Sunday, August 18, 2013

Jan Wositzky: THE GO-BETWEEN: WILLIAM MURRUNGURK BUCKLEY. Tour dates



THE GO-BETWEEN: WILLIAM MURRUNGURK BUCKLEY
The white man who went black and came back

The Go-Between: William Murrungurk Buckley tracks the epic adventure of a convict’s escape in 1803 from the farthest out-post of the British Empire – Sullivan Bay (Sorrento) on Port Phillip - and explores Buckley’s 32 years with Wathaurong people where he became Murrungurk, a spirit returned from the dead. The performance then follows Buckley into the little known, treacherous, political end game, when he worked as Interpreter between the traditional owners and the invading colonists of Australia.

Weaving Buckley’s ghosted 1852 biography with Wathaurong language, historic documents, archival images, music and poetry, The Go-between: William Murrungurk Buckley takes audiences into the not-so-black-and-white world of early Victoria, of murder, massacre, and Buckley’s bruising encounters with the famous and infamous characters of colonial Melbourne – Batman, Fawkner, Gellibrand and Derrimut.

Told by Jan ‘Yarn’ Wositzky in savage, humorous fashion, The Go- Between: William Murrungurk Buckley is the story of an outsider who was our first agent of reconciliation.

Jan ‘Yarn’ Wositzky is a storyteller folk musician who considers the heart of our history to be the relationship between black and white Australians. A founder of the Bushwackers Band in 1971, Jan went on to write best-selling books such as Born Under The Paperbark Tree with Wardaman songman Yidumduma Bill Harney, award-winning television documentaries Buwarrala Akarriya: Journey East (ABC) and Aeroplane Dance (SBS) with Yanyuwa, Garrwa and Mara people of the Gulf of Carpentaria, and to devise the Wominjeka Ceremony with Dja Dja Wurrung people of central Victoria for the 2009 Castlemaine State Festival.


DATES:

Castlemaine  (Sunday 1 Sept, 2.30)
Cororooke  (near Colac, Fri 6 Sept, 7.30)
Stieglitz (Sunday 8 Sept SOLD OUT)
Albert Park (Friday 20 Sept, 8.00)
Newport (Saturday 21 Sept, 8.00)

All details on Jan' website: http://www.storytellersguide.com.au/jans-gigs/

Click RECOGNISE to learn about the movement for constitution reform and the proposed referendum to Recognise the First Australians in the Australian Constitution:  RECOGNISE

Monday, August 12, 2013

Anne E Stewart: SCOTTISH STORIES at the Melbourne Writer's Festival. 26 August 2013

Anne E Stewart, was a guest of the Scottish Storytelling Festival in 2009 and now looks forward to welcoming some Scottish Writers to the Melbourne Writers Festival. At the invitation of the British Council she will be appearing on Monday 26th August 2013 at 7pm.

Celebrate the Land of the Brave with a fun-filled evening of lively storytelling and vibrant musical performances from Scottish writers John Burnside, Janice Galloway and Doug Johnstone with Aussie friends Anne E Stewart and Richard McKenzie.
Proudly supported by GREAT Britain Arts 13, presented by the British Council

More information and bookings: HERE


Pic: Anne E Stewart:  Storytelling Centre 2009, Homecoming Festival : Celebrating Robbie Burns 250th Birthday.

L - R Amina Meeks Blackwood (Jamaica), Anne E Stewart, Linda Williamson (wife of the renowned, late Duncan Williamson and their two Children, Gayle Ross (Cherokee) and seated Grace Banks (Scotland).

Sunday, August 4, 2013

Peter Fernon: Trentham Words in Winter. 17 August 2013


Holding Heaven and Earth Together is a theatrical piece of storytelling. Peter employs theatrical devices as well as music, song, poetry and shadow puppetry to weave his tale but in essence, it is storytelling.

Peter has taken 20 or 30 anecdotes about spud diggers, collected by the local historical society, and imbedded some of them in the relationship between two diggers, Charlie and Reg.

'The breadth and depth of what it means to be a storyteller continues to amaze and enthrall me.'



Time: 7.30 pm
Where: Trentham Neighbourhood Centre. High Street Trentham
Bookings and more information: Peter 5424 1237 

click on poster to enlarge

Friday, August 2, 2013

Tell me a story: Anne E Stewart and digital storytelling 2013


Tell me a story by Anne E Stewart

I’ve always had an innate understanding of the power of story to engage and I started developing my digital storytelling skills when the Government announced the roll out of the National Broadband Network (NBN). For me, it seemed like a huge opportunity to use storytelling to create online communities, share cultures and facilitate people telling their own stories about the things that matter most to them.

My love of storytelling began when I was working as children’s librarian at the Darwin Library. I wanted to share my passion for language and literature and I worked with the premise that the stories I told were springboards to further reading and learning. Through my work I have come to understand that storytelling is also a powerful way to promote cultural understanding, raise issues of social justice and help identify and document a united Australian Story.

