Related Web Sites

If you would like to have an appropriate site listed on this page, please contact the webmaster.

The lists of web sites are split into: Organisations and Groups, Festivals and Events (where these have permanent web pages) and Individuals and Partnerships. These are followed by details of related USENET newsgroups, mailing lists and Web Logs (Blogs)

Storytelling Sites - Organisations and Groups

The Society for Story telling is a member of the Folk Art Network. The Folk Arts Network was established in the early 1990's, with funding support from Arts Council England, in order to bring together the small but growing number of organisations and individuals dedicated to Folk Development in England.

Storytelling Cafe: Storytelling events in Birmingham and the Midlands with plenty of supporting material. The most successful series of storytelling events in the country, now touring national and international storytellers to arts and community venues. A great night out in a relaxed coffee house atmosphere and some of the greatest storytelling you will ever hear. See also Graham Langley's own home page (link to http://www.storytelling.uk.net/graham/core.html )
Storytelling Web Ring: Primarily US material, but this is a link into many storytelling sites, including this one and others notes here.
Cecil Sharp House and the English Folk Dance and Song Society: The EFDSS holds various events that may be of interest to storytellers and listeners.
Highland Saga and Song Storytellers: Not just an event, more an experience with the Highland Saga and Song Storytellers. Explore Scotland, its myths, its history, folklore and legends, walk among battlefields and see in the imagination the past come to life through story and song. Highland Saga and Song Storytellers dress in traditional highland dress including traditional weaponry dating from the time of the Jacobite Risings.
British Council Literature Dept: Their directory of literature festivals in the UK is the most comprehensive available, and we will be adding to this with online databases on short courses and summer schools in the UK, studying literature at postgraduate level in British universities, and a database of contemporary British writers.
National Storytelling Network (US): This is a major US storytelling group, and the link given will take you to an extensive calendar. If you look in the "International" section you will find a selection of UK events, amongst others.
The Folklore Society: The term "folklore" was coined in 1846 to refer to the ballads, folktales and customs of the rural past. Even by the time the Folklore Society was founded in 1878 the meaning of the term was under review, and it has been continually expanded and reshaped ever since. Nowadays "folklore" is taken to refer to the everyday culture and cultural traditions of all social groups - young as well as old, urban as well as rural, ourselves as well as others. The Folklore Society aims to be a lively organisation, responsive to members' needs in terms of activities, research facilities and information services.
MythStories: The website of Mythstories museum of myth and fable.
Scottish Storytelling Centre: Started at the Netherbow as a storytelling umbrella in 1995, the Scottish Storytelling Centre is now an established resource for storytelling events. Regular activities programmed through the Centre include the Scottish International Storytelling Festival, training workshops, local storytelling clubs for children and adults, and storyteller visits to schools, libraries, conferences and arts venues.
Green Man Review: Roots & Branches of Music and Literature: These pages (formerly known as Folk Tales) existed as a print-based newsletter for well over twenty-five years, before moving to an exclusively-online format. It focuses on books, music and other good things. Our main focus is folk music in all its aspects, from the Celtic and English traditions to folk rock to world music, fiction of a related nature, and non-fiction books (biographies of folks who fit within our folk motif, folklore, musiclore, and related non-fiction.) It also covers other subjects: interviews, essays on folk tales, concert reviews, and upcoming major festivals.
Network of Biblical Storytellers (US & International): We tell the sacred stories of the biblical tradition, seeking the authenticity that comes from understanding the original meaning of the stories in their ancient context and from exploring their connections in contemporary life.
London Crick Crack Club: Since 1987 the Crick Crack Club has been at the forefront of innovative Performance Storytelling in Britain, identifying and developing artists capable of unleashing the rich passions and archaic energies of international wonder tales and myth for contemporary adult audiences. The Crick Crack Club has forged steady links with many individuals and organisations abroad and through its events, training programmes and promotion of excellence, has shaped and influenced a generation of the best storytellers in England, Wales and Northern Europe.
The London Centre for International Storytelling: The charity, The London Centre for International Storytelling, was founded in October 2004, to promote the art and practice of oral storytelling by providing opportunities for the sharing and perpetuation of oral traditions from all cultures. The long-term aim of LCIS is to establish a permanent, dedicated venue for international storytelling and other complementary traditional narrative arts, in London.
Cafe Credo: The Cafe Credo Storytellers web site, of Notting Hill, London. Cafe Credo is a monthly Biblical and Traditional Storytelling event. "Welcome to a SPACE for Stories for all mind and heart sizes".
Oral History Society: Oral History records the living memories and feelings of all kinds of people, many otherwise hidden from history, and creates a more vivid picture of our past.
Storytelling Resource Centre: The Storytelling-resource-centre is here to provide information and advice to all those who are interested in storytelling - including: Tellers, Listeners, Researchers, Educationalists etc...
Storyworld (the Netherlands): A Dutch site from Equator Productions with extensive English material, including archives, book and CD sales and training courses.
Lapidus: Lapidus is a membership organisation which promotes all the literary arts, including storytelling, for personal development, health and well-being.
Bristol Storytelling Circle: Bristol Story Circle meet every first Wednesday of the month upstairs at the Horse and Groom Pub, St Georges Road (off Park St), Bristol, 7.30pm for 8pm stories, £2 including coffee. For details contact info@bristolstory.com
A Word In Edgeways: Takes traditional tales by the scruff of the neck and drags them into the 21st Century creating accessible, provocative and sexy theatre. Main site.
A Word in Edgeways: Take 2: This is an alternative site for the same group. Katy Cawkwell and Philippa Tipper working with storytelling in businesses and organisations.
Teaching and Learning for Peace: "We share peace-building stories, songs and activities with children and adults for the sake of the children, and their children and the generations to follow." Though an Australian charity, they have International, and in particular UK, connections.
Barbican, London: Amongst other things, the Barbican puts on regular storytelling events. Use the search facility for "Storytelling" to find out what is on.
