A new monthly storytelling event in Gloucester
Last Thursday, I was excited to pop along to Cafe Rene to attend the launch event of a new storytelling group in Gloucester.
The group is called the Moving Stories Cafe. The message behind the name is that the venue moves from one cafe to another each month and that the stories ‘move’ you. I like it!
As this was the launch event, it was unclear how many people would attend. I know the organisers were a bit apprehensive about this. They need not have worried, though, as it was very well attended. Being in the small ‘cellar bar’ of the cafe, it was quite ‘compact and bijou’ to the point of being almost ‘intimate’, owing to the good number attending.
The event was introduced by Chloe, who then went on to tell the first story. She was then followed by Saffy and Jane, her fellow organisers, who each gave us a story.
Then came the first ‘open mic’ session. I guess this must always be a nervous time for any organiser; will anyone step up? On the day, Charlie Markwick came up to give us a story. Like the organisers, Charlie is a professional storyteller.
Charlie was followed by Doug, yes yours truly, who gave the audience the 2019 version of his Father Christmas story.
Well, the event had gotten off to a great start and it was only fitting that at this point there was a 15-minute break for refreshments. Hopefully, the organisers could now relax a bit, in the knowledge that the event had been a success.
The second half saw two more open-mic stories followed by further stories by Chloe, Jane and Saffy (I hope I am getting their names correct).
On a dark damp evening in Gloucester, it was really heart-warming to have shared a part in this opening event to promote storytelling in Gloucester. Hopefully, the video below will be of Chloe retelling the Shipwright’s Tale.
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