Festival 2018

OCTOBER 9 – 14, 2018

Scroll to bottom for venue accessibility information

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 9TH

STORY CIRCLE {7:30 – 9:30} at THE ROCKET ROOM, Rocket Bakery

$10 at the door; cash only
This venue is not wheelchair accessible

We’re launching the festival with one of our of most popular events: the Storytelling Circle! Hosted by Kelly Russell and featuring local teller Sharon King-Campbell and the marvellous string-stories of Anne Glover (BC). Feeling brave? Join us on stage for the open mic! We’ve moved to a new and larger venue this year, so bring all your friends!

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 10^TH

COMMUNITY CULTURE CIRCLE with Elizabeth Penashue

{6:00 – 7:30 PM} at the Native Friendship Centre
Free, all welcome
This venue is wheelchair accessible

Innu elder and leader Elizabeth Penashue shares stories and talks with listeners at the St. John’s Native Friendship Centre’s Community Cultural Circle. A warm, welcoming atmosphere to discuss Innu ways of life, activism, and resilience. Limited capacity; please rsvp to storytellingstjohns@gmail.com

ENGAGING EVENINGS at THE ROOMS: Shoshana Litman

{7:00 – 8:00 PM} at The Rooms Theatre
Free with Admission; Wheelchair accessible venue

Delightful tales of triumph provide encouragement and joy. Experience traditional tales offering wonderful insights about the power of words to heal or to destroy, the resilience of compassionate people and the transformation of even the cruelest king. Narratives from Shoshana’s well-travelled life help weave the stories together. Original melodies, catchy phrases and provocative questions invite audience participation in the spellbinding experiences Shoshana creates.

SHIPS AT THE SHIP {9:00 – 11:00 PM} at THE SHIP PUB

$5 at the door; cash only
This venue is not wheelchair accessible

Join us for tales of sails at Ships at The Ship! We team up with the NL Folk Arts Society to bring you riveting tales of life on the sea: pirate-laden adventures, harrowing shipwrecks, and heartfelt memories of sailors past. Hosted by Randy Crane and featuring Jim Payne, Christine Hennebury, Dave Paddon, Eugene Kane and Lynn Hamilton McShane! Have a sail of tale? Tell it during the open mic!

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 11^TH

COFFEE & CULTURE: Elizabeth Penashue

{2:30 – 3:30 pm} at THE ROOMS Theatre
Free with admission; wheelchair accessible venue

Elizabeth Penashue shares moving stories from her life as an environmental activist and defender of Innu culture. Alternating between traditional tales and personal experience, the private and the political, this will be a special change to share space with a truly incredible woman.

WORKSHOP for Educators, Parents, and the Young at Heart: Anne Glover’s String Stories!

{6:30 – 8:30 PM} at THE COCHRANE CENTRE
Entrance from the back, 42 Bannerman St.
$25 cash at the door; please pre-register by e-mailing storytellingstjohns@gmail.com
Wheelchair accessible venue

In this hands-on workshop, participants will learn string stories they can use right away in programs for children and youth. Anne travels the globe teaching string stories to even those who are “all thumbs.” String stories can be used in story time, puppet shows, after-school programming, and as a visual/kinesthetic link to literacy. All you need to bring is yourself and a sense of humour!  No strings attached and no dexterity required!  Hands-on, action-packed, fun and funny. Your shoelaces will never look the same! Anne intertwines multicultural tales with string figures from cultures around the globe.  From Tokyo to Tofino and Burns Lake to Buenos Aires, Anne has spent years enchanting audiences and inspiring a generation with her unique string-stories.  Don’t miss this chance to work with this polished entertainer and gifted, engaging teacher.

Get a little sneak peek of the workshop style here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wj7lz90n0Os

GHOST TALES & PORT with Charis Cotter & Dale Jarvis

SOLD OUT!

