Kevin Walker: Storyteller

The Shaming of Agnes Leaman…Dave Tong

admin — Sat, 07 May 2011 12:55:06 +0000

Thursday night at the Yard was a night to remember for several reasons. Firstly….the numbers….wow, the biggest house yet…38! Secondly…the weather must be changing because some of the side panels had been removed and we were open to the elements (we put them back in at the interval, bit chilly)…and thirdly, of course, we were joined by the wonderful Dave Tong and his fascinating piece, The Shaming of Agnes Leaman. We had heard Dave tell one story at our February evening and he made such an impression on audience members that I knew I had to book him for a whole session. He didn’t disapoint. The whole night was wonderful. A very carefully researched and crafted piece that was filled with a multitude of historical references that were mesmerising and made me want to Google when I got home to find out more…and delightful stories that gave us a real flavour of Tudor times, told in a refreshingly honest and untheatrical way that made me want to hear more. The stories were a great balance to some of the uncomfortable facts presented to us. Dave is a great ambasador for Norwich, painting a picture with images that conjured up the real place, warts and all. I do hope that Dave can get more people to hear this piece.
“A brilliant evening” said one audience member, “Can we have him back next year?”
What more can I say?

It Started with a Dream

admin — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 08:25:58 +0000

It Started with a Dream

Join Kevin on a journey…. a journey that charts the rise and spread of Buddhism across the world…. but also, a personal journey, of his love of Buddhist culture and values. From a white elephant, a disfigured statue, and a monkey king, to a secret door and a mysterious tomb, “It Started with a Dream” will delight, entertain and move you.

A collection of tales taken from the Buddhist tradition, intricately woven around the life of the Buddha. Come on a cultural and spiritual pathway that will raise your spirits and challenge your thoughts.

“It was a splendid evening, and you know yourself that our audience really enjoyed it, by their reaction, and warm applause and comments at the end.” Marion Leeper…Cambridge Storytellers.

“Thanks for a great night of storytelling last night Kevin at the Cambridge Storytellers. Until last night Buddhism seemed something far far away, but you brought it a bit closer and gave it a very human face!” Dave Tong…storyteller

“……thank you Kevin, for a great show!” Andrew Smith…audience member

“It was obvious from its first outing that this set of stories from Kevin was going to be very special. Told from the heart and also very entertaining” Honor Giles, Word of Mouth, Manchester

Dates so far.

Friday 4th February….Word of Mouth, Manchester
Wednesday 23rd March…Cambridge
Friday 27th May…Three Heads in a Well, Ewell, Surrey
Wednesday 13th July..Multi-Faith Centre, Derby (Flying Donkeys)

Rachel Rose Reid…I’m Hans Christian Andersen

admin — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 11:54:26 +0000

Thursday 7th April saw the dynamic performance of Rachel Rose Reid and her wonderful piece, “I’m Hans Christain Andersen”. The room was almost full to brimming with a very mixed audience of regular faces plus some new friends to the group. We sat transfixed as Rachel created magic before our very eyes. A rare mix of auto-biographical episodes mixed flawlessly with re-workings of Andersen’s stories as we had never heard them before…definately for grown-ups!! Add to this a most beautiful voice singing the plaintive songs of Joni Mitchell. We were spell-bound for well over an hour and the applause spoke a million “bravos”!! Thanks Rachel for such a fantastic evening.

More dates for “It Started With a Dream”

admin — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 11:46:16 +0000

Kevin will be performing at two venues with his new piece.

Friday 27th May…..Three Heads in a Well, Ewell, Surrey

Wednesday 13th July…The Flying Donkeys, Derby.

It Started with a Dream….Cambridge, March 23rd

admin — Sat, 26 Mar 2011 11:28:37 +0000

I performed the second version of my piece developing stories from Buddhism, in Cambridge on Wednesday. The lovely poster they had designed certainly worked, as quite a large and by all accounts, new and younger, audience gathered in the downstairs room of a lovely Bistro.
The first half was a wonderful “stories from the floor” session….what a great selection of tellers and stories?
I performed in the second half. The audience seemed to respond really well, laughing and nodding in all the right places. It was good to develop this piece further amongst such a warm group of people, and many folk gave me very useful feedback.

“Thanks for a great night of storytelling last night Kevin at the Cambridge Storytellers. Until last night Buddhism seemed something far far away, but you brought it a bit closer and gave it a very human face!”

“……And thank you Kevin, for a great show!”

