Roisin Murray – More Than Stories

On the last Thursday of every month at the Astor Theatre

Roisin — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 15:33:25 +0000

ASTORy or Two Storytelling Club for adult audiences. I host and tell at a regular storytelling clubnight at the Astor Community Theatre in Stanhope Road, Deal. The evening ususally includes a high-quality performance from a professional storyteller of national or even international repute, at least one story from me, and we encourage aspiring storytellers to try their hand during the open floor spots. We meet in the hall on the right at the top of the main stairs. Doors open at 6.30 PM for a 7pm start. Entrance £6.00 at the door includes complementary surprise treats.

Thursday 2nd February – BUPA Care Home in Sevenoaks

Roisin — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 19:42:29 +0000

Isn’t it great? Thursday 2nd February – BUPA Care Home in Sevenoaks. BUPA has taken up the torch as part of National Storytelling Week this month(follow http://www.sfs.org.uk/nsw to find out more). So I’m going to their place in Sevenoaks to tell storie to the residents. You know one of the things that’s so great about it? That an organisation as large and prestigious as BUPA understands the key role of spoken story in providing mental stimulation to their residents. What a great example for other care homes!!

Wednesday 1st February – Storytelling and Pudding Club – at the Dining Club in Middle Street, Deal

Roisin — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 19:33:17 +0000

A new special event on Wednesday 1st February – Storytelling and Pudding Club. In collaboration with a venue described in the up-market press as one of Deal’s special places – “the almost clandestine Dining Club”. That’s the Dining club in Middle Street, Deal. We’re planning an evening where food for the ears mingles with stimulation for the stomach. I can’t claim the concept in mine alone though, Nell Phoenix of Torriano Nights told me she does it in London and it’s hugely popular. Visit the Dining Club website (http://thediningclub.net/) for more detail about how to book for the evening, and become a member!

Thursday 23rd February – Club night at the ASTOR Community Theatre in Deal

Roisin — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 15:56:51 +0000

“Hold Up Death”. with seasoned storyteller Janet Dowling, in her unique style. Who would want the Grim Reaper’s job? The touble is people; they cause esuch problems. Janet brings us stories about death from different cultures – funny, sad, even challenging – but always entertaining. Come along and be fascinated. Open floor spots too – a chance to tell your story. Doors open at 6:30 for 7 PM. Entrance £6:00 including little treats. That’s on THURSDAY 23rd February January 2012 at ASTORy or Two Storytelling Club, the Astor Community Theatre, Stanhope Street in Deal

26th January 2012 – ASTORy or Two Storytelling Club in Deal

Roisin — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 15:54:55 +0000

The electrifying Tim Ralphs is the curtain-raiser for a star-studded season, taking us all the way through to July. He’ll be performing a set of surprising stories called “Our St George” – that’s not the Russian St George, or the Ethiopian St George, but OUR St George. Come along and be fascinated. Doors open at 6:30 for 7 PM. Entrance £6:00 including little treats. That’s on 26th January 2012 at ASTORy or Two Storytelling Club, the Astor Community Theatre, Stanhope Street in Deal

26th January 2012 – Creative problem-solving seminar for “a government Department”

Roisin — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 15:46:54 +0000

A creative problem-solving seminar might seem a bit different from performance storytelling and the project work. In a way, it is, and I do love the variety of this way of life. But in some senses, everything I do is … Continue reading →

19th December – Whitfield Children’s Party

Roisin — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 15:44:04 +0000

Whitfield Children’s Party for the Parish Council. Nice to be working in my own neck of the woods again. Funnily enough, the client only knew about me because the heard me chatting about storytelling while standing a local bootfair selling … Continue reading →

A unique story for a special birthday boy

Roisin — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 17:14:24 +0000

For a boy who loves everything about Knights.
(I don’t do generic stories and simply insert the person’s name)
Let’s call him Ecks
“Brave Sir Ecks and The Dragon with Toothache”
Once upon a time there was a little boy called Ecks. He went for a walk with his Mum, in the park.
“Don’t wander off” she told him, so he just went a little way, round the back of the great big tree. At the back of the great big tree he found a huge rabbit hole, going down, down into the ground.

“I wonder if there are any rabbits in there” thought Ecks, and he leaned in to have a look. He leaned further and further over until….. down he tumbled, over and over, down and down in the dark until he landed, BUMP on the grass.
“Where am I” he said to himself. The grass was lovely and soft, and the sun was shining but he wasn’t in the park. He looked down and to his surprise he wasn’t wearing his usual clothes either. He had on a suit of armour!
Just then a young boy came running up calling “Sir Ecks, Sir Ecks, come quickly the king wants to see you”
“I’m not Sir Ecks, I am a boy” Ecks said, but the other boy took no notice.
“The king is in a very bad mood, you had better hurry” he said. So Ecks got up and, running as fast as he could in the strange armour, he followed the boy to a fine castle. They went in by the drawbridge and up the stairs into a huge hall.
There, on a throne sat the King. He had a long silver hair, a long silver beard and on his head was a big gold crown, and he looked very cross indeed.
“Ah, there you are Sir Ecks. I need you to go and kill a dragon. It has been roaring and shouting and everyone is scared it will eat them”.
So poor Ecks set off……..

Part of a more adult original short story

Roisin — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 13:08:50 +0000

I hate Christmas shopping yet here I was again rushing around in the crowds trying to get all those last minute things I had put off buying, vowing that, this year we would simplify things, recapture the magic. That fine thought had melted away against the onslaught of articles about the perfect gift, meal, dress, tree – you name it. How come men don’t feel all this pressure? Because they’re not so daft, that’s why.
Still, at least the coffee shop was a welcome treat. I love the way it feels when the weather outside is raw and grey. Shoppers, bags stacked around their feet chattering and clattering at the tables. The air a thick, steamy, coffee flavoured blanket, filled with the noise of chatter competing with piped carols in the background.
I was sitting by the window, watching the stream of shoppers pour past when it happened. I had been remembering and it was as if I had conjured him up, just like a genie in a pantomime. I thought looked like him, then as he walked past when he looked in and caught my eye, and there, just for a second I saw the flicker of recognition, before he turned quickly away.
My heart thumped, my mouth dried out and I had to suppress a shout. Someone might have asked what was wrong. Who would believe that I had seen someone that I only met once over forty years ago, but that I instantly recognised him.
How could I explain the impact that he had on me as a small child, how I had carried his image with me for years, remembered it every Christmas season, silently; sharing it with no-one, ever. Back then, at the time, I had felt that no-one would believe me, that the word of a child would be dismissed as fantasy. Then, as the years went on talking about it got more difficult, not less. But here he was, in flesh, still walking around in my shopping centre.
I knew what I had to do. I was going to face this, to find out the truth once and for all. I grabbed my bag and headed for the door. Outside the bitter air slapped my cheeks, making my eyes water. I searched around frantically then; through the crowd I saw his back.
Hurrying after him, I nudged aside shoppers, mumbled apologies as I tripped and dodged around them, always keeping him just in sight, then slowly, oh so slowly gaining on him. I wondered what the hell was I doing? What would I say to him, after all this time? I didn’t know I just felt that after all these years of carrying my secret couldn’t simply let him walk away. I needed to know. …………………………… Who was the mysterious stranger? Contact Rosiin to find out

2nd December – ASTORy or Two at the Astor Theatre, Stanhope Street, Deal

Roisin — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 16:47:43 +0000

This friday begins the festive season! Doors open at 6:30 for 7pm. tickets £6:00 on the door include little treats. Bar open in the theatre. Deal’s own storytelling club for adult audiences – professional tellers and open floor spots.