{9:30 – 11:00 PM} at THE NEWMAN WINE VAULTS
$35 – tickets required; purchase in advance via Eventbrite:
https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/spirits-off-the-port-side-ghost-tales-port-tickets-50279765131
This venue is not wheelchair accessible

For some reason, Newfoundland has more ghosts than almost anywhere else…and what a better place to hear them than the Newman Wine Vaults. Creep through barrens, lighthouses, seabeds, and even kitchen parties with Charis Cotter and Dale Jarvis, the experts in spooky! Enjoy a sample of Newman Wine Vaults port and some delicious nibbles while you take in this special event.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 12^TH

STORIES FOR KIDS: Spectacular String Stories with ANNE GLOVER!

{3:30 – 4:30 PM} at the AC HUNTER CHILDREN’S LIBRARY
Free; wheelchair accessible venue

Anne Glover brings her stories to life with wild and wonderful string games! She is often asked what kinds of spectacular things she can make with strings. Airplanes? Yup. Dragons? Yup. A horse with a person on its back riding all the way through the universe and bumping into a dinosaur with a griffin on its back, driving a car? You bet! Her fabulous, fun-filled stories are a treat for the whole family! This event will open with performances by young tellers Benjamin Wright and Julianne Taylor.

HOMESPUN: TALES FROM RURAL NL {8:00 – 10:00 PM} at SIGNAL HILL INTERPRETATION CENTRE, Annex Room**

$15 at the door; cash only
Wheelchair accessible venue

**Please note: The entrance to the Annex space is around the side of the Visitor Centre. If you are pulling up in a car, drive past the main entrance and you will see a smaller attached building on the side, with a paved path down to the entrance. The path will be marked with small lanterns. 

Join us for a warm and wonderful evening of tales and recitations woven in rural Newfoundland and Labrador. Journey through Labrador fishing for char, getting caught in snowstorms, and embarking on long winter walks; relive resettlement stories and connect with rural roots. Hosted by Marion Counsel and featuring Angus Andersen, Elizabeth Penashue, Hubert Furey, and Peter Laracy. This is a fan favourite and always a highlight of the festival!

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13^TH

WORKSHOP: Harness your Most Precious Instrument: You! With Shoshana Litman

{10:00 AM – 12:00 PM} at THE COCHRANE CENTRE
Entrance from the back, 42 Banner St.
$25 cash at the door; please pre-register by e-mailing storytellingstjohns@gmail.com
Wheelchair accessible venue

Shoshana shares some of the wisdom she’s learned from 20 years of professional storytelling. This inspiring workshop features easy to remember breathing, movement and vocal exercises. These tips help invigorate verbal artists, enhancing their ability to tell lively tales and provide memorable performances. Intended for beginning and more experienced storytellers who want to enliven their storytelling with exercises they can practice at home or on the road.

STORY WALK {1:30 – 3:00 PM} at MUN BOTANICAL GARDENS

Free with admission

Discover trails and tales of enchantment in forests, gardens, ponds and fairy lands; join Jack on a wild adventure, and share traditional Inuit tales from Nunavut. Host Catherine Wright and featured tellers Anne Glover, Chris Driedzic, Ashley Savard, and Mary Fearon will take you on a tour of the imagination during this story walk inspired by nature.
In the event of rain stories will take place inside the MUN Botanical Garden building.

TALES FROM NEAR & AFAR {8:00 – 10:00 PM} at SIGNAL HILL INTERPRETATION CENTRE, Annex Room**

$15 at the door; cash only
Wheelchair accessible venue

**Please note: The entrance to the Annex space is around the side of the Visitor Centre. If you are pulling up in a car, drive past the main entrance and you will see a smaller attached building on the side, with a paved path down to the entrance. The path will be marked with small lanterns.

Hop a train through India, share the magic of traditional Inuit tales, revel in contemporary throat singing, and be inspired by poetic prose in an incredibly unique evening of storytelling. Hosted by Fergus O’Byrne and featuring Gaurav Madan (India/NL), Tama Fost (NL), Daze Jeffries (NL), Ashley Savard (NU), Anne Glover (BC), and Shoshana Litman (BC). A great opportunity to see how big and how small the world can be!