Farncombe Estate Centre Weekend Study Breaks in the Cotswolds: Farncombe Estate Centre is a new non-profit making study centre just outside Broadway, and we have a couple of storytelling weekends in our new programme.
Moby Duck: Moby Duck performs stimulating, challenging and accessible work for young people and adults that celebrates the common ground between cultures. We tour throughout the UK, presenting high-quality new cross art form cross cultural work to young children and adults in small and middle scale theatres, arts centres, village halls and schools. Performances are storytelling-led and have included live Karnatic music, western jazz, Bharatanatyam dance, masks, mime, puppetry, visual arts, digital media and eastern and western cooking.
Storytellers SOS: Searching Out Stories: An extensive collection of stories, organised by theme and type, often formed by linking on to other sites. Very impressive. The home page http://www.story-lovers.com/ is a source of storytelling themed merchandise, its based in the US, but still interesting.
Storytelling POWER: An extensive US collection of articles on the art of storytelling.
AESOPICA.NET: Aesop's Fables Online: Fables in English, Latin and Greek, and links to other sites offering fables in French and Spanish. 1418 fables in English!
Leicestershire Guild of Storytellers and Chromatix: The Leicestershire Guild of Storytellers's web site. See the clubs page for time, date and location.; Chromatix is a group of experienced musicians and storyteller working in an innovative and challenging collaborative way synthesizing newly composed music based on formal classical structures with oral remembered narrative.
Helions Bumpstead Gramophone Co.: The Helions Bumpstead Gramophone Co. website home to Suffolk Orality in Song, Story and Lore.; Forthcoming video release - Dick Ruggles, a very gifted natural storyteller tells from his life as a gamekeeper. To see video stream of his telling his mothers story of the disappearance of the squire's ham visit the site.
Storytellers of Canada: A Canadian national organisation of Storytellers. One of their interesting projects, Storysave, can be found here.
Sapere: This Web Site is intended as a guide to Philosophy for Children in the UK. It has been created by SAPERE - a small charity whose members are interested in the role of philosophical enquiry in education both as a model of rigorous thinking and as a celebration of wonder and open-mindedness. Storytelling can play and has played a role in their activities.
Verbal Arts Centre, Ireland: Amongst other resouirces, contains information on storytelling, including festivals, in Ireland
Healing Story Alliance: The Alliance is a special interest group of the US National Storytelling Network. "Our purpose is to explore and promote the use of storytelling in healing. Our goal for this special interest group is to share our experience and our skills, to increase our knowledge of stories and our knowledge of the best ways to use stories to inform, inspire, nurture and heal. We also wish to reach beyond our storytelling community to share with those in other service professions; therapists, clergy, health care practitioners of all kinds, anyone who can see the benefit of story as a tool for healing."
Every Object Tells a Story: Everyone has a special object to which they attach a particular meaning or story, and this project aims to encourage people to explore and share those personal stories on-line. Every Object Tells A Story allows users to upload images, video, audio and explanations of their favourite object. Visitors are invited to browse and comment on this amazing online collection: illustrating how a single object can mean different things to different people. The aim is to inspire a cross-section of society - from school-children to grannies - to become part of a living, evolving on-line cornucopia of stories and memories. It will provide an intimate social - and even emotional - snapshot of Britain today.
KATHALAYA-The House of Stories, India: Our mission: Research and revival of story telling traditions and ancient knowledge systems; To position the traditions of story telling in their correct social and historic perspective; To influence policy makers to inculcate story telling as a methodology in Education; To empower rural women teachers with innovative teaching techniques; and To formulate programs for reducing dropout rates in school.
How to tell a Great Story: "Our aim is to give a voice to storytellers of the world. You will have access to storytelling resources like stories from Africa and Asia, tips for storytellers, interviews with people who have amazing stories to tell and much more!"
Literacy Trust Diary: Includes: Annual literacy and reading events; Calendar of conferences and events; UK literature festivals (from the British Council website); Children's writing competitions; International conferences and seminars
The Federation of Children's Book Groups: The Federation's main role is to act as the umbrella organisation for local autonomous Children's Book Groups all around the UK. The Book Groups organise a variety of activities in their localities, often in conjunction with, or in support of, their local schools and libraries. These may include bringing authors and illustrators to schools, story-telling sessions, and other book-related activities for children. The Federation produces a regular Newsletter and numerous specialised booklists. Also, it organises National Share-A-Story Month each year in May, holds an Annual Conference in the Spring, and coordinates The Red House Children's Book Award.
Fire Springs: Bath and Stroud based storytelling group Fire Springs (Anthony Nanson, Kirsty Hartsiotis, David Metcalfe, Kevan Manwaring and Richard Selby) launched their website on Midsummer's Day 2005. Shows, workshops, shop, story circle, etc. Watch out for Return to Arcadia, our new ecobardic epic of Greek mystery myth now touring!
Australian Storytelling: Links into all the Australian Storytelling Guilds, resources, national festival, and more.
WeLoveStories: Not really traditional oral storytelling, but might be of interest.
"Love is about personal story, love is about intimate event, WeLoveStories.com is about personal and intimate love stories and events. WeLoveStories.com is a community of people that learn love, share love and even meet beloved ones."
Cornish Folklore Society: Various aspects of Cornish Folklore, including a page of links to modern retellings of traditional Cornish tales.
George Ewart Evans Centre for Storytelling web site: The George Ewart Evans Centre for Storytelling at the University of Glamorgan is dedicated to promoting, developing and researching storytelling in all its forms. Visit the web site to find out more, or for regular updates and to keep abreast of all the latest news and events from the centre visit the web log.
Folktrax: We are an online resource centre for those interested in traditional musics and cultures. Our aim is to promote awareness and enjoyment of musics, dances, stories, customs and traditions.
Planetary Voices Green Radio: A not for profit organisation, that contains audio features on a variety of subjects ranging from Story telling and theatre, to Peace & Reconciliation, Human Rights,and the Environment. The story telling section demonstrates how universal art of Story telling is by providing a global feast of tales from people (including some major UK tellers).
