Oral Storytelling - An Introduction Part 1

We look into the basic steps of oral storytelling and explore how a written story or a story from memory finds its own voice. The work enhances communication and presentational skills, as well as developing imagination and the ability to improvise.

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

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

The work enhances communication and presentational skills, as well as developing imagination and the ability to improvise.

Biographical and traditional stories are the basis for this course. We focus on the playful development of language and look at different means of physical communication. Participants will listen to stories and share experiences in reflexion and discussions.

Contents

• Traditional, biographical and improvised stories
• Exercises on teller perspective and personal positioning
• Playful introduction to creative language
• Awareness of body language
• Constructive audience feedback
• Reflexion and discussions

Method

The workshop consists of exercises such as mnemo- and visualisation techniques, improvisation and re-telling. Participants will use storyboarding and story mapping to familiarize with the structure of the story.

Participants

The course is open to anyone interested in oral storytelling, no previous experience is necessary.

Ragnhild A. Mørch trained in storytelling, physical theatre and directing and has worked in live arts since 1996. Since 2005, she is a full-time storyteller and focuses on storytelling as performance art both as a performer, coach and lecturer. She is artistic manager of the training course Storytelling in Art and Education at the Berlin University of the Arts and co-curator of the bilingual storytelling series at the Humboldt Forum in Berlin. Her current focus lies on understanding the effects of personal positioning and hierarchic perspective with regards to performance material. She has performed at international festivals around Europe and North America and tells her stories in German, Norwegian and English.

www.ramorch.com