'Peace of Heart' Mt Macedon

For those of you who couldn't join us for Peace of Heart, a storytelling show in Macedon on Saturday 22nd September, here is a taste of the evening ...

Kate elegantly posing in front of the Mount View Theatre

It was an unseasonably balmy night in Macedon when ten storytellers took to the stage of the lovely Mount Players Theatre to share stories of peace, where its found, how it comes and goes, how we seek it always and how hope for peace springs eternal.

Melvyn Cann setting the mood

Reactions from the audience were warm and appreciative with this comment being made spontaneously on the Woodend Local Business networking Page: 'Had the most fabulous time at the Peace of Heart storytelling show at Macedon tonight. Thank you to the funny, brave, strong & talented storytellers. Can’t wait for the next one!'

Susan Davie with a poignant story from her nursing days

Storytelling Australia Victoria hosted the night and we were very generously supported by Yasna Blandin de Chalain and Roger Farley, members of the Mount Players Theatre who volunteered their time to open the theatre, offer drinks and arrange the lighting and sound. 

Yasna and Roger ready and waiting!

Thank you also to all the amazing tellers.

Kate Lawrence

And thank you Kate for all the planning and to the Storytelling Australia Victoria storytellers who helped with front of house. Until next time ...

Melton Botanic Gardens; Sunday 7th October

Its spring and the earth is exploding into life.  Sarah Depasquale and I are excited to be part of the 15th birthday celebrations of the Melton Botanic Gardens.

These gardens are a jewel in the western suburbs of Melbourne, superb design with beds full of plants from around the world but with a focus on South African, indigenous and endemic species. The lake is also home to the endangered Lathams Snipe, a migratory bird that breeds in northern Japan and Siberia.

Sarah and I have a passion for telling stories on site; one of our favourite places for sharing stories has been the Edithvale Seaford bird hide.

WHEN: Sunday October 7
WHERE: Melton Botanic Gardens: 21 Williams Street Melton
TIME: 1.00 and 2.00 pm (2 x 30 minute sessions)

Jackie Kerin

KATE LAWRENCE: FANTASTIC FEMINIST FOLKTALES

As Spring arrives and the scent of jasmine fills in the air and the buds swell and burst, settle into a warm and cosy space in the inner city of Melbourne, and be enthralled by an eclectic mix of stories, both dark and dangerous, and delightful and inspiring.

Fantastic Feminist Folktales is a storytelling performance of folktales, myths and stories from throughout the ages, inlaid completely with women’s power and potential.

It is a bold, brave and compelling first performance, in the imperfect art that is oral storytelling, from storyteller Kate Lawrence, principal of Story Wise. Kate brings her unique artful eye and feminist sensibility to the classic stories of Red Riding Hood, Joan of Arc, and Demeter & Persephone, as well as other stories.

WHEN
Sat, September 15 
7:45 PM – 9:30 PM

WHERE

The Basement, Hawthorn Arts Centre
360 Burwood Road
Hawthorn, VIC 3122

BOOK HERE

Kate Lawrence aka Story Wise HERE

Thank you Fionnuala Smyth

Storytelling Australia Victoria (SAV) runs on volunteer power. Our committee is small and live in all directions north, south, east and west of Melbourne. We meet once a month via teleconference and several times throughout the year, we gather face to face. 

Fionnuala Smyth hosting Fabled Nights in Newport

We plough through the necessary and not so exciting things like banking, budgets, agendas, minutes and spreadsheets so we can keep the creative pot on the boil. We dream and plan events and activities to keep our members connected and do our best to provide supportive spaces where they can grow their interest and skills at a pace that suits.

We are grateful to the team that keeps us afloat and to those who take on the responsibility of running events.

Fionnuala Smyth has been a member of SAV for only a short while but in that time, despite moving and changing jobs, joined the committee and attended the teleconferences. Insightful, knowledgeable and experienced, we have been lucky to have her on board. Fionnuala, as well as telling wonderful true, fictional original (who can forget her beautiful dragon stories) and traditional tales, hosted Fabled Nights in Newport, Raw Garden Storytelling (when Dee was unavailable) and World Storytelling Day.

Its our loss but Queensland's gain - Fionnuala has moved to Brisbane.

We miss you Fionnuala. Storytellers have a way of keeping the networks strong. I have no doubt we will see you again.

And thank you.

Jackie Kerin (president Storytelling Australia Victoria) and on behalf of the current committee, Kate Lawrence, Durgah Devi Palanisamy, Lana Woolf, Roz Quin, Anna Manuel and Ronda Gault.

An Introduction to Storytelling

Congratulations to Anne E Stewart and Jackie Kerin. Both these Storytelling AustraliaVic storytellers were invited to contribute essays to An Introduction to Storytelling by Storytellers From Around the World, edited by Christine Willison for the Society for Storytelling (UK).

Other contributors include Jack Zipes, Taffy Thomas, and Liz Berg

The launch took place at Beyond the Border - Wales International Storytelling Festival this year. 

An Introduction  to Storytelling by Storytellers From Around the World is available for purchase on Amazon.

September Fabled Nights in Newport

In the September Fabled Nights, we have a special visitor - Jeremy Leong from Singapore.