The Storyteller and The Listener: A new twice-monthly newsletter that focuses on the power of storytelling in the local community for the purposes of peacemaking, bridge building, healing and/or reconciliation. (The current issue features a contribution from a storyteller in Manchester. Our essays come from all over the English speaking world.) The content consists of essays from storytellers and listeners who have experienced these aspects of storytelling in their local communities. The newsletter is noncommercial; its aim is to affirm the storytellers who are doing this important work and to provide for an exchange of information, tips and inspiration
Grampian Association of Storytellers: Storytelling events and workshops with adults and children, drawing on culture and tradition from the North East of Scotland as well as around the world.
Japan Storytellers' Association: Founded in 1997, The Storytellers' Association (JSA) is the only entity in Japan whose central activity is Katari ,or storytelling. The original founders were housewives devoted to nurturing aesthetic sentiments through the power of the spoken word. Recognizing storytelling as an art form in its own right, 10 years later, JSA started sharing stories with young people, adults and those who are young at heart. JSA currently sponsors and directs 20 storytelling gatherings and 20 seminars and lectures a year.
(Mostly in Japanese, but some interesting material in English)
Folking.com: An online UK Folk Community, with some storytelling material.
Shaggy Dog Storytellers website: A storytelling club from Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire that has been going for over 11 years but only recently have they had a website
Storytellers and Listeners for Peace Webring: A new collection of websites and blogs that focus on the use of story, dialogue and other narrative for purposes of peacemaking, healing, bridge building and reconciliation.
The Storyteller and the Listener Newsletter: A noncommercial online newsletter that publishes two essays each month from individuals around the world who have experienced the value of story, dialogue and other narrative in the lcoal community for purposes of peacemaking, healing, bridge building and reconciliation. Essay proposals invited. Writers guidelines available at the site. Free subscriptions.
Truck Tales: TRUCK TALES is the umbrella name for a series of storytelling shows, performed at various times throughout the year here at Hull Truck Theatre. Up until now, the programming of these sessions has been somewhat infrequent, however as our theatre and audience expands - and as we move into a new, larger theatre in 2007 - we are hoping to develop these events significantly, establishing a more regular and diverse programme of storytelling and related activities, and a frequent, familiar and fun feature of family life in Hull.
On the website select "What's On" and then "Truck Tales".
Dulcie Ball
Marketing Officer
Hull Truck Theatre
T: 01482 313926
Caravansary Storytelling & Improvisation Group: The weekly workshops are informal, fun way to explore the traditional storytelling and drama as told in the Caravansaries through the Silk Road. Sunday 12:00 - 14:00. Venue: St. Mark's Church, Myddleton Square, London EC1R 1XX The church is five minutes walk from Angel tube.
Seven Stories: Seven Stories - The Centre for Children's Books.
Seven Stories is where our rich heritage of British children's books is collected, explored and celebrated. Books are our inspiration for all kinds of exhibitions, activities and events, for seeing and hearing, making and doing, writing and drawing, music and drama and much more.
There is a scattering of traditional storytelling references about the site.
School of Storytelling - Emerson College: Three months full-time trainings in storytelling as well as various shorter courses and workshops. Located in Sussex UK
Oxford Storytelling Society: The Oxford Storytelling Society promotes the oral tradition in Oxfordshire for adults and children. Its events include storytelling meetings, performances and workshops. New stories by members are published in the series "Telling Tales".
Reading is Fundemental: Though primarily about reading, the resources page has an extensive list of UK storytellers.
Telling tales: A guide to developing effective storytelling programmes for museums: Thirty five page PDF, published by London Museums Hub in 2006.
Brighton Storytellers: Brighton Storytellers is part of a renaissance in the art of oral storytelling nationwide, with various kinds of storytelling events springing up from small story-sharing groups through to top-flight telling at the Barbican and festivals such as Beyond the Border and Festival at the Edge where you can immerse yourself in story for a whole weekend!
Cardiff Storytelling Circle: The website for the Cardiff Storytelling Circle. We are a group of adult Storytellers that meet regularily in Cardiff to share stories and also to promote storytelling events for the general public.
Traditional Arts Team: The Traditional Arts Team organises activities on behalf of the Traditional Arts Foundation. The Traditional Arts Foundation is a registered charity currently based in Birmingham, trading under the name of the Traditional Arts Team Ltd. The members include storytellers, bands, musicians, and anyone else who is interested in supporting the traditional performance arts.; Its mission is to promote an understanding of the contemporary relevance of the traditional arts, to encourage participation in them by the creation of community related events and to present high quality performance events in the Midlands.
A Bit Crack: North East Storytellers, meeting on the first Friday of each month in Newcastle on Tyne.
Ashden Directory: The Ashden Directory, focuses on environmentalism and performing arts. It features a daily blog, news, interviews, and reviews, as well as a searchable directory of companies, performers, storytellers and artists who work with environmental themes. There is also an exhaustive list of current and historical productions.
Celtic Harmony: Celtic Harmony is a non-for-profit organisation and, amongst other activities, co-ordinates a programme of storytelling evenings for visitors and tells stories to school children. Celtic Harmony Camp is a Celtic settlement & education centre surrounded by ancient woodland located in Brickendon, Hertfordshire.
Creswell Crags: Creswell Crags is a limestone gorge honeycombed with caves and smaller fissures in Nottinghamshire. At the east end of the gorge is the Museum and Education Centre. There, storytelling is used as part of their education packs.
Year of Reading: This year, 2008, is the Year of Reading. If you scroll down the page you will find a link to "NYR Coordinators". Click that and you can scroll down a list of local names who are coordinating what goes on.; I have spoken to the Project Manager for NYR and she is hugely enthusiastic about storytelling and says we should not be put off by the word "reading". Storytelling activity is most welcome and highly valued.; There are themes over the months. In October – "Word of mouth". Celebrate storytelling, reading out loud, reading together and live literature. Also a great opportunity to harness the power of recommended reads.
Storytelling in Hope: Storytelling in Hope is the name of a group of people who love to listen to and tell stories from all around the world, in a friendly club atmosphere in South East London
Make Believe: Make Believe is a small business that specializes in using storytelling to help organizations (profit and non profit) to be more effective from cultural issues through to competitive marketing.

