Storytelling - An Introduction

The practice of storytelling enhances communicational and presentational skills, develops imagination and the ability to improvise. Participants of this workshop will learn the basic steps of oral storytelling and how they
can give a story its voice back.

The art of traditional storytelling has been existing since the beginning of time and has always been crucial for the development of the cultures. Even now, in our modernised world, stories are inseparably linked to our lives. We tell stories every day: both our own and those of other people. Communication is unthinkable without something to tell.

But what is the difference between storytelling as an art form and the every-day storytelling? How do I make a story come truly alive, be it a personal or a traditional one? 

This course investigates the basic steps of oral storytelling and how we can releaze a story from a book or from a memory, or that is to say – how we can give the story its voice back. The work enhances communication and presentation skills, as well as develops imagination and the ability to improvise. Traditional stories are the basis for this course, but biographical and improvised material will also be used. We will focus on playful development of language and look at different means of physical communication. Participants will listen to stories and share experiences in reflexions and discussions.

Contents

• Traditional, biographical and improvised stories
• Performance / Demonstration
• Playful introduction to creative language
• Awareness of body language
• Constructive audience feedback
• Reflexion and discussions

Methods

The workshop consists of mnemo- and visualisation techniques, improvisation and retelling. Participants will use storyboarding and story mapping to familiarize themselves and others with the structure of the story. All of the work is based on non-text bound telling.

Participants

The course is open to anyone interested in oral storytelling. No previous experience is required.

Ragnhild A. Mørch, www.ramorch.com, is a full time storyteller and focuses on storytelling both as performance art and as an educational tool. She performs at festivals across Europe and her repertoire spans from fairytales to myths; autobiographical stories to tall tales. She is Artistic Manager of the training course “Storytelling in Art and Education” at the Berlin University of Arts. Her studies in physical theatre and mime provide her with a unique physicality and precise timing and she tells her stories in Norwegian, German or English.