This one-day course is for those who wish to add to their own storytelling skills and explore their own inner story.

It would be helpful but not essential that you have had some storytelling experience (see beginners course ). 

Numbers for the course are restricted to twelve so that individual needs and styles can be fully worked with.

Course content

This is intended as an enlivening, fun and rewarding two days.  We will cover, in addition to the basic storytelling techniques and methods:  the uncovering of story landscapes. As tellers, we p[ut ourselves on the line every time we sit and begin ... "Once there was this king ..."  The audience are staring at you, waiting for you, but the real colour of the story, the "feel" can't be found.

This course is about delving into the landscape of story and walking through it, making discoveries and seeing views so that you, as the storyteller, tell only a fragment of what you know of this landscape (this metaphor).  The rest is left unsaid but, by your intent, is known to the listener.

We will also cover the use and power of the voice, its individual timbre and colour; gesture and its placement; archetypes and their role in story.  We will look into becoming the archetype, taking on their shape., their personality.  We will move as they move; we will think as they think.

The day will end with a chance for each of you to tell your story to your fellow students.  Some particpants may wish to collaborate with others or use music to enhance their telling.  This can be arranged during the course.

9.30-10am     Introduction and your story
10am            What is your story?
10.30- 12      Workshop for finding the voice of your tale, looking at its substance, meaning and interpretation. Throughout the day we will be working with gesture, pace, emotion. I will use various workshop methods which are fun, invigorating and constructive. Each will help you to find your own particular style. These methods are the ones that I and other professional tellers use to 'find and tell' the story.
12-1pm         Pairs. working and listening, telling and discovering.
1pm              Lovely Lunch - soup and salads
2pm              Revisit your story, enter the space where it might have happened, watch it become a part of you.
Between 3-4.30. All of the stories will be performed. In a friendly atmosphere surrounded by those you have got to know during the day, each of you will go on a voyage of discovery. Only when you sit in the chair, when take that deep breath and begin, only then does the story really come to life. Stories are for sharing, they belong to know one and to everyone. They are the mystery that makes sense of the mystery of life.

Students comments:

A most enjoyable and stimulating weekend.  Great fun.
I've had a lovely time, sad to leave.  Thanks for the wonderful hospitality.
Fantastic, haven't had such a wonderful weekend for years.
I found the whole weekend to be absolutely faultless!  Anne and Bob were superb hosts.  Mary-Jane and Paul ran a thoroughly enjoyable course and I shall be praising them to colleagues for weeks to come.  The scenery and the farmhouse were utterly idyllic. Very relaxed atmosphere - great being in the country.

Just a moment to thank you once again for such a powerful day with

Wonderful.  A mystery has been opened to me.  Whether the skills will soak into my head remains to be seen!  A delightful group.
Too short - I would like to do advanced level sooner!
Fantastic location for stories.  Thank you for your welcome and wonderful cooking!