Storytelling Sites - Festivals and Events

See the News & Events page which may contain more details.

Cape Clear festival and workshops: Chuck Kruger advertises the storytelling festival and workshops at Cape Clear Island in West Cork. In 2007 the main festival will be on Friday 31st August - Sunday 2 September.; Alternatively try http://indigo.ie/~stories/
Festival at the Edge: Web page for this Wenlock Edge storytelling festival and related events and projects. In 2007 it's 20th - 22th July.
Bleddfa Trust: The trust puts on a yearly storytelling festival, amongst many other events. In 2007 this is on 3rd - 9th August. All enquiries to:

The Administrator,

Bleddfa Trust,

Bleddfa,

Nr Knighton,

Powys, LD7 1PA.

Phone: 01547 550 377

Tales of Graz, Austria: The world largest international storytelling festival featuring the best tellers from all over the world! In 2007 this will be 14th - 23rd September.

Tales of Graz - Team

Kloster 59

A-8413 St. Georgen

Austria/Europe

email: festival@graz.tales.org Tel.: +43 (0)3183 7423, Fax.: +43 (0)3183 7400

Beyond the Border: Beyond the Border International Storytelling Festival is Wales' Leading Festival of Story, Music, Song and Dance held in St Donats Arts Centre known nationally for the stories and legends told.; In 2007 the festival will run 6th - 8th July 2007.
West Country Storytelling Festival: There will be no 2007 festival this summer. Due to a restructuring process we will be taking a year out to plan for August 2008.
THE LAKELAND FESTIVAL OF STORYTELLING: The Lakeland Festival of Storytelling returns to the villages of Staveley and Ings on the weekend of 28 - 30 September 2007.
Young Storyteller of the Year 2008: Saturday 8 March 2008
Library Theatre, Paradise Place, Birmingham B3 3HQ (near the Central Library: 5 minutes walk from Birmingham New Street Station)
Are you aged between 15 and 25? Do you tell stories at school or college, folk clubs or storytelling clubs? We are searching for the best young storytellers in the land to come forward into the public arena. Put the date in your diary now, choose your story (maximum length 10 minutes) and get practising!
How to enter the Young Storyteller of the Year Award 2008
1) Download the booking form from www.storytelling.uk.net/ysoy/YT4.pdf or www.storytelling.uk.net/ysoy/YTentry.doc and fill in your details
2) Include a cheque for £5 (payable to Traditional Arts Team)
3) Post them to the address below
Young Storyteller of the Year 2008
c/o Fiona Collins
Ty Cynnes
Carrog
Corwen LL21 9LA
Phone: 01490 430 551, email: fiona@tradartsteam.co.uk
Heart Of The Dragon Festival Newcastle Emlyn: On Saturday 17 March 2007 a mysterious Dragon's Egg, found floating in a coracle down the River Teifi in Newcastle Emlyn last July, will travel to Dublin to appear at the Dragon Parade as part of the St Patrick's Day festivities there.; The Egg, a symbol of the rebirth of the Dragon of Wales, is due to hatch at this year's Heart of the Dragon Festival at Newcastle Emlyn on 7 and 8 July 2007.; There will be a prop making and historical costumes tent, birds of prey, music, storytelling, puppets and much, much more for everyone to enjoy and participate in.
Storytellers of Ireland: This website was produced by Storytellers of Ireland/Aos Scéal Éireann with generous support of the Arts Council of Ireland/Comhairle Ealaíon. SOI was established in 2003 to promote and foster the oral tradition of storytelling throughout Ireland.; The ancient art of the Seanchaí, the storyteller of the past, has experienced a revival in the last 20 years. People of all ages and backgrounds have begun to retell stories old and new, for which Ireland is famed throughout the world.

