Grampian Association of Storytellers

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Event Reports

...fae the GASbags
 

PAMIS Fun Days: 7-8 June 2008
 From GAS member - Diana Peers
PAMIS contacted Phyll about storytelling at the Pamis Fun Days, the first of which was held in Westburn Park, Aberdeen on the 7th June and the other which was held in Aden Park, Mintlaw on the 8th June as part of their Healthy Lifestyles Project.  Pamis stands for “Planning a More Inclusive Society” which I think is a great name, and is a registered charity working with families and carers who are caring for someone with profound and multiple learning disabilities and complex health needs. 

I went along on both days to provide storytelling and we all had a lot of fun with raps, stories with songs and stories involving percussion instruments, props etc. and was delighted with the responses.  They were keen to get involved particularly with the percussion instruments and props which were great for engaging and holding their attention.
 

The weather was fine in Aberdeen and glorious in Mintlaw.  It was wonderful to be outside.  Marie, Pam and Jenny put in a lot of effort to provide a wide range of activities, from tai chi, children’s and companion bikes, drumming, kites, treefest games including Giant Jenga and other puzzles, and of course storytelling.  It was fantastic to see so many people having fun.
 

I feel there is tremendous scope for people with learning disabilities to enjoy stories in many different ways.
 
First Friday Fling - 6 June 2008
From GAS Webmaster - Fiona-Jane Brown
This was a real surprise for me, not having made it to any FFFs this year sadly; first we had Heather Forest, storyteller, author, academic, and now Doctor of Storytelling! Heather was in town from the USA getting an award for her innovative online thesis which looked at the role of the storyteller as leader.  Then we had Stanley Robertson, our friend and honorary president. 
 
The theme for what was supposed to be a DIY session was 'Places you're from and places you've been to', well, was I glad? I was able to tell the Blue Mogganers story, which is a legendary origin-tale of how Peterhead folk got this less-than-salubrious-epithet!  Pauline Cordiner who lead the session seriously entertained with her great story of going to Dublin to buy a bodhran, complete with Irish voices.  Heather sang The Lass of Angelsey which is a relatively unknown Child Ballad, which was transformed by her singing and us doing the 'drone' accompaniment.  She also told a great story from the Talmud, the Jewish Wisdom writings. Sean made Jackie Ross cry with his emotive rendition of the Silkie of Sule Skerry.  Stanley had us all singing, as well as his own story of Israel which was a prophetic tale concerning holy chants, and we brought the house down at the end singing The Four Green Fields, the Irish Rebel song that we all learned at Edzell many years back, which always reduces everyone to tears! In a good way of course!
 
What a night to end this season on!  Come in September if you don't want to miss any more special nights like this!
 
 
First Friday Fling - 1 February 2008
From GAS Chairwoman - Maggie Fraser

A Guaranteed Recipe for Enchantment! Take one very talented lady by the name of Heather Yule Midlothian Storyteller with her own special mix of charming tales, add to this her beautiful playing of the harp and you are spellbound!

To all those who didn't make it, you missed a particularly delightful evening.
MF
 
Stonehaven Family Meeting - 18 November 2006
From GAS Chairwoman - Maggie Fraser
 
Had it been evening the line 'it was a dark and stormy night' would not have been out of place as a starter!  It was an exciting day weatherwise in Stonehaven, big crashing waves along the front with buffeting wind and rain, as Grace and I tried to secure the GAS banner to a very slippery rhone pipe and something else!

With the lights and heating on the Beach Pavilion was cosy when two mums and four children arrived, shortly to be joined by another family.
The scene was set and off we went into our first adventure with Grace and her wee mousikie. 
 
Later Grace enchanted all with 'the Necklace of Raindrops'. I had two different tales both concerning giants, one being a fortune tale, the other a trickster tale and Pauline told one of her many wonderful animal stories.

Having been a fabulous young audience who had listened very patiently and sat very quietly, we all had great fun joining in with Anna and her crazy, endearing and energy boosting little song and dance that she taught us about frogs. Just what was needed!

The feedback was very good and hopefully Stonehaven will want us to come again! We all enjoyed ourselves and felt, if anything, that we could have done with more time. Yes folks! It was that good!

MF

God made man because He loves stories... Elie Wiesel