Oral Storytelling - Further Steps

Once we are familiar with oral storytelling and the transmission of inner imagery, it is time to dive deeper into the performative strength of the storyteller. We look in detail at which techniques support us in enriching the stories we tell.

Once we have grasped the principles of oral storytelling and the transmission of inner imagery to an audience – what is the next step? How can we effectively shape a story and feel comfortable with use of gestures, space, audience interaction and language improvisation? Which performance rules apply to the oral storyteller in comparison to the art of reciting?

In this add-on course we will dive deeper into the world of orality and look at which techniques can support us in enriching our stories with regards to the use of body and poetic language. We will also look at story material and why we choose to tell the stories we tell. The workshop contains exercises for working with autobiographical and traditional tales as well as with poetry.

Contents

• Traditional, biographical, improvised stories and poetry
• Exercises on teller perspective and personal positioning
• Gestures and use of space
• Poetic language
• Constructive audience feedback
• Reflexion and discussions

Prior application requirements:
Include experience in oral storytelling in application
 

Knowledge requirements:

This course is open to anyone who has participated in the SUA Introduction to Oral storytelling or has some experience in oral storytelling.
 

Equipment requirements:

Participants: bring one of your favourite poems
 

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