Juliana Marin (@achirastories) is a nomadic traveling storyteller from Colombia, who, like the bards of old, makes her way through the world by selling words. Wearing a colorful dress and a great big smile, she’ll approach unsuspecting strangers in parks, cheerfully announcing, “I’ve come all the way from Colombia to tell you a story. Would you like to hear it?”
That worked fine while hitchhiking through Latin America, but in Europe… let’s just say people are more afraid of strangers! But what most matters is the listener, so Juliana is constantly seeking to adapt to each culture and reach people in their own way, because no matter the country, people are hungry for dangerous stories. Brave, bold, raging stories, that scream from beyond time, it’s a beautiful life, how DARE we waste it?
Juliana graduated in 2015 from the Vivapalabra Storytelling School in Medellin, but shortly after another epic adventure to understand storytelling around the world, she experienced a tragedy that left her spirit so broken that she thought she might never again travel, or be a storyteller.
But, determined to heal her soul or die trying, after several years of silence she went to live alone in a cabin in the woods. There, she learned to listen to the stories of her own soul. Through shamanic dreaming, the stories of healing that had been inside her like seeds, finally, lovingly, began to grow.
Now, in 2023, she’s back on the Road, indefinitely, this time with her partner, a young soldier with plenty of his own stories to share; happy, whole, and more convinced than ever that stories can revolutionize reality.
So…
She’s come all the way from Colombia to tell you a story.
Would you like to hear it?
https://www.facebook.com/AchiraStories/
https://www.instagram.com/achirastories/
Live Performance from Juliana Marin, in the Cafe
If you are enjoying this story, feel free to make a donation, everything you pop into the hat below goes directly to Juliana:
Juliana Marin Fryling
If you would like to support this teller, please make a donation
Juliana’s debut performance was Wednesday 1st at 19.00 GMT in the story circle:
Please support Juliana as generously as you can afford to via the virtual hat below. What may be a relatively affordable sum to you will make a big difference to her in Colombia.
Juliana Marin Fryling
If you would like to support this teller, please make a donation
Our Festival Performers
"Now that the world is standing still, people are asking for stories" Achira.
Justine de Mierre
A passionate, energetic and inventive storyteller who delights in connecting playfully
Gerry Donlon
aka Bards Aloud. Stories comic, and stories quirky
Trevor Millum
a writer of… poetry for children and adults, short stories, a novel, books of local interest, education resources.
Deeptha Vivenkanand
India based storyteller who loves to tell stories about stories, strong women, and political satire.
Fabio Lisboa
Storytelling Trainer who has performed/taught in Brazil, Canada and the United Arab Emirates.
Bob Kanegis
A fortunate day spent on the trail with a park ranger who combined, poetry, puppets and folktales showed Bob the possibilities of the Storyteller's Way.
Irene Lofthouse
Irene uses words to inspire all ages, regularly appearing at arts/literature festivals and children's events; she's regularly booked by schools, museums, libraries, theatres, community groups, NHS, charities and more to facilitate bespoke sessions.
Maria Papanikolaou
The last 10 years I combine storytelling with educational programs for children, in Museums, Cultural Centers, Schools, Art places, etc. I love working with children. I have also published two books, a Greek Myth and a tale of my own.
Raine Geoghegan
Raine Geoghegan, MA, poet and prose writer of Romany, Irish and Welsh descent will share tales of the English Gypsies, Romanichals through poetry, monologue and song.
Antonio Rocha
Antonio has received several awards and grants, including the once in a lifetime Circle of Excellence Award. This award was presented to him in 2015 by the National Storytelling Network for his exceptional commitment and exemplary contributions to the art of storytelling.
Dawn Ellis
Dawn’s parents calmed her down with Grimm stories at bedtime and they stayed with her. She has been performing, one way and another, ever since.
Jan Williams
Her most popular books are An amazing storytelling cat and Essex folk stories for children.
Csenge Virág Zalka
She published several folktale collections, including Tales of Superhuman Powers: 55 traditional stories from around the world (McFarland, 2013), and Dancing on Blades: Rare and exquisite folktales from the Carpathian Mountains (Parkhurst Brothers, 2018)
Zouhair Khaznaoui
Zouhair has been sharing the magic of Hikayat since 2017 in the Clock Storytelling programme.
Theresa Kelleher
Theresa was born within the sound of Bow Bells to Irish parents. Out on the streets she was known as the ‘little Irish girl’, at home admonished for her cockney accent.
David Heathfield
He runs Creative and Engaging Storytelling for Teachers courses onlinehttps://davidheathfieldblog.wordpress.com/teacher-training/ and has worked online as a storyteller and storytelling teacher trainer internationally with the British Council, IATEFL and the Hands Up Project .