As I was Saying…

From Nan Blunden’s pantry, to Red Island, to the Big Land, home-grown recitations speak uniquely of Newfoundland and Labrador. Join us as storytellers share recitations, discuss inspiration and their approach to creating stories in verse.

A two-night recitation event hosted by storyteller and folklorist Dale Jarvis, and featuring Karen Carroll, Marion Counsel, Dave Paddon, Ken Parsons, Dave Penny, and Benny Powell.

Thursday, June 25

7:30 – 9 pm (6:00 EST/3:00 PST)

Featuring Dave Paddon, Ken Parsons, Dave Penny

These recitationists have a flair for fantasy and humour. Whether you’re following Ralph the Flying Hound through the skies or riding a skidoo into outer space, Dave Paddon’s recitations are sure to make you smirk. Ken Parsons is a magician-turned-storyteller who brings us tales from the fictional town of Raisin Arm that you just might need to see to believe. Dave Penny brings harrowing humour of the everyday to his unique and hilarious musical recitations. Politics, traditions, magic and mystery figure into their tales – always at least based on a true story, of course.

Part 1: Wednesday, June 24th!

Featuring Karen Carroll, Marion Counsel, and Benny Powell

Free on Zoom!

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ABOUT OUR TELLERS

DAVE PADDON is a retired airline pilot originally from Northwest River, Labrador. He grew up listening to the songs and stories of the trappers and attending many a late night “session” around many a kitchen table. In 1986 he married a Gander girl and subsequently became immersed in Island culture. As a result he accumulated a store of material which suddenly bubbled to the surface when he and Kim returned to Newfoundland and Labrador in 2005 after 20 years upalong. He wrote his first recitation in 2007 and has now written 25. Five of these have been published in handmade chapbooks and his work is available on a CD or through electronic download. His recitation “Ralph:Flying Hound” was recently released as an illustrated children’s book.

Dave lives in St.John’s and is a regular at festivals and fundraisers throughout the province.

KEN PARSONS loves Newfoundland Labrador and it shows in his recitations.  Spending summers growing up in Bonavista Bay he has created “Raisin Arm”, an imaginary Newfoundland Labrador community full of “heart warming stories” and “all kinds of foolishness”.  The everyday joys and fun of local culture are always “just down the Arm” and as an accomplished magician you’re sure to see Ken pull a trick or two out of his sleeve during his stories.

DAVE PENNY has been performing around St. John’s and beyond for 20 years, and in that time has written several comedy songs such as Johnny Chrome and A Townie Courted a Bayman’s Daughter, about wacky topics like a cyclist feuding with an oversized pickup truck, a shortage of mustard pickles and owning a Chip Wagon stand.  He has performed in many Newfoundland and Labrador towns and festivals, the Meriposa Folk Festival in Ontario, and parts of New England.   

DALE GILBERT JARVIS is a storyteller and professional folklorist. By day, he is the provincial folklorist for Newfoundland and Labrador. By night, he is the proprietor of the St. John’s Haunted Hike ghost tour, and raconteur of local tales. Dale tells ghost stories, stories of the fairies and little people, tales of phantom ships and superstitions, and legends and traditional tales from Newfoundland, Labrador and beyond. His repertoire includes long-form folk and fairy tales, with a wide-ranging knowledge of local legends, tall tales, and myths.

Former newspaper columnist and author of several books on island folklore, he is a tireless promoter of local culture and oral history.