'Scenes on the Yarra' celebrating World Rivers Day 2015

The Melbourne Fringe Festival is in full swing and a couple of Vic storytellers have been collaborating on an interdisciplinary piece celebrating World Rivers Day. Beginning on the lawn outside The Dock Library, Scenes on the Yarra took the audience on a guided walk along North Wharf.  The audience heard the creation story for the Yarra, visited the place where the Alma Doepel is being restored and the wooden boat shed, as well as being treated to projected installations, dance and poetry. 

This project has been moving down the River: Warburton, Healsville, Yarra Glen, Warrandyte, Herring Island. 

In March 2016 Scenes on the Yarra will arrive in Williamstown, at the mouth of the Yarra.

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The Artists: Rebecca Page, Simon Oats, Christian Bishop, Joey Soh, Jutta Pryor, Matteo Volpi, Elisabeth Henderson, Lana Woolf, Vivienne Halat, Stepanka Cervinkova, Alicia Fernandez, William Veitch, Ceitidh Hopper and Jeminah Alli Reidy.

Read more about Scenes on the Yarra HERE

Pics: Lana Woolf and Simon Oats

‘Bindjareb Pinjarra’ storytelling theatre

Geoff Kelso, actor, comedian, writer and storyteller lives in Western Australia but spends a large part of every year travelling around the country performing.

He is one of the inaugural cast members and creators of a piece of storytelling theatre that was first developed in 1994. ‘Bindjareb Pinjarra’ has never been written down and is passed on to new cast members orally. Although the story remains the same, the text is fluid. This is a unique and enduring project working within the frame of traditional oral storytelling.

When Geoff visited Melbourne recently, it seemed like a good opportunity to sit him down and get him to share something of the process behind this remarkable collaborative story.

Cast and creators of  ‘Bindjareb Pinjarra’ from 1994 to the present:

Geoff Kelso, Kelton Pell, Phil Thomson, Isaac Drandic,

Frank Nannup, Dean Dayley-Jones, Mark Howett, Ian Wilkes, Trevor Parfitt, Sam Longley, Mick Innes, Craig Williams, Mark Storen, Kyle Morrison

Visit the Bindjareb Pinjarra website HERE

An interview with the cast that toured to Tennant Creek Desert Harmony Festival 2012 HERE

 

Jackie Kerin and Sarah Depasquale: 'Tales from the Flyway' October 2015

Hello,

My friend and collaborator Sarah Depasquale and I have some shows coming up.

Tales from the Flyway was developed out of a love for urban wetlands and birds, especially those found at our doorstep in Hobsons Bay. 

Together we will take you on a journey following the path of migratory shore birds, from south-east Australia to Siberia, along the East Asian Australasian Flyway. The show is playful and occasionally enlightening.

The structure of Tales from the Flyway is simple. If we were to fly with the birds and visit the chain of wetlands in the countries along the Flyway, what stories might we hear? I’ve collected stories from Indonesia, Thailand and Siberia and Sarah has woven them together with Vivaldi, Bach, Massenet and pieces she has composed especially.

Our final story is a kamishibai that has been passed down the Flyway from the Yatsu-Higata Observation Centre in Japan, to Boondall Wetlands in Brisbane (2008) and then on to us for telling in Hobsons Bay (2015). Receiving this story is a confirmation that there are people who see the big picture and don’t allow obstacles to get in the way of an idea. 

When: Sunday Oct 4

Where: Private House Concert in Altona

Time: 2.00pm

Please contact me and I will pass on the details: jackie@jackiekerin.com.au

When: Sunday Oct 18

Time: Beginning at 12.00 with Somali stories and tea, Tales from the Flyway will kick off around 1.00pm

Where: The RAW Garden, 325 South Road, Brighton East 

For more information and bookings: info@raw-australia.org.au

Check out the magic of the RAW Garden HERE  
R.A.W Resilient Aspiring Women.

If you are interested in Flyway but can’t join us this time, Sarah and I have more events in the planning.

Jackie Kerin

Website HERE

Niki Na Meadhra: BAMBRA. A Magical Afternoon of Storytelling: 5th and 6th September 2015

An invitation from Niki na Meadhra

I'm so looking forward to leaving the Big Smoke behind and getting down to Countrywide Cottages it is such a beautiful location, with the very best of hospitality.

If you want to go to the country for an afternoon of stories, or you are already in the country and would enjoy some stories - I'd love to see you at this event.

If you know anyone down around Bambra, Colac, Deans Marsh, Lorne, Birregurra, Forrest, Winchelsea, Anglesea, Airey's Inlet, Geelong - who would enjoy a show - please share!

