Professional London Storyteller
This summer has been tough, but we’d pulled through. We had been able to create magic, support ourselves financially, reach out to isolated people and create fully-funded opportunities for other artists. We’d even also made training packages to help other storytellers work digitally and get paid during the pandemic. But last week we had some of the worst professional news … Read more
All arts including storytelling have suffered during the pandemic. However, I have been heartened to discover that our art form is a survivor. Since lockdown begun in March I have done projects on YouTube, Instagram, Facebook Live and of course the ubiquitous Zoom. I have worked with museums, galleries, schools, literacy and community organisations, done … Read more
Hi, for those who dont know me, I am Vanessa “London’s resident Storyteller” (Time Out) coming to you from the cabin at the end of our Peckham garden… music and foklore from George and resident fox cubs. Here’s what we’ve all been up to in April and May… Instagram: IGTV (Family Stories for The Garden Museum in Lambeth.) … Read more
Dear friends, Many of us will be staying in at the moment, but we all still need moments of magic in our lives. We will continue to go to to some of London’s most amazing secret corners, record stories there and bring them to you with live Zoom introductions and debriefs. The whole event is … Read more
(photo above by Paul Hudson for Daylight Music) We are all about amazing spaces, whether large or small and we love creating site-specific stories. What a space this is! Cavernous gothic majestic; Islington’s Union Chapel. It’s a major live music venue as well as a working church and so I wanted a story which responded … Read more
How else would we kick off 2020 than with Vampire storytelling in Hackney? It all went pretty well, we were heckled by a cat, we sung Radiohead tunes, sat on blankets all squashed together, spooked ourselves out wth a test oscillator and the audience were beautiful! pic below (Also see how Kate T summarised the hour-long story … Read more
review of 2016 review of 2017 review of 2018 When people ask me what my job involves, I often struggle to explain it! Hopefully this post will give an idea of what we do. I couldn’t do all this without my collaborator; ridiculously-talented, wildly-knowledgeable musician and storyteller George Hoyle! 1) Strange Commissions. (Pics below.) Huge thank you to Mendy Korer, … Read more
Traditional storytelling has the power to bring human beings together to experience awe, community and excitement. Stories are about people, emotions, and connection- it’s a privilege to work regularly as a storyteller for adults. I was delighted to be commissioned to write a piece about adult storytelling events in London for Time Out (paper edition). … Read more
I was so excited when the Museum of London got in touch. They wanted me to create a brand new flagship offer for SEND schools: A completely new “Great Fire of London” session. The commission was challenging: To create a brand new story. Can be delivered by different freelancers and is flexible enough so they can modify … Read more
Ever since forever, it has been my not-so-secret wish to tell stories after closing time the extraordinary, eccentric and extravagant surroundings of Leighton House Museum. Last Friday I did! I’ve done plenty of museum “lates” before- but usually storytelling is just one of the attractions on offer. However on Friday I got a whole late to … Read more