PERSONAL
STATEMENT: “I believe that everyone has a story to tell. My workshops aim to
give people the chance to find their own voice. Giving children, young
people and adults the opportunity to listen to stories and to tell their
own is essential to their sense of well-being. Storytelling has the power
to entertain, educate and transform.
I work with storytelling as a tool for change, helping people tap
into the wellspring of creativity that we all possess.” TRAINING: Elly offers training for adults. She provides INSET Training for teachers and communication workshops for companies. In 2006 she was employed as a consultant by Historic Royal Palaces in London. She also ran a Yoga and Storytelling Summer School in Scotland which will be repeated in 2007. STORYTELLING RESIDENCIES INCLUDE: Clacton Children’s Centre as part of the Mercury Theatre Artsstart 2007, Coppins Green Primary School in Clacton, Frobisher Primary School in Jaywick, The Blue Sky Summer School for 16 – 18 year olds, Krushevo, Macedonia, St. Christopher’s School, Letchworth, Harwich Community School, Parson’s Heath Primary School, Elmstead Primary School, and Willow Brook Primary School, Colchester. AWARDS: 2007 - Elly is co-director of The Fabulists, an International
group of storytellers who have been awarded funding by The Children’s
Fund to take The Outsider Storytelling Project into schools over a
two year period. The project raises awareness of the plight of asylum
seekers and refugees through storytelling and workshops. In 2005 The
Fabulists worked with over 750 children in Harwich thanks to The Local
Network Fund for Children and Young People and in 2006 with over
800 children around Clacton thanks to The Children’s Fund. TRAINING + HISTORY:
Elly
trained as a performer at Arts Educational Drama school in London and as a
storyteller at The School of Storytelling, Emerson College. She has an
M.A. in Art History from Essex University where she studied “The Tale”
with Marina Warner in 2006. Elly is one of the 10 artists on Eastfeast, a
professional development programme for artists and teachers in East
Anglia. She has worked as an actor, writer and teacher and was
inspired to become a storyteller following over five years at The Unicorn
Theatre for Children. STORIES:
Elly’s multi-cultural repertoire of stories include her own
family story The Foxes of Gormanston (Irish), Monkey
and Papa God (Caribbean), The
blindman and the hunter (West African), Tom
Tit Tot (English), Cucarachita (Mexican),
I love you more than salt (Scottish),
The Queen Bee (German), The
Boy who lived with the bears (Iroquois),
The Pedlar of Swaffham, The
Green Children (East Anglian) and many more. REVIEW:
Storytelling? Of course there is a long and honourable
tradition stretching back to the ancient sagas but in our noisy
visual culture we have almost lost the habit of listening. It is not the
passive activity it may seem. Stories open doors into imaginary
worlds, gripping us, involving us, inviting us to reflect on our own
experiences in life, sometimes even changing us. Powerful stuff! All the
Stories were told with a passion and conviction that was utterly engaging. FEEDBACK FOR STORYTELLING: “I did not know what to expect
and found this the most surprising and life affirming experience."
Adult
attending British Council Workshop Venezuela. Dec 2005 "Children with low self-esteem have joined in the
group tasks and have become increasingly involved during the weeks. Some
of them are children who wouldn’t normally speak. All the children have
thoroughly enjoyed the sessions.”
Kate
Magill, KS2 Teacher, Spring Meadow, Harwich. Feb 2005 “I think this project has been useful as a way of
allowing children to express their feelings, thoughts and being able to
experience what it could be like to be in someone else’s shoes”
Parent
following a sharing of the project at Harwich Community School GENERAL
FEEDBACK: “Super – the children were mesmerised. They loved the
voices, expressions and movements. I was very impressed with the small
details that the children had remembered. They seemed to enjoy asking each
other questions to do with the story. I am looking forward to next week as
are the children”. Sonia
– Teacher Y5, Harwich Community, Feb. 2005 "The workshops were good for their listening skills
and had a positive effect on their writing. You made them think carefully
about how people can be different but feel the same!" Mrs
Metcalf – Teacher Y 3 / 4 Spring Meadow, March 2005 During the last 4 weeks working on the Green Children I
think my children have learned the power of a story, listening skills and
also tolerance and understanding of people who are different” Parent
following a sharing at St. Joseph’s Primary School, Mar. 2005 “Not boring you wanted to listen
to the end……Fun – it made me imagine” Children
from Year 5, Parson’s Heath, April 2004 FEEDBACK FOR TRAINING + COURSES: “I have learnt a lot to believe in a positive “I can do” me…not to
be afraid of taking risks and trying something that may be a little quirky
or different. I have learnt that storytelling is an important tool to the
imagination and for capturing an audience”. Historic
Royal Palaces member of staff, Summer 2006 “Yoga and storytelling go together like strawberries and cream……. I
learnt lots, grew in confidence, had fun, and listened with interest and
delight”.
June
Baird, Primary School Teacher from Falkirk on Yoga & Storytelling
Summer School 2006. Totally captivating. I realized the importance of storytelling for the
first time. I will definitely
make the effort from now on” Teacher
at Workshop for teachers in Mumbai, India, Nov. 2004
SELECTED
PUBLIC STORYTELLING EVENTS: 24th February 2007
Southam, Warwickshire - WEIRD, WISE & WITTY TALES - An evening of stories for adults. 28th August 2006
THE STING IN THE TALE FESTIVAL
- Elly told stories from Brazil at this popular storytelling
festival for families which takes place at Walford Mill Arts Centre,
Wimborne, in Dorset. 29th April 2006 The Fabulists present Myths and Legends: Storytelling
for Adults at the Nottage
Maritime Institute, Wivenhoe Quay, Wivenhoe, Colchester.
June 2nd 2005
Braintree Town Hall. Stories of Bees and Butterflies June 1st 2005 Gainsborough’s House Museum, Sudbury. May 28th 2005 The Way of Stories and Stones: Burgh Apton
Sculpture Trail, Norfolk. 22nd October 2004 The Fabulists present THE WAY OF THE WORLD (for
adults) Steiner Theatre, Rudolf
Steiner House, 35 Park Road, London NW1 21st August 2004 Adventure in the Maspie Den, Falkland, Fife, Scotland,
with Mio from Japan, Claire from Ireland and Elly from Scotland. for 7 –
77 year olds.
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