Storytelling Sites - Individuals and Partnerships

Storytelling Resources: The storytelling part of Tim Sheppard's web site. It includes the Storytelling FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions), which is a huge primary Internet guide to advice and resources.
Traditional Storytelling: Storytelling traditions vary all over the world, yet have many things in common. This page is an attempt to gather information on customs of the oral tradition world-wide. Many people today are rediscovering the pleasures of telling stories, after their culture has lost most of its storytelling traditions, yet cannot easily find out much about the countless millennia of oral traditions with all their wisdom and techniques. I hope this site will help you discover and appreciate something of the central role which storytelling has played in most cultures, and in some places still does.; (Another part of Tim Sheppard's Site)
Telling Tales: Bob Wilkins pages, offering storytelling-related services including books and audio tapes.
Stories and Places of Irish Myth and Legend: Richard Marsh specialises in Irish, Spanish and Basque legends and folk tales. This site includes details of Richard Marsh's tours to legendary sites in Ireland, and samples of stories that happened there.
Richard Martin's site Tellatale: Many stories to read, hear and even see. Information on Richard's performances and teacher-training workshops throughout the world.
Harlynne Geisler's Web Pages: A US storyteller, whose pages contain: a US Calendar of Storytelling Events, details of "Storybag", a US newsletter, and various pages on herself and storytelling tips.
Pete Keal's Storytelling Website: Pete Keal's storytelling work, and an annotated list of Storytelling links.
Sunburst Story Theatre: Charlie Wilson's storytelling site, on his own storytelling work. "Bright, traditional tales retold from many cultures, with songs, and an array of instruments for children to use".
Taffy Thomas, Storyteller's Garden, Tales in Trust: Taffy Thomas's Web Site, including his work, tour dates, "The Storytellers Garden" and "Tales in Trust" work.
Jack Beck and Wendy Welch's Web Pages: Scottish Folklore in traditional stories, songs, music tours and ceilidhs - Jack Beck and Wendy Welch purvey the total Scottish Experience.
Cat Weatherill : Storyteller: An introduction to performance storyteller Cat Weatherill - "The Temptress of Tales"- with full details of the shows that will be touring major storytelling and literature festivals this year.
Polly Howat - The Travelling Storyteller: Polly is a professional performance storyteller with 10 years experience, folklorist, the author of six folklore and legend books, a radio broadcaster and have appeared on several television channels.
Graham Rogers - Storytelling: Graham is a storyteller working mainly with Primary School aged children. This site has details of his latest projects and has some children's and teachers' comments on his work.; Stories in Education, Fordingbridge, Hampshire, UK
Pete Castle: A storyteller who sings half his stories'. Pete has worked professionally as a folk singer and storyteller for nearly 30 years. He's worked with adults, children and family audiences at all kinds of events all over the country. He also edits Facts & Fiction (below).
Facts & Fiction: Facts & Fiction: the UK's (world's?) only independent storytelling magazine dealing with all aspects of oral storytelling from all over the globe (and beyond if we find any.)
Facts and Fiction can be ordered by post, or discussed over the phone:
42 Mill Street, Belper, Derbys. DE56 1DT
Phone 01773-822829
Or ordered from the F&F website
Pat Speight: Pat Speight is one of Ireland's best known Storytellers, carrying on the timeless art and oral tradition of storytelling for young and old. Living in Cork where he is a member of the local Yarnspinning group, Pat has travelled far and wide and has been a featured Storyteller at many a Festival.
Midnight Storytellers: Karen-Eve and Chloe provide stories for our time: tales about how to survive life in the modern age of e-everything.
Peter Optical's Pages: Not only a Storyteller but also a Poet, Singer, Musician, Magician, Mime, Stiltwalker, Fire-Eater & Juggler.
Bard of Avalon: Here, when Pilgrims gather, Merlin the Great Bard entrances us. For a Bard is not only a Storyteller, Singer, Musician and Poet, but also a Pilgrim and Artist... Calling upon the power of magic, and the shifting shape of the Shaman, to make the message clear. Follow the links to discover Avalon through the eyes of the Bard.
Margo the Storyteller: Margo Cutrice's web pages, a storyteller who uses music, movement and magic to tell stories to children aged 4 to 11.
ABCtales: Web site and magazine for eager readers, aspiring writers and everyone with a story to tell. Organisers of, amongst other things, storytelling events.
Scot an Sgeulaiche: A travelling Story Teller from Scotland, roaming the bye-ways of the Celtic Lands and elsewhere, bringing to campfires & gatherings the Traditional Tales & Songs, in an old way, with colour and life, with respect.
A Spell In Time: A Spell In Time is a British Bulgarian collaboration that specialises in bringing tales from Bulgarian myth and folklore to British audiences in English translation for the first time. We use an accessible blend of storytelling, ritual, music and dance combined with divine Bulgarian singing and we also offer workshops in Bulgarian singing and folk dance.
