4th Annual
FACTS & FICTION
storytelling workshop

LET THE SIREN BE YOUR MUSE

Was held at

NEW BREWERY ARTS, CIRENCESTER, GLOS.

On Saturday 27th February 2010

Your hosts:

PETE CASTLE
storyteller, folk singer and editor of Facts & Fiction storytelling magazine

CHLOË
of the Midnight Storytellers
Story cabaret pioneer, rebel raconteur + storymaker, town crier

THE 4th Facts & Fiction Storytelling Workshop and associated evening performance was, arguably, the most successful yet! New Brewery Arts were good hosts and facilities were, on the whole, ideal (the only slight problem being the disabled access - the nearby parking was limited to 3 hours and the long stay car park was too far away). During the day we had everything we needed, they fed us well at lunch time and made us very welcome.
During the day we had 14 'workshoppers' which was pretty ideal - we had put a limit of 16 on. In the morning Pete led a session on working with personal and family stories and fitting them into traditional formats and Chloë led the main afternoon session on using language and delivery. We could have done with more time!
But by 5pm we were all ready for a break. After getting our breath we were made very welcome at Times Square restaurant which opened specially for us. (Finding somewhere to eat that early in the evening can be difficult, it's between afternoon teas and evening meals!) Then it was back to the NBA Theatre for a performance by Pete and Chloë. We knew there was going to be a reasonably sized audience but were thrilled by the number who arrived without having booked in advance. (We were thrilled, NBA were worried - did they have enough seats!? It was almost a full house.) The theme for the show was 'Darling We Should Quarrel More Often' - tales about the battle of the sexes. The title came from a little story about Nasruddin which Pete and Chloë improvised as a duo telling - great fun.
We had been a bit wary about doing the event in Cirencester because there was no regular storytelling in the area but we needn't have worried, local people came and others travelled from all around the area. Some were storytelling followers but a good proportion were first timers. Getting storytelling to new areas is one of the aims of the 'travelling' workshop.
Now we have to decide where to do it next year... and who is to be Pete's co-host...
Suggestions/offers welcome.

THE ARTISTS

PETE CASTLE Pete has been a professional for over 30 years and has performed all over UK and abroad. (He even played at a folk club in Cirencester many moons ago!) He uniquely combines storytelling with folk songs and ballads, a combination which works very well and is probably what the old bards and troubadours did. He is considered a fine guitarist. Pete’s traditionally based repertoire and quiet, laid-back style which imperceptibly draws you in will be a good foil to Chloë’s more extrovert approach. Pete has recorded prolifically and he will have a selection of CDs on sale. He also edits Facts & Fiction storytelling magazine which will also be available.

CHLOË Helping to spotlight the troubles and triumphs of couple-dom is Chloë of the Midnight Storytellers. For 10 years she’s pioneered Story Cabaret to new audiences. Originally trained at London’s Central School of Speech & Drama, she was re-trained by 15 years of writing, public speaking and travel, plus courses with Alexander Mackenzie, Hugh Lupton, Michael Harvey, Shonaleigh and others. Her work is rooted in the world heritage of traditional story. Chloë’s passions are to give audiences a good time, and to evolve the next generation of legends for our future. In the day’s workshop she will be encouraging you to add a bit of pizz-azz to your language and in the evening's performance she will double your entertainment with love bytes, machine guns and desperate dating!

Bookings and further details from Pete on 01773-822829
email steel.carpet@tiscali.co.uk

DOWNLOAD A BOOKING FORM HERE.

Useful sites:

www.newbreweryarts.org.uk

www.midnightstorytellers.co.uk

PREVIOUS WORKSHOPS:
2009 Cotswold Playhouse, Stroud with Cassandra Wye
2008 Birdsedge Village Hall, nr Huddersfield with Simon Heywood
2007 The Beacon, Tunbridge Wells with Rob Parkinson