Di and Stu are rolling out the red carpet! It will be a lot of fun!

More Details: Countrywide Cottages
WHERE: 1205 Dean's Marsh Road Bambra
TIME: 1.30 - 4.30

BOOKINGS: HERE

Thanks for sharing Niki. Storytelling Vic loves to share news and we are especially excited about events happening outside of the metro area.

‘Words in Winter’ in Maryborough with Ronda Gault

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Storytelling Vic aims to support experienced and beginner storytellers in their dreams to grow, connect and learn.

Ronda Gault, long-time member of Story Vic and resident of Maryborough, in the Shire of Central Goldfields, has been thinking for some time now that she would like to create a Storytelling Circle in her town. ‘The Ballarat Storytellers established a group years ago and meet once a month in a bookshop to practice the art of storytelling. I feel that with a bit of energy, we can do the same in Maryborough’

With this in mind, Ronda decided to offer a beginner’s workshop as part of the Words in Winter Festival. ‘Storytellers Suzanne Sandow from Kyneton and Jackie Kerin from Melbourne, lent their support and together we designed a 90 minute workshop for people to hear, learn, and tell a story.’

‘The workshop was deemed a great success. Veronica surprised herself by telling a story for the first time and Susan Day (who had driven from Dunolly to join the group) shared an original story - the funny, informative and poignant tale of Clarence the Snake from Dunolly.’

Ronda and husband, John, have lived in Maryborough for over twenty years. A little out of town on Daisy Hill, they live in a mud brick home with the company of a herd of beautiful goats and clutch of happy hens. ‘Our home is sometimes described as the Gingerbread House’.

Ronda says, ‘The next step is to find ourselves a quiet place to meet and set a date. Our goal is to grow skills as tellers; we won’t be reading or reciting stories however writers will find that telling their stories is helpful to shaping their ideas. All are welcome. Sharing stories strengthens community and deepens personal connections across genders, generations and cultural backgrounds. We all have a story to tell.’

If you live in the Central Goldfields area and would like to meet this emerging group of storytellers, contact Ronda Gault via Storytelling Australia Victoria at  storytellingvic@live.com.au

Don't forget to put Maryborough Storytelling Circle in the subject bar.

And if Ballarat and Maryborough are no good for you, perhaps you are near Wonthaggi? Gael Cresp has been giving Storytelling classes through the U3A and telling stories at the Wonthaggi Library. You can contact Gael HERE 

 

In time, we may have Storytelling Circles dotted throughout Victoria!

Gardening, Cooking and Storytelling with RAW

It’s a long drive from Macedon to Hampton but it was time for Kate Lawrence (Macedon) and Mariam Issa (Hampton) to finally meet up and enjoy a cuppa in the RAW Garden.

These two are passionate about building and strengthening relationships through story and they are definitely RAW – Resilient Aspiring Women.

RAW began in 2012 and aims to create an inclusive and caring community. Mariam’s garden is created with the assistance of volunteers; there are raised wiki beds, an out-door kitchen and a fire pit.  In this garden, storytelling is valued as a way to educate and inspire young and old.

Mariam is looking ahead to 2016 and planning events for the garden. As the Storytelling Australia Vic committee is also beginning to shape our calendar, Kate will be liaising with RAW and assisting Mariam with a program of storytelling.

We look forward to seeing many of you telling stories in the RAW garden. We’ll keep you posted via our Members Newsletter as plans progress.

click on photos to enlarge

In the meantime, have a look at The RAW website HERE and checkout the coming events. 

Roslyn Quin: The Pirate Tavern And Market. Saturday 19 September 2015

Roslyn Quin the Storyteller performs at The Pirate Tavern And Market event Saturday 19th September 2015 at the Bull And Bear Tavern, Melbourne CBD. 

 Roslyn will tell gruesome tales of pirates from history and other sea-faring adventures.

This is family-friendly, so folks are encouraged to bring the kids down. It’s a licensed venue and fully functioning bar, so parents / guardians must accompany minors.

Entry to the Markets: $5, free for under 15s. 

Markets open from 1pm - 5pm

 

Roslyn performs in the Storyteller's Cave upstairs 2pm - 5pm. 

(Session times will be posted on the website and facebook closer to the event.)

 Evening's activities feature sword-fighting and Tango lessons, The Swashbuckler's Tournament, Balloon Brawl game, bands and dancing, and is for people over 18.

Costumes are strongly encouraged!

Golden Owl Events: HERE

Pirate Tavern & Market Events: HERE