“Storytelling Phenomenon” – Nest Collective
I am “London’s resident storyteller” (Time Out)
Narrative, wonder, connection.
My C.V. includes collaborations with major London museums, cultural institutions, film makers, artists, academics, scientists and unique individuals!
London Dreamtime adult storytelling nights are featured regularly in Time Out London. I have been a featured guest on TV shows, national radio and many podcasts.
London Dreamtime works with major children’s publishers to showcase their biggest brands e.g. Paddington Bear, Elmer, Mr Men.
I bring my knowledge of live events, story and wonder to all my work.
My TEDx talk “How to find Magic”
I can help you find the perfect performer for your event. I can teach you to tell stories or guide you to the narratives you need. Contact me with any questions.
Book with confidence
“We absolutely loved your events – they were such a huge success!” Festival Director, Henley Literary Festival
“Probably the most amazing and surreal storytelling event ever!” Hannah Need
A connection with wonder. Storytelling brings us together, offeres new perspectives, transports us and creates empathy. Just drop me an email with a few details and I will get back to you straght away.
I have worked with hundreds of corporate, faith, heritage, festival, community & media partners all over the world.
(For a more complete list see here)
A few highlights: Curating & hosting an afternoon of storytelling with Guy Garvey for Meltdown at the Southbank Centre, fairytale walk for Fulbright Scholars, new commission for families at V&A Museum, new commission for adults at Science Museum, live stories for adults on the roof of the London College of Fashion, stories for Royal Academy of Arts, Kensington Palace, Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, Harrods, Royal Opera House Thurrock, Selfridges, Shakespeare’s Globe… curating seasons of storytellers for The London Eye, Samsung KX consultant and guest on The Curse of the Highgate Vampire (Discovery+) TEDx talk about storytelling and magic.
Museums and Heritage: National Gallery, British Library, Design Museum, London Guildhall, the Museum of London, V&A Museum of Childhood, National Trust (various), The Royal Parks (various) London Transport Museum, Garden Museum, Dulwich Picture Gallery, Barbican Centre, Lauderdale House, The Postal Museum and many more.
Theatre: Sadlers Wells, National Theatre Outside Space, Roundhouse, Unicorn Rich Mix, Polka, ICA, Jacksons Lane.
Childrens Books: Shows, literary festivals and more for Usborne, Andersen, Walker Books and Harper Collins. Titles include A Bear Called Paddington, Five Minutes Peace, We’re going on A Bear Hunt, Elmer the Elephant, Mr Men and Little Miss.
Academic: “Beyond Notability” new project for 2023-4 at University of London. University College London (UCL): Provost award-winning public engagement project. Educational stories about medicine for medical students the Royal Free Hospital, events with Royal College of Music, commissioned event for London College of Fashion, guest lecturer for Camberwell College of Arts… story events for the children of students at Kings College London. Special performance for the College of Liberal Arts, University of Minnesota… working with curators to help tell People’s Stories at Imperial War Museum…various performances and workshops for undergraduates and practitioners in childcare and social care.
PR/Charities/Business: Performances, training or workshops for Lloyds Bank, Johnson & Johnson, BNP Paribas International, Charles Russell Speechlys. After dinner storytelling for journalists at the Austrian Tourist board’s Winter launch. “Training to Teach” for doctors at UCL Medical School, National Geographic Store, “startup storytelling” for entrepreneurs, promotions and projects for Pret A Manger, Start Rite shoes, Arthritis Research UK, Hunter Boots, Ward Homes, Peabody Housing trust, Bede House, PECAN, Renaisi and many more.
Amazing…. I can’t think of anything to improve on it. -Workshop Participant “Telling Client Stories” PECAN
Weird and wonderful: I am drawn to unusual, untold and occult tales. Some of the stranger things I have done are, leading a ‘summer school of wonder’ In a remote castle in the clouds in Italy, telling an uplifting true story of Catherine Eddowes to reclaim the Ripper narratives, tellling ghost stories in the derelict attic of a Pop Up Gin Shop in Soho, sharing a never-before told story about 16c alchemist Dr Dee in Mortlake. Storytelling in the Arts Club Mayfair, late at Atlantis Magical Bookshop, in the Apple Store Covent Garden, on the roof of the evicted Heygate Estate, lost in the woods with Secret Adventures, locked into Brompton Cemetery at night, in Safehouse1, in the Ballroom of the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Mayfair, interpreting bizarre objects for a national exhibition by the Crafts Council, reading a Paddington Bear Book to tens of thousands of people at Christmas, hosting a storytelling seance room for A Curious Invitation Masked Ball…
plus TV and radio appearances and countless schools, festivals, libraries and community organisations all over the UK and in various countries across the world… but especially in London!
“All commented on how wonderful the performance was….It was perfect.” – Burgh House, Hampstead
“Amazing- everyone loved your stories!” – Butterfly London PR (for their company’s fifth birthday celebrations)
“We had a building full of smiling children and grown ups and the feedback has been glowing with positivity.” -Design Museum Family Day
“Thanks again, I have rarely seen that group enjoy themselves an be so inventive and creative as with you – SO WELL DONE!” -Camberwell College of Arts (UAL)
Contact
For commissions, bookings or if you have any questions, email me at vanessa@londondreamtime.com.
You can also find me on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.