I’ve had the chance to use digital platforms to tell and share some amazing stories. The first project, funded by VicHealth, was to promote the value of the arts in engaging in rural communities, in this case the farming families that lived near the Mollongghip Hall in the Central Highlands of Victoria. It was a moving experience, hearing of a way of life that has passed and paying respect to the elders of a small community. Storytelling has put me in contact with people with different skills, talents and passion and I’ve had the chance to share in storytelling festivals around the world.

The need for digital storytelling is increasing and many organisations recognise the value that stories bring to a project and region. Stories are a way of connecting people, joining the dots and sharing our motivations. So if the NBN further enables this sharing of stories, information and ideas then I’m ready for high-speed broadband!

For some though, the wait of the NBN is off putting and for those not digitally engaged, it’s just another cost. The idea of a fairer telecommunications system is welcomed as we hurtle towards more digital lives, but for the NBN to reach its potential it needs to be seen as a strategic asset and not just another form of technology.

So here’s a strategy from a storyteller. Engage people with technology through story, then show them how to use it as a tool to improve other areas of their lives. As a storyteller, I want to see the NBN as Songlines of Stories across Australia, sharing the stories of our communities. I’d love to see a virtual map of Australia told through stories.

The NBN needs to engage artists to help imagine the possibilities. Across Australia we need collaboration between local organisations and funding bodies, working together to see artists bringing communities alive online. If the NBN is to be amazing, we need to offer a variety of entry and engagement points online for people from all walks of life. Storytelling is a great way of achieving this and it’s up to us to dream it up.

Got a story to tell?

There are endless amounts of online tools for telling your story. Here some tools to get you started: 
      Video sharing – Film your story and share it online, as well as with your local community. You don’t need expensive equipment, most mobile phones and laptops have inbuilt cameras which can help you record your story. Youtube videos can be embedded on websites, in emails and on social mediahttp://www.youtube.com
      Photo sharing – Photo sharing sites like Instagram or Flickr, allow you to upload and share images between networks. This can be a great way to share what’s happening in your life with your friends and family overseas.
      Blogs - blogging is the original, free online storytelling device. This article helps you decide which of the top five platforms is right for you http://www.techhive.com/article/2025931/which-free-blogging-platform-is-right-for-you-.html
      Webinars – does your organisation have information to share or expert advice? You can use webinars to turn the internet into an online classroom or forum.

(Anne is a life member of Storytelling Australia (Victoria))

Thursday, July 18, 2013

Enchanted Evening: Taking Flight - Stories of Winged Creatures 28 July 2013


Enchanted Evening: Taking Flight - Stories of Winged Creatures. Sunday July 28

Hosted by: Niki na Meadhra
Guest storyteller: Jude Murphy
Musician: Joanne Saunders

This will be our 5th Enchanted Evening for 2013 and our twelfth night of traditional stories in the Bishop's Parlour, at Abbotsford Convent.

Enchanted Evening takes place on the fourth Sunday of the month, in the Bishop's Parlour, throughout the year. Hosted by Niki na Meadhra, accompanied by a guest storyteller and musician, we invite you into a magical night of vivid traditional tales from around the world.

What a venue! If the walls could speak...the stories they could tell!

A tasty supper will be provided at the event. The Bishop's Parlour is an intimate venue, so seating is limited. Our shows often sell out quickly, so book soon! 
Tickets: $29.00 www.trybooking.com/BPYR

Wednesday, July 17, 2013

Ladders to the Moon – Traditional Storytelling in Northcote: monthly



* LADDERS TO THE MOON HAS BEEN POSTPONED INDEFINITELY. 
Thank you Ladders for the ride, hopefully this is temporary and we will see you all again soon.

Storytelling Australia (Vic)

 A new monthly storytelling evening was launched on 16th June 2013 at Bar 303 High St, Northcote. There was a packed house of over 50 people who gathered on a wet winter’s Sunday evening to hear traditional and personal stories that warmed the soul.  

This is to be a regular event at 303 where storytellers can share in the magic of traditional storytelling with stories that come from all over the world. There will be 8 tellers on the night each telling a tale around 10 minutes in length. Our aim is to have 4 or 5 experienced tellers as well as some new storytellers. 

We want to create an inspired space for storytellers and listeners to come together for the love of STORY and to expand our storytelling community.


303 High St, Northcote
Cost is $10. 

DATES and TIMES:  HERE

If you are interested in telling please contact:
Simon Oats  0423 467 068 or 
email: storyladders@gmail.com

Tuesday, July 16, 2013

Radio National: NOW HEAR THIS. Story Slams now in Melbourne 2013


NOW HEAR THIS is a night of people coming together to hear and tell stories. Your story can be funny, moving or silly, all in a few spellbinding minutes. It just needs to be inspired by the night’s theme, and run no longer than five minutes. Eight storytellers will be selected randomly to vie for the position of Slam Champion after being judged by three teams from the audience. The winning stories will be played across ABC radio.
Melbourne dates now confirmed!

Venue: The Toff, Level 2, Curtin House/252 Swanston St, Melbourne.
Time: Doors/registration opens at 3pm, slam starts at 4pm. Entry is free.
August 11The First Time
October 13Unexpected
December 15It Happened in 
Melbourne...
Details: HERE