What I Do

What is Traditional Storytelling?

In the words of the Society for Storytelling, ‘Oral storytelling is one of the most ancient artforms, and continues to this day as a vibrant part of culture throughout the world.’

Stories have always been passed down by word of mouth.  Folk tales and myths come to us out of the distant past, told by our ancestors to their children, and so down to us. Around the world, this tradition is still kept alive, the old stories remembered, and new stories created.

Traditional storytelling is the practice of sharing those stories, live, person-to-person, without the story passing through print.

It is a popular form of both entertainment and education, and its value in promoting wellbeing and interpersonal connection is widely acknowledged. From informal gatherings of friends, to storytelling in schools, to theatrical performances, there are many ways and reasons for a Storyteller to share their stories, and every Teller has their own ways and their own words. Many performances incorporate music and other art forms, and folk singers and poets are their own kinds of storyteller.

Storytelling is not solely for children. Most storytellers perform for adult, child, or mixed audiences; some exclusively tell stories for adults. Traditional stories are for everyone.

What do I offer?

I tell traditional stories and legends for audiences of all ages. My stories have a particular focus on Northumberland and the Scottish Borders, although some come from further afield.

I perform alone, in a style that strikes a balance between theatrical performance and informal story sharing. My sessions are suitable for smaller audiences and venues, but can be adapted to many different types of event, including performing at tourist attractions, or in schools.

My sessions are flexible in length and style, and fees will vary depending on requirements; an idea of what I charge can be found in the tab above. I also offer Story-Making workshop, with options suitable for both adult and child audiences.

Please contact me with any queries.