Introducing
kindandgenerous productions successfully launched Katrice Horsley as the new laureate for storytelling at the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery's Industrial Hall in Chamberlain Square, Birmingham. Katrice started her work as the nation's new laureate for the oral tradition of storytelling for 2012 to 2014 on 28 January, 2012.
Further details of the launch can be read on the BBC news page:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-16761545 ‘
Stories
must be shared if they are to stay alive.”
Brian Patten - poet
This event also marked the start of the Society for Storytelling's National Storytelling Week across the UK : http://www.sfs.org.uk/nsw
Press release: 00.01 25/10/11
Are you sitting comfortably? The next storytelling laureate will be...
Katrice Horsley, from the city of Birmingham, England, UK – she begins work on Saturday
28 January, 2012, for a two year, honorary, term.
The guardians and patrons of the storyteller laureate are the poets Michael Rosen, Brian
Patten and Adrian Johnson also the Bloodaxe poetry book publisher MD, Simon
Thirsk, storytellers Peter Chand and Del Reid and the Children’s librarian Patsy
Heap all of whom convened last week to consider a host of excellent
storytellers from across the United Kingdom from a long list of suggested names
from enthusiasts and supporters of the nation’s oldest art form, the oral
tradition of storytelling.
On receiving the news and accepting her appointment as the nation’s
second ever Storytelling Laureate, Katrice Horsley commented:
“My toes are curled up to the sky with joy and I look forward to making my
contribution.”
The poet, Brian Patten and one of the Storytelling Laureate’s
supporters, said: “I am absolutely delighted for Katrice and convinced she will add a
cutting edge to the oral storytelling tradition.”
The storyteller, Peter Chand said:
“I think Katrice will be a great ambassador for the storytelling
world and know she has terrific energy and dynamism, which reflects the
vibrancy of storytelling today. Her recent output has been impressive, and she
has recently created and performed her own shows: Hair and fur, skin and scale, Tales of Mercia with Simon
Heywood, and The Crow, the maiden and the devil. All three shows have been very well
received by storytelling audiences across the UK.”
The first Storytelling Laureate, Taffy Thomas, MBE, completes his first,
ground breaking and energetic two years as the very first storytelling laureate
on 27 January 2012 and Katrice will make her first, official, laureate
appearances at venues across the UK during national storytelling week, beginning with Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, 1-3pm on Saturday
28 January, 2012 together with outgoing laureate Taffy Thomas, MBE and friends. To reserve a place please contact: [email protected]
As Laureate for Storytelling, Katrice will also receive seven wonderful
objects as a gift, including: 1kg bag of dried beans, a simple compass, a packet
of love hearts, a clear glass bottle, a tall white candle, a lucky charm bracelet and a whistle.
The Storytelling Laureate is produced and co-ordinated in Smethwick by Adrian Johnson of kindandgenerous productions.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Katrice Horsley, from the city of Birmingham, England, UK – she begins work on Saturday
28 January, 2012, for a two year, honorary, term.
The guardians and patrons of the storyteller laureate are the poets Michael Rosen, Brian
Patten and Adrian Johnson also the Bloodaxe poetry book publisher MD, Simon
Thirsk, storytellers Peter Chand and Del Reid and the Children’s librarian Patsy
Heap all of whom convened last week to consider a host of excellent
storytellers from across the United Kingdom from a long list of suggested names
from enthusiasts and supporters of the nation’s oldest art form, the oral
tradition of storytelling.
On receiving the news and accepting her appointment as the nation’s
second ever Storytelling Laureate, Katrice Horsley commented:
“My toes are curled up to the sky with joy and I look forward to making my
contribution.”
The poet, Brian Patten and one of the Storytelling Laureate’s
supporters, said: “I am absolutely delighted for Katrice and convinced she will add a
cutting edge to the oral storytelling tradition.”
The storyteller, Peter Chand said:
“I think Katrice will be a great ambassador for the storytelling
world and know she has terrific energy and dynamism, which reflects the
vibrancy of storytelling today. Her recent output has been impressive, and she
has recently created and performed her own shows: Hair and fur, skin and scale, Tales of Mercia with Simon
Heywood, and The Crow, the maiden and the devil. All three shows have been very well
received by storytelling audiences across the UK.”
The first Storytelling Laureate, Taffy Thomas, MBE, completes his first,
ground breaking and energetic two years as the very first storytelling laureate
on 27 January 2012 and Katrice will make her first, official, laureate
appearances at venues across the UK during national storytelling week, beginning with Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, 1-3pm on Saturday
28 January, 2012 together with outgoing laureate Taffy Thomas, MBE and friends. To reserve a place please contact: [email protected]
As Laureate for Storytelling, Katrice will also receive seven wonderful
objects as a gift, including: 1kg bag of dried beans, a simple compass, a packet
of love hearts, a clear glass bottle, a tall white candle, a lucky charm bracelet and a whistle.
