changes is that I’m handing over the running and administration of…

  • Remembrance of Lost Species

    Last week, I was involved in a special night of remembrance for extinct species, along with the wonderful Nancy Kerr and Sarah Smout. It was a part (albeit slightly late) of the now international event, initiated by ONCA. It is a gift in my work to occasionally get to do things that feel incredibly important…

  • The right story for the right time – The Bed of Arrows

    On 6th February this year, I was in India for the Kathakar International Storytelling Festival. I was standing underneath a Peepal tree, an audience of 400 people were buzzing in an open air amphitheatre that struggled to hold them all. I told the story of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. I hadn’t planned on…

  • Clowning for Storytellers – A Masterclass with Fred Versonnen

    Coming up on the 14th July, Beeston Tales is bringing you the next in its program of masterclasses for storytellers. Internationally acclaimed performer Fred Versonnen is stopping off with us as he travels from Belgium to The Festival at the Edge. Clowning is a beautiful way of making connections. Connections with your audience, connections with…

  • Bringing Myth to Life with The University of Nottingham Classics Department

    Oh my goodness, 2016 has been incredibly busy. I’m just finishing my third project with University researchers. I gave gnomes the gift of speech at Hampton Court Palace. I toured India with the British Council. And I’m in the middle of developing a new show that will premier at the Beyond the Border International Storytelling…

  • Reflections on Autumn, LeftLion reviews and Day of the Dead

    Hi there! A quick update on some of the things that have been happening this past Autumn. My new storytelling club, Beeston Tales, is thriving. Matt Turpin came along to check out a recent show and has written a wonderful review for LeftLion. “simple tales… ..are told luxuriantly, the beat and cadence of the teller’s…

  • Imaginarium

    Basically, Abi has said everything better than I could over here, so go check it out!

  • Audience Comments from Birmingham Storyelling Cafe

    The fine folks at Birmingham Storytelling Cafe had me along to tell stories from my show How to Spin Enchantment. Here’s some of the audience feedback, I’m particularly impressed by the poetry: 9/10 a very good night, laughter, wit and the occasional fright, We’ll come see you again, every now and then, unless there’s a…

  • Reviews and comments for recent gigs

    My performance of Can the Mountains Love the Sea? got a review by A Small Mind. “An excellent night.” * * * * Read the full review here. I also got these kind words from some Viking reinactors who came along: “What a great experience this was! My friend J~ and I were completely enthralled…