Viv and Rob Turner's Page: Viv is the Storybox Storyteller, plying her tales in the Plymouth area.
David Calcutt's Page: David is a published playwright, storyteller and poet.
Success Story: An exciting and groundbreaking venture from David Bash, of taking storytelling and storymaking into businesses and other organisations as a training package ('Success Story'). Recent programmes run for a variety of organisations (The Academy for Chief Executives, The Kings Fund, Results Corporation) have resulted in very positive, enthusiastic responses from participants.
France Ellul's Homepage: I have been telling stories with the harp for years. Though I am particularly fond of stories from the Celtic lands, I collect and tell stories from all over the world. I offer a wide variety of services to schools and colleges, organised events, festivals, weddings, corporate bodies, etc.
Katy Cawkwell's Home Page: Performance storytelling, stories in schools, stories in business
Hand and Word Storytellers: The site of P.D. Brown, a teller from West Yorkshire.
David James: David has been working as a storyteller since 1991, telling in many places but currently with a particular interest in storytelling in schools.
David England: David's own work as a storyteller, various resources, and the founder of the Great British Storytelling Ring.
Storytracks: Nicola Grove and Keith Park specialise in using stories and poetry with people who have severe communication difficulties - children and adults with severe and profound learning disabilities, autism, language difficulties to name a few. We both work in schools and day centres, and the website has information about our projects and lots of free resources to download.
Giles Abbott: Giles Abbott started storytelling in 1999 as a result of losing much of his “useful eyesight” in 1998. As he puts it, through the loss of something others take for granted he has found something many others don’t know they’ve lost. That something is storytelling.
Moby Duck: Some of you will know that Moby Duck plays with mixing storytelling with other art forms. This year we have two pieces for family audiences on national tour: The Story that Went to Sea, mixing; storytelling with bharatanatyam dance, Karnatic music and puppetry; and The Mazemaker, using storytelling, sax synthesiser and digital projection.
Wizard Stories: Our brand new site holds details of lots of Wizard's work. Past and present projects, details of how our work supports both the National Curriculum and the National Literacy Strategy, how to book Wizard for your school or venue, as well as on-line stories for children to read and finish themselves, awards and competitions, and even a picture gallery.
Kevin Walker (Bardic traditions): Bardic Traditions exists to raise awareness and encourage interest in the oral traditions of story telling and its many forms. By creating atmosphere, developing characters and using great stories (many supported by songs, music, and artefacts) Bardic Traditions create a very special experience for groups and audiences of all ages.
Michael O'Leary: Hagstone Story Teller: "Only superlatives can be used to describe your skills. We were most impressed by the way you built up rapport with the children and instantly enthralled them." Elizabeth Dray, Headteacher, Weybourne Infant School, Farnham. Experienced storytelling and music, not just for children, but adults too. Have a look.
Storysmith: This is the website for the Oxford-based storyteller, writer and musician Chris Smith, specialising Arab and Islamic traditions. The site provides details of services for performance, schools, celebrations and corporate events.
Seanachaidh: "On these pages I hope to introduce you to some of the folk tales and folklore of my native area Dumfries and Galloway, in the South West of Scotland. "
Tallyessin: The website of the winner of the Bardic Chair of Bath - Tallyessin: poet, storyteller, writer and teacher. Performs solo and with Fire Springs (Arthur's Dream, Robin of the Wildwood). He also runs the Bath Storytelling Circle
Janet Tells Stories: Janet Dowling is a professional storyteller who specialises in telling stories to inspire, to create and to make a difference. She tells stories with an inspiring energy that comes directly from her heart!
Telling History: Maureen James of Telling History specialises in costumed historical storytelling, particularly stories from the Medieval period but with a repertoire that spans the Iron age to Victorian times. A fully qualified teacher, with enhanced CRB clearance, she has worked in schools, museums and at heritage sites around the country.
Taffy Thomas's Website: Taffy's own site, about him, Tales in Trust, the Storyteller's Garden and the Lakeland Festival.
Penny Dolan's Website: Children's Writer & Storyteller.
Will Buckingham's Website: “ Welcome to Will Buckingham's home pages. I am a freelance teacher and writer based in Birmingham, UK. Here you can find out a little about my work in philosophy, creative writing, storytelling, meditation teaching and web design. ”
StoryACTION: Storytelling and Drama in Primary Schools: StoryACTION brings creativity into learning using drama games, improvisation and fun with Shakespeare’s texts and myths. The web page of Diana Grace-Jones.
