Storytellers grow new corn from old fields... Storytellers grow new corn by adapting the old stories to suit an audience and also the needs of the performance. Meaning that I can be ‘site specific’ and link my tales to the history of a heritage site and its collections. Although wherever I am telling, I always try and keep a sense of the past in my tales, with the odd drop of archaic language and earthy description. I have stories about the legendary deeds of the great and good and also the lowly and bad! There is however much more to my performances than this.... English Tales or Stories from around the World? Many of the stories I tell, do not originate in England. Many are ancient tales from India and beyond that have come over here during the time of the crusades and with many a sailor coming back from his travels to who knows where and who knows when, so we share our stories with the world! That said, the stories as I have found them have been given a distinctly English flavour and because of my historical background I can set the stories in their context. When I tell stories about nagging wives I can also tell the audience why there were stories about nagging wives. This helps bring audiences closer to their history and also shows that our ancestors laughed at much the same things we do. A good story lessens that great divide between us and the peoples of the past. Interactive Storytelling Although I often say, “harken unto my words and hold your tongues...” I don’t actually mean it (The bit about holding your tongues that is) I do not subscribe to the view that an audience should be quiet and sit in reverence during a tale and I encourage both children and adults to get involved. There are plenty of opportunities to answer to a cunning riddle and have a go with a real buzz bone!
Wondering what a buzz bone is? Then go here...
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For an example of one of my sillier riddles go here...
The Stories I Tell
I offer a number of different types of performance (Including seasonal) all of which offer a blend of the serious and silly. From the five minute merry jest to the thirty minute legend. Further details of my longer performances can be found on my ‘Performances’ page, but for general sessions see below:
*Click on the images below to get more information on these sessions
Saxon and Viking. Of Gods Myths & Monsters:
Stories include many of the spell binding and wondrous tales taken from the Poetic Edda about Thor and the other Viking Gods. Also tales of dragons, a reworking of Beowulf and some lesser known Scandinavian and Germanic folk tales. Some of these stories are gruesome and some are mere nonsense; tales of the ridiculous.
Medieval. Of the Three Estates and Death himself:
Using sources such as Chaucer's Canterbury tales, and Boccaccio's Decameron and the folk tales that influenced them, my tales take you on a journey through medieval life and society. You will meet wise fools & foolish wise, greedy monks,  poor pedlars, bad Kings, wayward knights and even Death himself! A fabulous mix of moral, sometimes scary and often very silly tales!
Tudor & Stuart. Of knaves, Scolds & the Devil himself:
Stories are being printed for the first time and many of the tales told here are adapted from  cheap pamphlets of the period and from collections like, A Hundred Merry Jests (1525) In this session you will meet cutpurses, cobblers, mute wives, scolding wives, more poor pedlars and even the Devil himself! A wonderous collection of merry gestes and tales for all.
 
I will tell anywhere, but can also offer my medieval style ‘burgundian’ tent. I have sheepskins and benches to sit on and it’s packed full of artefacts and replica objects. It can fit up to about 30 adults and children inside when the weather is foul and it measures approximately 10 meters wide, by about 5 meters deep including ropes. * For more pictures of my tent see my Slideshow page. * Even if not using the tent I can still supply sheepskins, benches and objects.Slideshow.htmlshapeimage_2_link_0
Performance Length & Times
These vary depending on the needs of the venue. I can drum up a crowd as and when I feel the time is right or offer timed sessions. These can be thirty minutes in each hour or whatever is needed to fit around other performances & activities on site.
The Yarnsmith at rest outside his ‘burgundian’ tent
Colchester Oyster Fayre, 08
My Storytelling Tent