This page describes our aims and events
Storytelling in Hope
The Club was started 19 years ago in 1993 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 atmosphere in South East London. Our name comes from our first venue: the Bob Hope Theatre in Eltham, where we met for 14 years; and hope, that saving virtue from the bottom of Pandora's box, is what we carry with us wherever we go!
In the face of cuts in grants and the rising cost of hiring venues, last Spring we started a new monthly venture: Saturday Open House. We are also continuing our popular Group Performances twice a year in the Old Bakehouse, Blackheath, and our core activity, the weekly storytelling circle in St Mary's Community Centre, Eltham. More details on all these below.
We have also worked in many other venues, taking storytelling into the community, including workshops and performances for National Storytelling Week at the Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich, with the support of the Greenwich Foundation. Most recently we have taken stories into local care homes and hospitals. If you are interested in a visit from a troop of storytellers, you can contact us here.
Saturday Open House
One Saturday afternoon a month we gather to share food and stories. These Open Houses are hosted alternately by Deirdre & Tony in Rochester, and Claire & Jude in Forest Hill. We enjoy an exciting mix of longer stories, collaborations and trials of new works. But this is Open House in all senses, and we welcome all storytelling related ideas.
Spring 2012 dates:
5 - 8pm Saturday 18th February, Forest Hill
5 - 8pm Saturday 17th March, Rochester
5 - 8pm Saturday 12th May, Forest Hill
5 - 8pm Saturday 2nd June, Rochester
6 pm Saturday 7th July 'Party in the Park', Forest Hill (note later start, for storytelling under the stars)
For more details please contact us here. Phone 020 8314 5116 (landline) or 078 25 64 19 20 (mobile) for Forest Hill SOH; 01634 841176 (landline) for Rochester SOH.
Group Performances
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 compelling 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.
Group performances are held at The Old Bakehouse Theatre, Blackheath, where we hope to create just the right ambience for you to sit back, listen and enjoy. Home-made cakes and light refreshments are available during the interval.
Storytelling Circle
The weekly storytelling circle meetings are for those who want to develop their stories and skills with a mixture of warm-up games, technique based exercises, telling in a small group, and discussions of more general storytelling themes. There is a theme for the evening, for those looking for inspiration, but all stories are always welcome.
Forthcoming Themes:
24th January: Scottish Stories for Burns' Night Eve
31st January: Dragon stories to celebrate the Chinese year of the Water Dragon
7th February: Group Performance: Laxdaela Saga, first meeting
14th February: Half Term break, no meeting
21st February: Workshop with June Peters: Extraction & Condensation
We meet on Tuesdays during term time. Best of all the subs are only £2.00 and a drink in the break from as little as 40p. Bring a story or just come to listen, either way you won't get a better night out for under £2.50.