Tim O'the Oak - Storyteller: "Now in the Forest of Dean, I build coracles and other ancient ships, and have woven a strange tale around them… I tell stories from the old Celtic tradition, plus some mystical and magickal ones I have discovered along the way. Happiness is a candlelit fireside with interested listeners."
Tim Oakes' Web site.
The Verbal Journey: The website of professional Storyteller, Educator and Trainer Martin King.
Dave Arthur's Website: STORYTELLING (British and world folktales), MUSIC (English or Anglo-American traditional songs, ballads and tunes), or JOURNALISM and SCRIPTWRITING (theatre, television, radio)
Stories from the Heart: Susie Minto has a deep love for stories and their energy. She enjoys telling all kinds of tales - traditional stories and legends from her Scottish roots and from many world cultures, as well as personal anecdotes and spontaneous stories straight from her imagination. This is her website.
The Whole Story...: Lily Pender and Josh Gaillemin run storytelling classes, workshops and performance projects for all age groups. Based in London but willing to travel, we work with community groups, schools, museums, zoos and other businesses. Combining their expertise as a storyteller and theatre director the partnership offers a unique teaching experience. Josh Gaillemin specialises in telling world animal stories.
info@thewholestory.org.uk
The Man from Story Mountain: Adrian Beckingham, The Man From Story Mountain, has travelled throughout the centuries and across the millenia, gathering these treasures from storytellers in cultures around every corner of the Earth. Today he is busy working in schools, youth clubs, hospitals, theatres, festivals, libraries, prisons and castles, opening locked doors and showing people the brilliance of their new horizons.
Raventales: Michael and Wendy Dacre's website: "We explore traditional tales further with shadow puppets, giant puppets, crafts, storywalks and games and particularly enjoy telling outside in the English landscape, whether it be in wet woods or on wild seashores, by rippling rivers, on ancient hillforts or in starlit orchards."
Talking Tales: Kevin Graal's website.Kevin's storytelling is steeped in the Irish oral tradition and grounded in thorough research. Combining playful improvisation with a keen sensitivity to the needs of each particular audience, his finely tuned performances are filled with laughter, magic and imagination.
Kevin Crossley-Holland: Kevin Crossley-Holland is a well-known poet and prize-winning author for children, and is a patron of the Society for Storytelling.
Story Tree: Gloria Lawrence's web site: "I am a black British born woman whose parents came from Jamaica and handed down many traditions, including storytelling and folk songs."
Rona Barbour's Website: The Storyteller Rona Barbour has a proven track record of Healing Therapy through Story in Schools and other establishments.
Story Tales: Children's author and storyteller Adam Bushnell's pages offering stories, forthcoming events and a gallery of children's creative writing inspired by Adam's storytelling sessions.
SongStory: The website for songs & stories - in performances, workshops and gifts - with Troubadour Storyteller Ben Fairlight.
Marguerite Osborne's Website: Marguerite Osborne offers lively storytelling programmes for adults, children and "all ages" at public venues and events, at private functions and at meetings of clubs and societies. Her workshops in Storytelling Skills and Story Creation are popular in schools, in adult education, in corporate settings and as therapy.
Storyland: Storyland is not a place you can get to in a plane, train or automobile... nor even a unicycle! Storyland is not even a place you can get to on the Internet (though it may help). Storyland is a place you get to in your heart. No one can make you get there. But in Storyland, every story is true.; This is a website about oral storytelling - the oldest artform in the world. I don't claim to be an expert, but I do feel that I have some wisdom to share... and perhaps more importantly, some stories to share!
Jamie Crawford, Storyteller: Based in East Sussex, Jamie Crawford is a performance storyteller with a lively, interactive style. His new show for adults on the life of King Arthur is touring Britain through 2007.
Christine Willison ~ storyteller: For over 20 years, Christine has entertained, intrigued and inspired people of all ages and abilities with her large repertoire of traditional and contemporary stories. Whether in schools, performance spaces, libraries or museums, in stately homes in Britain or at festivals worldwide, Christine shares her inexhaustible enthusiasm for the world of tales, legends, myths and riddles.
Mark Harandon - Live Interpretation and Storytelling: For 15 years I have told stories to the whole range of audiences. I was Head of Performing Arts in FE for 20 years and have given workshops and led events across the age range. With a degree in English from Oxford University, I am able to use period language when necessary to create character and I present live interpretation at gardens, houses and countryside properties, principally for the National Trust. I am able to present environmental education, having retrained with the National Trust in Environmental Conservation.
David Heathfield: David Heathfield is an Exeter-based storyteller and story workshop leader with a strong emphasis on participation, cooperation, speaking and listening. Find him also on the SfS web directory.
Hugh Lupton: Audio samples, shows, biography and more.

