Storytelling in Hope was started nearly 16 years ago in 1983 by Tony Aylwin. We are a group of people who love to listen to and tell stories from all around the world, in a friendly club atmosphere in South East London. Our name comes from our first venue: the Bob Hope Theatre in Eltham, where we met for 14 years.

We now hold regular monthly performances in the Old Bakehouse, Blackheath, and our weekly storytelling circle in St Mary's Community Centre, Eltham.

We have also worked in many other venues. This will be the fourth year that we have run workshops and a performance for National Storytelling Week at the Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich, with the support of the Greenwich Foundation.

Storytelling in Hope Club Nights

Our monthly events are usually based around a performance by a visiting storyteller, or one of the many professional or experienced tellers associated with the Club. We warm up with stories from the floor. 

Twice a year - usually at Christmas and Easter - the Club puts on a group performance of an epic, or collection of tales. These multiple voice tellings are a managable way to immerse yourself in some of the longest stories in the world (eg the Mahabharata), or in a completely different culture (eg Haida myths from the Northern Pacific), either as a teller or a listener.

We hope to create just the right ambience for you to sit back and enjoy, with tea, coffee, cakes and soft drinks. The theatre is not licensed, but you can bring your own tipple.

Club nights are held monthly (except August) and are usually on the third Sunday of the month, 7.30 - 10.00 pm at The Old Bakehouse Theatre, Blackheath.  Click here for Venue details, or here for details of our next event. Tickets normally £6/£4 (can vary - check individual event details).

Ring of Hope Storytelling Circle

The weekly Ring of Hope meetings are for those who want to develop their stories and skills with a mixture of warm-up games, technique based exercises, telling in small groups, and discussions of more general storytelling themes. We have had several new tellers join recently, so the subject of 'Where do you find stories ?' has been high on that list. We take it in turns to MC an evening, when we can shape the exercises and format. All of this is ably supported by professional storyteller, June Peters, who is an endless fund of ideas for games and skills training.

Ring of Hope meets on Tuesdays during term time.  Click here for dates.  Best of all the subs are only £2.00 and a drink in the break from as little as 35p. Bring a story or just come to listen, either way you won't get a better night out for under £2.50. 

8.00 - 10.00 pm at St. Mary's Community Centre, Eltham.  Click here for Venue details.