Is this for me?

Over the years, so many diverse people from farmers to firemen, parents to policemen, librarians to lawyers as well as teachers, doctors, community workers, business people, nurses and nuns have studied with us, and all for different reasons, but if the answer to one of the following is yes, then you've probably found the right place:

I've always loved stories and now I want to find out more about them
I'm at a turning point in my life and I'm looking for a new direction
I'd love to be able to tell stories to other people whether it's children, colleagues or a paying audience
I would like to find a playful way to develop myself and my creativity
I want to develop more confidence and inspiration as a speaker
I want to find out more about the wisdom and healing power of stories
I want to find inspiring modern stories for today's problems and issues
I care about the future of the Earth and humanity and so I want to be able to pass on some traditions and wisdom to the next generation
I'm interested in how to use stories to help educate children and adults
I want to be able to help other people tell their stories
I'd like to find out what makes the difference between telling a good story and telling a great one
I would like to spend time on my inner development in a meaningful way
I've always longed to be a performer and now it's time to start

SUGGESTED LEVELS

Below is a suggestion of which courses may be suitable for your level of experience.

Starting out

Begin it Now-

An Introduction to the World of Storytelling.

If you have ever wondered what it would be like to tell a traditional story, if you've ever thought "I could never remember all that", if you've ever struggled with speaking in front of an audience, then this could be just the course for you.

The Craft of the Storyteller A part-time course over 4 weekends, allowing time for a deeper exploration of the Art and Craft of the storyteller, working on story structure, Myths, Folktales, Wonder tales, voice, gesture, movement, connection and audience awareness, spontaneity and improvisation, authenticity and presence.

Bring your stories to Life- Biographical Storytelling: 4 weekends of in-depth exploration of the magical and powerful art of telling personal true-life stories.

Storytelling Beyond Words-

This full time, 13 week training in the art and craft of storytelling aims to prepare you to carry the spoken word and a lively imagination into your communities and places of work. Whether you wish through sharing stories to entertain, educate, counsel, inspire or advocate change; whether the stage, fire side, classroom, board room, or the bedside of a dying person is the context for your telling, this is our flagship training to develop a way of storytelling unique to your own voice and calling.

Deepening your skills

Storytelling Beyond Words-

This full time, 13 week training in the art and craft of storytelling aims to prepare you to carry the spoken word and a lively imagination into your communities and places of work. Whether you wish through sharing stories to entertain, educate, counsel, inspire or advocate change; whether the stage, fire side, classroom, board room, or the bedside of a dying person is the context for your telling, this is our flagship training to develop a way of storytelling unique to your own voice and calling.

Once Upon a Lifetime; Autobiographical and traditional wonder tales-

A creative and inspiring storytelling journey of weaving together traditional and personal stories into one performance.

Next Steps-

So you’ve begun your journey as a storyteller but what is the territory ahead?

Bring your stories to Life-
Biographical Storytelling: 4 weekends of in-depth exploration of the magical and powerful art of telling personal true-life stories.

Applied Storytelling-Story can touch and transform everything you do. Applied Storytelling will give you the translation tools to put story to work in whatever field you operate.

The Craft of the Storyteller A part-time course over 4 weekends, allowing time for a deeper exploration of the Art and Craft of the storyteller, working on story structure, Myths, Folktales, Wonder tales, voice, gesture, movement, connection and audience awareness, spontaneity and improvisation, authenticity and presence.

Suitable for Everyone

Gifts from our Ancestors-

This is an opportunity to honour, explore and reframe in a new light any 'old stories' from those who came before us, particularly around displacement and a loss of ‘home’ that may live on as a silent echo within us.

Two's Company! An introduction to Puppetry for Storytelling-

A playful and fun introduction to puppetry and puppet making as tools for creative storytelling.

Love’s Garment: Exploring the Masculine, the Feminine and Relationship-

A rich storytelling exploration of how a Sufi tale can help us, as men and women, find ourselves and each other in healthy relationship.

The Trickster: Now you see me, now you don’t-

A storytelling workshop exploring the Trickster energy.

Dionysos and Apollo-

A storytelling weekend exploring the power and energy, within and without, of the Greek Gods Dionysos and Apollo.

Dionysos and Pan: a meeting with our untamed nature-

We invite you to explore two of the most mysterious gods of the Greek Pantheon. What can our ‘civilised and cultured’ world learn from them? Could they help us out of the crises we find ourselves in today?

Aphrodite and Hephaestus-

In Greek mythology Hephaestos, the crippled God of craft and metalwork and Aphrodite, the all-powerful Goddess of love, are husband and wife. Join us in exploring their separate stories and the paradox of their marriage, with particular reference to the dynamics of gender.

Opening a Window to Greek myths-

This weekend is for those eager to explore the Greek Pantheon and tell their first Greek myth.

Listening to our Hearts-

A storytelling course for those who feel exhausted or stuck in their work with a community

Meeting the Wolf-

A journey through painting and storytelling in celebration of St. Francis and the wolf.

Speaking to the Stars: A meeting place between Myth and autobiographical storytelling-

How do we make our choices and are we ready to face the consequences? Are we free or is there such thing as Destiny?.

From Genesis to Revelation: Chartres Cathedral, Story and Sacred Geometry-

Join Roi Gal-Or & Daniel Docherty on a unique pilgrimage, a quest of marrying the timely with the timeless; a journey where the incredible, ancient stories built in stone and shining through stained glass will be re-enlivened.

The Deeper Magic-

A journey in Story, Sound and Symbol with storyteller Ashley Ramsden and reiki gong master Dean Hallett.

Zeus’s Wink: Working with boundaries from myth to life-

An imaginative dive into the Greek myth of Demeter and Persephone for new knowledge and practice to nurture ‘right relationship’.

For the more experienced

Storytelling Beyond Words Creative Lab-

Indepth coaching for anyone preparing a storytelling performance.

New courses are added all the time so please check back regularly.

Come and join us for courses on a specific theme, learn new skills and be inspired by fellow students from all over the world in the beautiful grounds of Emerson College.

Upcoming Courses