Our Voices, Ourselves Storytelling Workshops

WHAT’S MY STORY: Personal storytelling workshops for residents of the Downtown Eastside and Strathcona.

Culture Days 2023 Vancouver Public Library (nə́c̓aʔmat ct Strathcona Branch)

Summary: This series of three workshops is intended to introduce participants to Personal Storytelling as a tool for expression.

Background: In recent years, personal storytelling has emerged across North America as a new form of personal and artistic expression. In New York City, an event called The Moth has been developed that includes regular storytelling events, educational and training events, podcasts, and radio broadcasts. In Vancouver, a similar event, The Flame, has attracted sold-out audiences for many years. Performers at the Moth and Flame tell a story that is TRUE (based on real-life events that happened to the storyteller), and told in a FEW words (personal stories are told in about 7-10 minutes).

Workshops: This Personal Storytelling workshop series will consist of three two-hour workshops intended to introduce the art of Personal Storytelling as a tool for expression. By the end of the series, participants will be able to tell a short story in front of an audience about something that happened to them.

Registration will be limited to 10 participants. Participants should be prepared to attend all 3 workshops if possible. Please see link for registration. (*Registration link coming soon!*)

September 29th 3 pm - 5 pm pm Workshop #1: What is a Personal Story?

• What is Storytelling? - What makes a good story? What are the various types of stories? Why do we tell stories? How can we welcome and share stories from a number of cultures and traditions? What is a “Personal Story” and why do we tell it?

• Making our Stories Heard? - What are the parts of a story? What makes for a strong opening and ending? How can we build a skeleton for our stories?

Workshop #2: 3 pm - 5 pm  Developing Our Own Stories

• Telling our Stories in Front of an Audience? - What does it take to capture an audience's at-tention? How can we project our voice? How do we deal with being nervous?

• Building our Storytelling Skills? - How can musical and visual elements support storytelling? How can we use props and artifacts? Working with themes (e.g., food and food security)?

Workshop #3: 3 pm - 5 pm  Performance Practice Session

• Where to From Here? - Where can we tell our stories? Is there interest in participating in a storytelling performance event? What storytelling events can we attend? Storytelling on video or on the internet? Storytelling and reconciliation? Documenting our stories for future generations.

Optional Event:  October 15th - 3 pm - 5 pm 

Performance Opportunity Public Storytelling Performance: Participants will have the option of participating in a public storytelling performance. This will be open to family, friends, and the general public.