As you talk one word leads to another and if you are not careful you find a story has been made. There is something so essential and comforting about sitting down and being told a story.
I am a professional storyteller who seeks out tales from around the world to tell at a variety of venues and situations. From Folktales that tell the story of how Iceland got its volcanoes and Denmark its fjords to the beautiful Myths and Folklore of Japan, and the wonderful tales of Great Britain. These are stories of beauty, horror, comedy and the way people act.
I originally trained as a dancer and had a contemporary dance company. This then led to devising children’s-based dance theatre shows. These toured festivals, arts centres schools and other venues. I also worked on projects with refugees, special need’s adults and children, and in centres with at risk children. This developed into some part time teaching in further education. I completed a PGCE and went on to complete an MA in Media, Culture and Communication focusing on digital storytelling. This brought me full circle back to performance. As a storyteller I have trained with Nell Phoenix, Michael Harvey, and Nick Hennessey.
Storytelling is as old as the human race. It is the library, the store cupboard, of our oldest memories, knowledge, understanding and explanation. We all tell stories, but the storyteller takes us with them to another world where many things can and do happen. The telling of the tale, can be so simple but also so satisfying.
‘The story teller was absolutely fantastic. My son and I have attended many story telling sessions over the last 6 years and Sarah was one of the most captivating people we have ever had the pleasure to hear.’
Having a great response from your audience is lovely and makes all the hard work creating the story worthwhile. A storyteller works hard forming the story, the characters, the landscape, for you, so that all you have to do is listen and create your own images.
I have recently completed The Secret Storytellers of Wincanton project funded by an Arts Council National Lottery Project Grant and South Somerset District Council. With this project I was able to research and record a series of stories, that were then embedded in a series of signs, these were then able to be accessed for this Story trail.
During the period of lockdown for Covid 19 I have brought together a group of storytellers who tell stories live on zoom every week. The storytellers have come from different parts of the country and have joined together to share stories during these difficult times. This has been great fun and many new stories have been explored ready for telling to live audiences in the future. Email: sarahLW@mail.com for details.
Anne Marie Lagram: A wonderful project Sarah – well done for coming up with it and then running it ! You have truly engaged new audiences to the arts and created something for so many people to enjoy. A delight working with you.
A short section of, ‘The Gurt Worm’.
Click on Photographs to link to Current Projects – Highway Robbery (Highwaymen, bogs and more)
Sarah Lloyd-Winder - Storyteller 