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 14^TH

WORKSHOP for Youth: Unleash Your Inner Storyteller! With Shoshana Litman

{1:00 – 2:30 PM) at THE FLUVARIUM
Ages 8 – 12
Free with admission
This venue is wheelchair accessible

Have you ever told someone what you did, or about a great or terrible meal, or anything from your own experiences? Then you are a storyteller and this workshop can help you craft memorable tales. Shoshana models easy to tell stories for young people who want to discover more about storytelling. She fills your toolbox with step by step instructions and fun storytelling techniques. You can practice these techniques with another participant or the whole class, or just come and listen! Perfect for any kids interested in drama, acting, or writing stories.

FAMILY SHOW: Travel the World with Stories! With Shoshana Litman

{3:00 – 4:00 PM} at THE FLUVARIUM
Free with admission; wheelchair accessible venue

Explore the world with delightful stories, engaging melodies and fun sound effects. Enjoy the adventures of a boy who saves Szechuan, China from drought in the “Dragon’s Pearl” and a girl who saves the world with music in “Frida’s Flute.” Sing along with intrepid animals and people in the “Magic Tree” of Africa and the “Noisy House” of Poland. Shoshana’s tales take you to amazing places and bring you home again, happy and ready for more! This event will be opened by performances from young tellers Sophie Shoemaker and Gwen Brokenshire.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 17^TH

Spectacle-atelier pour petits enfants avec Anne Glover
{11:00 AM – 12:00 PM} Theatre of the Centre des Grands-Vents

Open to children from 2-4 years old and their parents
Language: Mostly in French with some English

Award-winning performer Anne Glover will regale Francophone audiences with two programs on October 17. At 11:00, toddlers and parents can hear and see her magical and versatile “string stories” in a bilingual program.  Then at 1:25, Anne will perform in French for the students of École des Grands Vents.

VENUE ACCESSIBILITY INFORMATION

Hello fabulous storytellers and listeners!

Here is our annual rundown on the accessibility of our event venues. If we are missing information or anything is incorrect, we encourage you to message us and let us know! If there are accessibility features you’d like to see incorporated in the future, please let us know that too. In St. John’s – especially downtown – it can be challenging to find accessible venues, but each year we manage to get at least a couple more. Here’s our list for this year:

AC Hunter Children’s Library
– wheelchair accessible entrance and event room
– wheelchair accessible washrooms

The Cochrane Centre
– wheelchair accessible entrance and event room
– wheelchair accessible washrooms

The Fluvarium
– wheelchair accessible entrance and event room
– wheelchair accessible washrooms

MUN Botanical Gardens
– outdoor trails
– some hilly areas, unpaved
– Main building (in event of rain): no automatic door; wheelchair accessible entrance and washrooms

The Newman Wine Vaults
– no automatic doors
– small step at front door and level changes inside; uneven floors
– no wheelchair accessible washrooms
– some narrow passages across level changes

The Rocket Room, Rocket Bakery
– a (roughly) 30 degree grade hill, unpaved, from Duckworth Street to the back entrance
– about 30 stairs from main floor to the Rocket Room
– gender neutral washrooms on second and third floors

Signal Hill Visitor’s Centre, Annex Room**
– wheelchair accessible entrance and event room
– wheelchair accessible washrooms
**Please note: The entrance to the Annex space is around the side of the Visitor Centre. If you are pulling up in a car, drive past the main entrance and you will see a smaller attached building on the side, with a paved path down to the entrance. The path will be marked with small lanterns.

St. John’s Native Friendship Centre
– wheelchair accessible entrance and event room, via elevator
– gender neutral wheelchair accessible washrooms

The Rooms (second floor theater)
– wheelchair accessible entrance and event space, via elevator
– wheelchair accessible washrooms