The Storytelling Laureate is produced and co-ordinated in Smethwick by Adrian Johnson of kindandgenerous productions.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The deadline for suggestions (16 May 2011) has now passed for ideas on who you think should be considered as the UK's next Laureate for Storytelling
The producer, Adrian Johnson and the Guardians of the story, are mulling over the brilliant range of possibilities and will eventually decide in time for January, 2012!
Book mark this space for further news!
The first UK Laureate for Storytelling is Taffy Thomas, MBE, an honorary, two year position that runs from Jan 2010 to Jan 2012. Check this page for more news and information and if you want to view some short story films, try the dedicated youtube channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/storylaureate
image by Miriam Stirdee, copyright: kindandgenerous productions
'Taffy's Coat tales' by the UK's first laureate for storytelling
Taffy's Coat Tales is a smashing new collection of stories published by TLC to complement the unique, new position of the first UK Laureate for Storytelling which Taffy Thomas, MBE, holds for two years. Jan 2010 - Jan 2012. Click the link for a purchase form: http://www.taffythomas.co.uk/pdf/booktaffycoattales.pdf
The Laureate for storytelling is a kindandgenerous original initiative, production and award.
The Laureate for storytelling is a kindandgenerous original initiative, production and award.
A fairy tale start for Taffy, young Jack and the Duchess at Canon Burrows school
In his first week as the nation's laureate for storytelling, Taffy Thomas delighted the young people of Canon Burrows school, in Ashton Under Lyne, on 4 February, 2010. Jack and HRH the Duchess of Cornwall also chose a story from Taffy's famous 'Tale coat' and got the story of the wise owl for National storytelling week, 2010. pic by Adrian Johnson
Michael Rosen welcomes the first laureate for storytelling, Taffy Thomas
On Saturday 30 January, 2010 at the British Library a packed and enthusiastic family audience cheered on Taffy Thomas, MBE as Michael Rosen hands taffy a 1kg bag of beans. Adrian Johnson, mc, looks on from the left.
Taffy's first official engagements took place during National Storytelling week, Jan - Feb. 2010.
The story behind the first laureate for storytelling - how kindandgenerous productions director, Adrian Johnson, created, devised and managed the nations first laureate for storytelling - on the Society for Storytelling website, here: http://sfs.org.uk/news/first-laureate-for-storytelling/
Taffy Thomas in the Times Educational Supplement: 5 February 2010
Click here: http://www.tes.co.uk/article.aspx?storycode=6034988
Taffy Thomas on the Guardian Books podcast 06 November 2009
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/audio/2009/nov/06/michael-peel-taffy-thomas-david-vann
The Guardian books section reports on Taffy Thomas and BBC radio 4
Click here + scroll down for 'the clever wish' story by Taffy at 8.40 on 2 Nov 09 BBC Radio 4: http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/today/newsid_8335000/8335210.stm
Click here for the Guardian report: http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2009/nov/02/taffy-thomas-storytellling-laureate
The first laureate for storytelling reported in the national UK newspaper, The Independent on Sunday, 1st November 2009, click the link for the story, here: http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/news/laureate-to-help-storytelling-live-happily-ever-after-1812920.html
Also the Telegraph Newspaper: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/6478957/Britains-first-storytelling-laureate-named-as-Cumbrian-Taffy-Thomas.html
Taffy Thomas, MBE, to be the nation's first laureate for storytelling
The Cumbrian-based storyteller, Taffy Thomas, MBE, has today accepted the honorary position of first laureate for storytelling which will run for two years from January 2010 to January 2012.
The country’s first laureate for storytelling was revealed and backed by Liverpool poet – Brian Patten and former Children’s Laureate – Michael Rosen on Saturday 26 September, 2009 – a few months after the celebrated storyteller marked his silver wedding anniversary and 60th birthday by the lakeside of Windermere.
The honorary position is officially awarded and celebrated at three official, public, launch events for the position, as the centrepiece of the tenth National Storytelling week in 2010. The first will be held at the British Library in London on Saturday 30 January, 2010. The second will be held at Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery on Tuesday 2 February and the third will be held at Seven Stories museum in Newcastle on Saturday 6 February, 2010.
Ready to enthuse
Already, the grand old man of stories, Taffy Thomas, MBE, – who is also a regular contributor to Scholastic’s Literacy Time PLUS – is getting ready to enthuse and entertain about storytelling.
