Holly McCulloch and Emma Robdale hosted a collaborative storytelling workshop on the 19th of June at the Fruitworks Cafe, Canterbury.
The large open space was perfect for a range of activities that encouraged participants to engage with different dramatic techniques. We began on the sofa where we brainstormed ideas surrounding ‘How to keep the audience’s Attention’ and ‘What Makes a good story?’
We discovered that some participants wished to further their skills so that they could heighten spoken word performances at a range of open mic nights, while another participant wished to improv his confidence/engagement skills so he could give better presentations at work. – after all, a good way to keep interest is to slip in a bit of narrative.
Holly began the workshop by asking participants to connect to an object upon their person, and talk about it for 1 minite. – They then had to repeat this task, but consider how this object was connected to them/where they found it, and create a more personlized narrative. – which we shared as a group.
With the power of story-telling cards, everyone picked an imaginative picture, sat opposite their partner and had to speak/describe the picture to their partner (who had not seen it). This was then repeated with both participants standing up, and pretending they were ‘in’/interacting with the scene displayed upon their card. The descriptions naturally adopted elements of physicality, mime and stage presence…
After a short break it was time for participants to work upon building their own story! – Armed with coloured A4 card, they were asked to bullet point two beginning, two middle and two end points to a story they wanted to tell… and then plot these points on a ‘graph’ that measured ‘climax’.
Waisting no time.. each participant was sent to a part of the room and told just to talk through the story from beginning to end, writing a note of anything they liked/wanted to keep or enhance the story on their A4 card as they went.
They were then asked to incorporate one dramatic technique/device at the climax of their story (noise, movement, prop), to enhance the storytelling! – One last read through and it was SHOW TIME.
We organised a little stage and listened to our participants’ stories – ranging from fairytales to lad’s nights out, all participant brought their unique insight and perspective and managed to heighten their awareness of craft. Humourous and whimsical, we were happy to see that participant Aaron Kay brought his story, upon being taught a lesson by a school teacher to label your work (or have it ripped up!), to our June performance night in Margate!
In this friendly, experiential workshop, you will have the opportunity to practise the art of telling stories using different styles and tools that leave the audience hanging on your every word! Emma and Holly will lead you through a variety of storytelling techniques and practices, which you can adapt and make your own. There will also be chance to work with others and craft a story as a group in a laidback environment. By the end of the workshop you will feel more confident in your storytelling abilities and have had a lot of fun along the way!
Emma Robdale is a neurodivergent performer, writer and researcher. She is currently undergoing her PhD in Neurodivergent Culture Studies at the University of Kent which incorporates creative writing and performance, and lectured in drama during her time there. She is also writing a novel titled ‘The Casual Case of the Cat in the Headlights’.
Holly McCulloch is a qualified dramatherapist, experienced workshop facilitator and published academic writer. She is currently working as a freelance dramatherapist, supporting groups and individuals to build better relationships with themselves and others, and foster creative play and expression. Holly is also an avid writer/performer and board game enthusiast.