Jeremy is the recipient of a professional development grant enabling him to visit Melbourne and he is an Associate Artist and Young Storyteller with The Storytelling Centre Limited, Singapore. Under the mentorship of Singapore's pioneer storyteller, Kamini Ramachandran, Jeremy has performed for adult audiences and young audiences of different abilities.

In September, he will share with us the story of Badang, an orphaned slave boy who worked for a rich farmer in the island of Singapura.

Please join with us in making Jeremy welcome and of course bring a story to share so his basket goes home full of tales from Australia.

Photography by Ahmad Fikri

Fabled Nights in Newport is an open-hearted space for people who want to learn to craft true tales, traditional stories, tall tales and yarns; heart to heart and without notes. We welcome beginners and experienced folks. So come and strut your stuff, share what you know, try out a new story or tell a tale for the first time.

There's room for around 10 storytellers and we ask that stories be no longer than 10 minutes, give or take. We ask that stories be said not read.

We reserve 2 - 15 minute places for people who want to try out longer stories.

Let kind hearts and commonsense prevail: racist and homophobic stories hurt people so please don't bring them to Fabled Nights.

WHEN: Friday 21September 7.30pm - 10.00pm
WHERE: Newport Community HUB 13 Mason Street, Newport
COST: $5.00 or $3.00 (Storytelling Vic and Newport Fiddle and Folk Club members). No Booking required.

*WHEEL CHAIR ACCESS
* FABLED NIGHTS is an inter-generational event. Children welcome at parent/carers discretion

Fabled Nights in Newport is a partnership event with Hobsons Bay Libraries and is supported by the Newport Fiddle and Folk Club.

PARKING: There is free parking at the rear of the building. Coming from Mason Street, turn left at Durkin Street then left into the car park. Entry to the HUB is from the park.

Jan Wositzky hits the road: September - October

No, I haven't retired. If I did I'd just be doing what I do now anyway. I've had this recent winter off, to give myself space to have a decent dose of the flu, read a few books and watch too much iView, Netflix etc.

The news is that as of the first day of Spring - or as the Dja Dja Warring calendar here in central Victoria has it, the season of Poorneet, when the temperature rises but the rain continues - I'm on the road again with BILARNI starting close to home (Barfold, Harcourt Nth), then the Northern Territory (hooray!) and in October with NSW south coast dates for the new show FIE UPON PUSILLANIMITY!, all about the 1851 Monster Meeting of Diggers.

All the details are below.

And for those into furniture, that seat in the header photo ... a beautiful piece of work, with several of them around the base of Uluru. I'd just woken from a sleep on this one and got a Japanese tourist to take this photo.

Cheers, and say hello if you come to a show.

Jan.

September

BILARNI
Sat. 1 @ 7.30 pm
Barfold Hall
Kyneton - Heathcote Road, Barfold
$25 incl. supper afterwards
Book: www.trybooking.com/XAEU  
Enquiries: Sandra 0412 224 315 / 5423 4225

Presented by Barfold Hall Committee      

BILARNI
Sun. 2 @  2pm
House Concert at Keith & Jenny McKenry's
Dandura Alpacas
Fenton Drive, Harcourt Nth
$25 incl. afternoon tea
Book: 5439 6525

BILARNI
Sat. 15 @ 2.00 pm
GYRACC - Godinymayin Yijard Rivers Arts & Culture Centre
328 Stuart Hwy, Katherine, Northern Territory
$20/25
Book: http://www.gyracc.org.au (under What's On)


A STORYTELLER'S GUIDE TO STORYTELLING
Workshop
Thurs 20 @ 7.00pm
Red Hot Arts,
67 Bath St, Alice Springs
$20 ($40 for workshop & BILARNI)
Book:  https://redhotarts.com.au/event/a-storytellers-guide-to-storytelling/

BILARNI
Sat. 22 @ 7.30 pm
Totem Theatre
8 Wills Terrace, Alice Springs
$25
Book:  https://redhotarts.com.au/event/bilarni/

BILARNI
Sun. 23 @ 1.00 pm
Totem Theatre
8 Wills Terrace, Alice Springs
$25
Book: https://redhotarts.com.au/event/bilarni/

BILARNI
Thurs. 27 @ evening
Tennant Creek
Details TBC


October

FIE UPON PUSILLANIMITY!
A new show about the 1851 Monster Meeting of Gold Diggers
Sun. 7 @ Steiglitz
In the Brisbane Ranges (b/w Ballan & Geelong)
this is a Greens Fundraiser and semi-private
but if any of Jan's contacts want to come contact Jan directly.

FIE UPON PUSILLANIMITY!
A new show about the 1851 Monster Meeting of Gold Diggers
Thurs 11@ 7.30 pm
The Muddie
Malacoota
$25
Book: TBA

FIE UPON PUSILLANIMITY!
A new show about the 1851 Monster Meeting of Gold Diggers
Sat 13 @ TBC
Montreal Gold Mine
Bermagui
$TBC
Book: TBC
www.montrealgoldfield.org.au

A STORYTELLER'S GUIDE TO STORYTELLING
Workshop
Sun. 21 @ 10am
Stories of Influence
Tyers Beach Hall
1 Mill Point Rd, Toorloo Arm (near Lakes Entrance)
$60 for weekend