So with a smile in my heart I can develop it further and prepare for two performances of the full piece in Ewell, Surrey (May 27th) and Derby (July 13th)

February 3rd

admin — Sun, 06 Feb 2011 13:55:14 +0000

February 3rd saw The Yard of Tales celebration for National Storytelling Week. And what a celebration it was! Eleven storytellers took to the stage and gave us eleven wonderful stories…all of them a joy to listen to.
The audience was huge, around 35, with regular faces and lots of new faces too. What a fantastic situation to be in after only a few months on the scene? Our name is spreading through word of mouth….the Yard is THE place to be on the first Thursday of the month!

So, the biggest of thanks to all the tellers, some of whom had travelled great distances, one from Norwich!!…..some of whom had not told very often and some of whom were seasoned performers. We cringed at puns, oooed at spooky tales, laughed at blood curdling yarns and raised our eyebrows at carefully crafted tales. Brilliant. This is the first time I have received so many emails from audience members commenting on the evening.

So, here is to the next one, the wonderful Simon Heywood and his tales from “Darkest England”. Watch out for further mailings.

Cambridge Storytellers

admin — Sat, 08 Jan 2011 13:33:59 +0000

Thursday 6th January saw the first session of the New Year at the Yard and we were joined by The Cambridge Storytellers with their performance of The Merry Nights of Straparola.
It was a cold evening and when we arrived the heater was up full and it was tropical. The extention and decorations made such a difference to the place, and the “Katrice Horsley Tablecloths” looked great on the tables.
The crowd was just as large as we normally expect, with about four new audience members and a few appologies, so the future looks great audiences capacity wise.
The performance was truly lovely. Maestro Straparola introduced his four ladies, who over the night told two stories each and all the stories had something memorable about them. The audience roared with laughter at the bawdiness and truly jaw dropping images that were conjured up in some of the stories. All the stories were well chosen and the differing styles of delivery made it a night to remember. Well done team, you kept us enthralled even though the heater had been turned off and the cold began to seep in!!

I have had some great feedback from audience members and one new punter, who had never heard storytelling before, was so fired up that he asked if he could tell a story next month!! Yeah…and more of which later.

Next month, February, is a “stories from the floor” evening….and as it is National Storytelling Week, we are trying to encourage stories from some audience members who have not told before…plus some from regulars too. Keep your eyes open for email shots.

Thanks for your continual support.

Kevin

Katrice Horsley

admin — Fri, 05 Nov 2010 13:15:15 +0000

The third session of Yard of Tales was one to remember! Hope that you were there.
Numbers have increased from 25 at the first two evenings to 35 for this one. The leaflets, word of mouth and Sophie’s last performance in October certainly made for a buzzing and friendly gathering.
Katrice had errected…..yes…..a wonderful backdrop infront of which she guided us through an amazingly beautiful set of tales. The first half was a collection of stories that were prompted by her love of family and the woman who have formed her. Full of emotion and fun, the audience were spellbound.
The second half was almost disturbing….a twisted, haunting set of story images that took us from dreamworlds, fairytales, churned up emotions and gasps to the safety of Katrice’s big heart and smile that were always there to make us feel safe. I have not been so enchanted before…scary! And it never ceases to amaze me how the wolf image can still hold a modern audience!
The night was stormy outside, the audience members were relaxed and so friendly, the cake went down well and the owner even joined us for the second half…..yes, a night to remember!

So, which storyteller has to follow Katrice next month…..eeeek……me! I shall step up to the plate!!
Thanks Katrice.

Exciting news!!

admin — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 16:44:34 +0000

Suddenly we have a whole programme sorted out for the rest of the year and well into the New Year. Here is how it looks:-
November….Katrice Horsley
December…Kevin Walker
January……The Cambridge Storytellers
February…..Stories from the floor.
March……..Simon Heywood

Keep an eye open for our publicity so you don’t miss any of them!

Sophie Snell and her “Seven Deadly Sins”.

admin — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 16:40:26 +0000

October 7th saw the second evening of Yard of Tales. Ian, the owner of Joules Yard, had the place all nice and warm and soon the scene was set, with lanterns and nibbles on the tables, and signs hung around to direct the audience. Just after 7.00 the first listeners arrived and watched whilst Sophie set up her set! By 7.30 we were ready to go with a house of 25!
The first half of the evening was filled with stories from the floor….thanks to Tom, Andrew, Kevin and Sophie. I don’t think we shall ever stop talking about Sophie’s “Hairy Toe”!
The interval was a time to talk, refill drinks and eat cake. There were some new members in the audience so the publicity must be getting through.
Sophie began her piece in the second half and everyone was transfixed. A story filled with tales that were expertly woven into an unusual centre piece….the church confessional! Sophie was wonderful in her delivery, using differing styles of telling and keeping the audience on the edge of their seats. She even managed to incorporate the sounds of the sudden rain storm we had, into the action. There was a huge sigh followed by much applause when she finished. I look forward to hearing about Sophie’s future pieces.
The evening ended about 10.00…and the rain had stopped.