Professional storyteller, Katy Cawkwell, brought her dramatic performances of traditional stories to two audiences today. First, she performed to a packed audience of parents and children in The White Horse Bookshop. But, stories are not just for children, and the adults were treated to the story of the Greek goddess Artemis in The Merchant’s House later in the day.
Katy is keen to keep the story telling tradition alive. “Stories travel. People tell their friends and this story was told me by my mother,” she told her first audience of the day. Using a bag full of props she soon had the children wondering what the story, which started with a feather, would be about.
Soon we are transported to Turkey and the main characters of the little rooster and the sultan. There is plenty of physical theatre as Katy embodies each of the different characters. There is active audience participation with questions at key points, help with sound effects and repetition of key phrases.
Katy’s second story has all the ingredients of a traditional fairy story. It starts with ‘Once upon a time’, there is a Cinderella figure, a wicked stepmother, an evil witch who lives in the forest, magic and obstacles to be overcome. Most importantly there is a happy ending and the triumph of good over evil.
The children and adults were rapt and were a very appreciative audience.
Katy says, “I work with traditional material because I love the way these tales create themselves afresh in the space between teller and audience. There are always new aspects to be found within them, however often they are retold.”
“My particular strengths as a teller are to draw out a compelling, moving tale from a complex narrative and to bring it to life in words and gesture.”
Having seen Katy perform, Marlborough.news can vouch for this. Marlborough.news was very pleased to be able to sponsor these events.
Golding Speaker Linda Grant at Marlborough LitFest 2024
