Gael Cresp
has been a member of Storytelling Australia (Vic) (formally Storytelling Guild
of Victoria) since 1985. She has travelled widely around Australia and attended
many National Conferences over the years. In the past, when the threads
connecting Australian storytellers have seemed thin, Gael has frequently stepped
up to the plate assuming roles within the storytelling community that others
found beyond their skill. It’s a brave heart that voluntarily chairs a meeting
attended by folk so gifted with the gab! Thank you Gael.
What came
first - writing or storytelling?
Storytelling
definitely came first! It generally takes several months of telling and
re-telling a story (if only in my own head) for the words to arrange themselves
in the correct order.
Is there a
difference between a written tale and a told tale?
Eventually
there is little difference but I find that intonation and gestures plus
atmosphere carry a dimension in stories that are told that is much harder to
achieve in written format. Then there are the picture books - again this format
has an impact on the words and, sometimes, the tone of the story.
When did
you become involved with Storytelling Australia and have you held any positions
in the organisation?
I have
been President, Treasurer and am currently Public Officer (although this should
change at the soon-to-be-held AGM)
What and
who inspires you?
Other
storytellers, the people who listen, those who ask questions and a desire to
keep my family stories of how we came to this land and how we now live in it
alive. These stories are important not only for my family but also for the
Australian community as a whole.
Who is
your preferred audience?
I enjoy
the challenge presented by 15 to 16 year olds who think that this grey haired
old lady has nothing to offer them but I am happy to tell to anyone who will
listen.
What is
your favourite children's book and why?
“The
Little White Horse” by Elizabeth Gouge - it is a fantasy book set in Victorian
times in England. It was the first chapter book I ever read and still lives in
my mind (and on my bookshelves).
Your
favourite story?
I couldn’t
really choose.
What is
your most memorable moment at a storytelling session?
Very early
in my storytelling I was with a group of 9 and 10 year olds at a Primary School
in the northern suburbs of Melbourne - a very disadvantaged area with an
extremely high migrant population. Deep into the telling of Bluebeard when the
young woman held out the blood stained key and I mimed holding out my hand
towards the children crowded together on the floor of the library the children
gasped and all pulled away. From that moment on I was hooked on storytelling.
Another
memorable moment was in the far north west of Tasmania with a group of 15 to 16
year olds who began the storytelling session staring out of the window in
boredom. By the end of “Lady Ragnell” they were all watching me, absolutely
still but with their heads still turned towards the window. They had become so
engrossed in the story that they forgot to turn their heads to follow their
eyes!
What
changes have you seen in the storytelling networks in Australia and globally?
Contact
via the internet, Facebook, Skype and this blog has lead to a great flowering
of knowledge and chances for experiencing other ways of storytelling.
You are a
great conference goer - what is the value of a storytelling conference?
Listening
to others, seeing what works and what doesn’t, testing oneself among ones
peers.
What plans
do you have in store for 2013?
I plan to
get my web site up and running, maybe putting on a concert of storytelling near
my home, finishing some of the stories I have in various drafts on my computer,
put some more told stories on You Tube... Plans and plans. We will see how it
all works out!
Gaels' Website will soon be appearing here.
Gael's commitment to ensuring storytellers connect and have their say is the stuff of legend. Here is the map and microphone she used in South Australia July 2011 when she chaired a lengthy meeting. We must also thank Shirley Way from Brisbane who is so tech savvy!
To purchase Gael's books - you can contact her directly.
The
Biography of Gilbert Alexander Pig. (Cygnet/Benchmark, 1999 & Puffin, 2001)
and as The
Tale of Gilbert Alexander Pig by Barefoot Books 2000. (UK & GB)
Fish for
Breakfast (A Windy Hollow Book, Benchmark, 2002)
$20 each
or $35 for both (incl. GST and Postage)
