Nanaimo storytellers are getting ready to captivate audiences once again at the Unitarian Hall.
Around Town Tellers will host its 16th season of Stories on Friday, starting Sept. 8 at 7:30 p.m., with the theme ‘Under a Harvest Moon.’
As introduced last season, the sessions will also continue with online Zoom attendance as well as in-person.
“Most people are so happy to be back in person and enjoy the conviviality of the group. That’s a big part of it,” said Cindy Shantz, committee member for the storytelling association.
She said the group is continually getting new people, and was surprised by the turnout last season. For those interested in storytelling, Margaret Murphy, co-founder of Around Town Tellers, is planning to hold an annual storytelling workshop next spring for new tellers as an introduction to the craft.
Stories on Friday, held on the second Friday of each month from September to June, will work in themes related to that month.
For March, Murphy will host the evening, themed ‘Hags with Attitude: Wisdom of the Crones’ – which Shantz said isn’t as bad as it sounds, as it’s meant to commemorate International Women’s Day.
“Crone used to mean crown and women used to be revered at one point, in various cultures. And then they were given names like hags because they did have attitude,” Shantz said. “It will be an interesting evening to celebrate how far we’ve come and how far we still have to go, of course.”
Shantz said she is particularly excited for the May session, with the theme of ‘Kiss the Blarney Stone and Other Tales of Wit and Mischief.’ The May 10 session will include Russell Hirsch as a featured storyteller, who she said “has a good sense of humour and wonderful voice.”
In addition to Stories on Friday, Around Town Tellers are also planning for a new matinee session in November, called ‘Have Your Cake and Stories, too,’ with more details to come this fall.
More information on Around Town Tellers can be found online at www.aroundtowntellers.com.
READ MORE: International students in Nanaimo will try storytelling in their second language
mandy.moraes@nanaimobulletin.com
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