“It is with huge pleasure that I accept the invitation to become the first Storytelling Laureate,” he said. “Over the two years, I will do all within my power to promote the art and to encourage the passing on of both repertoire and skills. I will endeavour to lay a firm foundation for future storytelling laureates and believe this is an exciting new development for storytelling, and I am delighted and honoured to be involved at the start of a new chapter in the life of our art.”
Seven gifts
As Laureate for Storytelling, Taffy will also receive seven wonderful objects as a gift, including: 1kg bag of dried beans, a simple compass, a packet of love hearts, a clear glass bottle, a tall white candle, a silver, lucky charm bracelet and a whistle.
Taffy will no doubt be putting some of those objects to good use during his official two year term of office as he undertakes official engagements across the length and breadth of the UK.
Official patrons
The official patrons and ‘Guardians of the story’ include:
The Liverpool poet Brian Patten,
Michael Rosen (poet, broadcaster and former Children’s Laureate),
Peter Chand (Storyteller),
Simon Thirsk (Chairman – Bloodaxe books)
Del Reid (the National director of storytelling week)
and Patsy Heap (Director of Children’s services and libraries in Birmingham).
Top endorsements
The best selling, popular Liverpool poet and children’s writer, Brian Patten said: “Taffy will make a great ambassador for storytelling.”
The former Children’s Laureate and BBC radio broadcaster, Michael Rosen added: “I’m so pleased for Taffy. Anything that helps support the oral tradition of storytelling gets my vote.”
The honorary position is awarded by the guardians of the story and is an original idea and initiative of the poet and writer, Adrian Johnson. He said: “Stories inspire and encourage us at critical moments in our lives and with the brilliant success of the poet laureate and other regional projects the time seemed right to honour the oral tradition of storytelling and those that tell them.”
The first Laureate for storytelling is awarded and organised by the Smethwick-based independent production company: ‘kindandgenerous’.
The country’s first laureate for storytelling was revealed and backed by Liverpool poet – Brian Patten and former Children’s Laureate – Michael Rosen on Saturday 26 September, 2009 – a few months after the celebrated storyteller marked his silver wedding anniversary and 60th birthday by the lakeside of Windermere.
The honorary position is officially awarded and celebrated at three official, public, launch events for the position, as the centrepiece of the tenth National Storytelling week in 2010. The first will be held at the British Library in London on Saturday 30 January, 2010. The second will be held at Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery on Tuesday 2 February and the third will be held at Seven Stories museum in Newcastle on Saturday 6 February, 2010.
Ready to enthuse
Already, the grand old man of stories, Taffy Thomas, MBE, – who is also a regular contributor to Scholastic’s Literacy Time PLUS – is getting ready to enthuse and entertain about storytelling.
“It is with huge pleasure that I accept the invitation to become the first Storytelling Laureate,” he said. “Over the two years, I will do all within my power to promote the art and to encourage the passing on of both repertoire and skills. I will endeavour to lay a firm foundation for future storytelling laureates and believe this is an exciting new development for storytelling, and I am delighted and honoured to be involved at the start of a new chapter in the life of our art.”
Seven gifts
As Laureate for Storytelling, Taffy will also receive seven wonderful objects as a gift, including: 1kg bag of dried beans, a simple compass, a packet of love hearts, a clear glass bottle, a tall white candle, a silver, lucky charm bracelet and a whistle.
Taffy will no doubt be putting some of those objects to good use during his official two year term of office as he undertakes official engagements across the length and breadth of the UK.
Official patrons
The official patrons and ‘Guardians of the story’ include:
The Liverpool poet Brian Patten,
Michael Rosen (poet, broadcaster and former Children’s Laureate),
Peter Chand (Storyteller),
Simon Thirsk (Chairman – Bloodaxe books)
Del Reid (the National director of storytelling week)
and Patsy Heap (Director of Children’s services and libraries in Birmingham).
Top endorsements
The best selling, popular Liverpool poet and children’s writer, Brian Patten said: “Taffy will make a great ambassador for storytelling.”
The former Children’s Laureate and BBC radio broadcaster, Michael Rosen added: “I’m so pleased for Taffy. Anything that helps support the oral tradition of storytelling gets my vote.”
The honorary position is awarded by the guardians of the story and is an original idea and initiative of the poet and writer, Adrian Johnson. He said: “Stories inspire and encourage us at critical moments in our lives and with the brilliant success of the poet laureate and other regional projects the time seemed right to honour the oral tradition of storytelling and those that tell them.”
The first Laureate for storytelling is awarded and organised by the Smethwick-based independent production company: ‘kindandgenerous’.