Storytelling USENET Newsgroups

alt.arts.storytelling Storytelling activities in general: Storytellers consider the literary tradition as something quite different to storytelling. The newsgroup is for those that tell stories to others orally, not for writers.; Therefore posting stories here is NOT welcome unless they are oral stories, specifically in form and language suitable for oral telling to an audience. Creative writing should be posted to a writers' newsgroup such as rec.arts.books, alt.prose, rec.arts.mystery, rec.arts.prose. etc.; Welcome subjects for posts are, amongst others:

Requests for information on oral stories on a desired subject, or suitable for a certain audience.
Discussion of performance techniques, experiences, practical issues.
Discussion of the oral storyteller's role, qualities etc.
Stories suitable for telling orally
Information on gigs, tours, festivals, conferences etc.
Requests for contact information for local storytelling groups, courses, organisations etc.
Any other issues relevant to oral storytelling, including discussion of how storytelling relates to or differs from other expressive media, such as writing or acting.

Mailing Lists

The STORYTELL listserv: From Richard Martin, as I don't know the list myself "Pretty international, but with quite a few British participants. The listserv is really brilliant - incredibly supportive, informative, and well-disciplined (apparently something which is rare on the net). The only problem with it is that there are several hundred members around the world and the traffic is HEAVY. But well worth it in terms of development as a teller!"; Details of how to subscribe are on several websites, but in short, just mail to listserv@twu.edu with the text 'subscribe storytell'; The Storytelling FAQ is here (& wants your input)
The STORYTELLERS list server: This list is dedicated to the exchange of mythological stories, folktales, storytelling (of all kinds) and screenwriting. It is interested in promoting exchange of stories and discussion of mythology, mythic storytelling and story structure. It is committed to providing for an international body of users, where no one national cultural viewpoint prevails. As an alternative to the STORYTELL list, it does not discuss storytelling technique, the official business of the American Storytelling Association, copyright, and so forth.; The STORYTELLERS homepage is here.
The School Performers List: For anyone who performs in schools (storytellers, theatre groups, musicians, clowns, jugglers etc.) A chance to share stories, problems, views, grumbles, marketing strategies, and anything related to the activity.; The School-Performers homepage is here.

Storytelling Weblogs

Young Storyteller of the Year Blog: Young Tongues /Young Storyteller of the Year now has its own blog, thanks to multi-talented Young Storyteller Tim Ralphs. All and sundry are invited to read, enjoy and contribute at http://youngtongues.blogspot.com/

Society for Storytelling Home Page

V7.24 10/3/2008

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