This is a photo of my storytelling colleague, Sydney-based master teller Donna Jacobs Sife, who has been a great mentor to me. Read on to find a link to a video of Donna and other inspiring tellers on a new showcase site LabX.
After I left The Drama Action Centre, where I trained full-time in drama, specialising in storytelling, I found that the most powerful way to grow as a teller was to listen to as many different tellers telling as many different tales as possible.
I read articles and listened to stories at Sean Buvala's wonderful US site Storyteller Net. There were podcasts and text stories, article and interviews. I bought a 4 CD set that is now beloved by the whole family from the US National Storytelling Network website:"A Storytelling Treasury". It features 33 tellers, all from different racial and cultural backgrounds, ages, gender and accents! I have learnt as much from the tales I adore as the ones I am not so keen on.
Includes interviews and text articles with Jack Zipes, Jay O’Callahan and a wonderful cross section of US and international tellers, including an interview on ‘Australian storytelling’ with Christine Carlton (President NSW Storytelling Guild) and myself.
Jeff Gere from Hawaii has a wonderful online radio show Talk Story Radio which features many great tellers- including his prolific and dynamic self and the sublime Kathie Collins aka 'Tita'. Check it out and subscribe and the stories can be delivered FREE to your itunes account.
Jeff Gere from Hawaii has a wonderful online radio show Talk Story Radio which features many great tellers- including his prolific and dynamic self and the sublime Kathie Collins aka 'Tita'. Check it out and subscribe and the stories can be delivered FREE to your itunes account.
Another favourite site of mine is LabX where you can take pot luck (if you don't know the names) watching a mix of professional and amateur tellers in a variety of settings. It doesn't yet have a search facility, but there are a wealth of great tales and retellings. It is currently organised in the archive- (see brown arrow icon bottom right of the page) by months only. No search facility as yet, as it done as an act of voluntary service I think. (See relevant article at Eric Wolf's site if you'd like to know more.)
You'll find quite a few great Aussies there too- check out Melbourne teller Jackie Kerin (February?) telling 'Shark' and Sydney tellers in June Donna Jacobs Sife (pictured) telling 'Star basket' and Lilli Pang Rodriguez telling 'Bat' for starters. I am hoping 'Goldenheart' will be up there soon too.
Also look for U.S. tellers Jay O'Callahan, Diane Ferlatte, Dovie Thomasen, Jeff Gere and Donna Washington.
You'll find quite a few great Aussies there too- check out Melbourne teller Jackie Kerin (February?) telling 'Shark' and Sydney tellers in June Donna Jacobs Sife (pictured) telling 'Star basket' and Lilli Pang Rodriguez telling 'Bat' for starters. I am hoping 'Goldenheart' will be up there soon too.
Also look for U.S. tellers Jay O'Callahan, Diane Ferlatte, Dovie Thomasen, Jeff Gere and Donna Washington.
Have fun exploring!
