Storytelling - stories from the tree of life

Kirklees Libraries invite you to step into a world of stories!

A good story, well told, can enthral, entertain, delight, amuse, thrill or terrify.  Stories teach us about the world, about ourselves and about each other.  Stories and storytelling can help us to celebrate difference and find common ground. Listening to and telling stories is a shared creative experience unlike any other.  Storytelling is for everyone.  Many people already understand the value of stories in childhood, but we are particularly keen to develop an adult audience for the rich, varied and daring tradition of oral storytelling.
'Stories from the Tree of Life' is a celebration of storytelling, literature and arts in Kirklees Library and Information Centres. Launched in April 2008, the project was created and supported by Kirklees Council and funded by the National Lottery through Arts Council England.

Some audience comments from last year:

‘’Great!  Really different and timeless.  Beats a mind- numbing night in front of the telly!  More please!!!’’

 ‘’Brilliant, enchanting in the truest sense’’

‘’It was fab!  Very moving, I’d forgotten how mesmerising storytelling/listening is.’’

 ‘’It was fantastic-spell binding.  One of the best experiences of my year.’’

‘’I’ve paid over £45 to go to West end performances that I haven’t enjoyed as much.  Excellent!!’

 ‘’Please give us more events like this!!’’

 ‘It was a very powerful experience and a lovely evening.  The story took me to lovely places.’

‘Very, very good.  Very happy to get away from cinema/computer screens and back to just a person doing everything alone and from memory.’

‘Really interesting, enjoyed it immensely.  Wasn’t sure what to expect.   Impressed by how well the stories were told with no props or special effects.’

 ‘A great example of storytelling being a window on the world and its history and cultures.’

 ‘Excellent-beautifully balanced collection of riddle, joker, trickster and wisdom stories bringing the riches of an ancient civilization to the attention of the 21st century urban west and making it work-beautiful imagery and dialogue made me feel as if I were listening to the original people.’

‘It was awesome.  The last one made me cry nearly.  I can’t wait to go to school and tell my friends.’

‘Enthralling; engaging; unlike anything I’ve attended before, but would certainly make a point of hearing again…and again, the child in me wants to hear more and I haven’t heard the second half yet!’

Following on from the huge success of last year’s programme, we’re very excited to bring you a new series of events for 2009.

For booking details, please see individual events listings.

For further information about the project, please email either mailin.li@kirklees.gov.uk phone Mai Lin on 01484 226364.