Our Cafe Performers
"Now that the world is standing still, people are asking for stories" Achira.
Usha Venkatraman
Usha Venkatraman is a Mumbai based award winning storyteller, author, classical vocalist, puppeteer and radio show host, who believes in the power of stories and keeps the ancient art of oral tradition alive with stories that transform and inspire. A versatile teller with a wide repertoire of folk, traditional, literary and beguiling mythical tales, Usha adapts […]
Masako Carey
Masako Carey was born in Tokyo, Japan. She is trained as a kindergarten teacher, interpreter, and cultural trainer. She met her Irish born husband through business and came to Northern Ireland 20 years ago. She always loved reading but also watching animated Japanese folktale stories on TV as a child. The combination of her experience […]
Geraldine Nanjala
I am Geraldine Nanjala from Kenya. I am a teacher of English and Kiswahili as well as librarian and storyteller at Ndege primary school. I’m looking forward to telling you some of my favourite stories for children from my heritage.
Chandrika Joshi
Chandrika Joshi is a storyteller and a Hindu priestess based in Cardiff , Wales. She came as a refugee to the UK from Uganda in 1972 . Her father was a Hindu priest and a Kathakaar who told long epics from the Purana and the Itihaas texts , often set to music in the format of […]
Diana Peers
Diana Peers tells traditional and modern tales from Scotland and around the world. Her sources are many and varied, including myths and legends, fables, animal tales and modern favourites. Her approach to storytelling is interactive to engage and stimulate her audiences. To complement her voice, percussion, song and music can be used to great effect […]
Despoina Aristeidou
(Fb name Despina Ariou-much easier to pronounce). Born and bred in the little island of Syros, Greece, where -after travelling a bit around Greece and Europe- I have returned to live with my family of husband, daughter, cat and two dogs. I am a teacher of English and Spanish as second languages since 2007. Following […]
clare goodall
I am a Storyteller and Musician and I tell stories, give talks and play music often in historical costume. I’ve taught people medieval dance in Westminster Abbey and told the Iliad at Fringe Festivals. I’ve run banquets where we re-enacted the battle of Agincourt or the death of King Arthur. I’ve played medieval music at […]
Clare Smith
Clare Smith Clare spent almost 30 years as a journalist, much of that time as a health correspondent for the BBC. Major stories she broke included the Liverpool Children’s Hospital (Alder Hey) organ retention scandal which led to reforms in health services around the world and Harold Shipman, one of the world’s most notorious serial […]
Ismail Bahddou
Ismail Bahddou is a story teller from the gate of morocco desert , from a village named Zagoura. he tell in english and Tamazigh.
Rona Barbour
Rona Barbour: Born in Glasgow, one of 8 siblings to registered blind parents, she is a mesmerising, hypnotic storyteller. Coming from a very long line of celebrated storytellers, she has been writing and telling stories since early childhood. She has been described as “The Godmother of Storytelling She has won many awards and received acclaim […]
Sue McWha
Sue McWha is an English teacher from Johannesburg, South Africa. She is currently teaching English as a Foreign Language to adults from all over the world. Sue inherited her love for storytelling from her father and great-grandmother, who would tell the most marvellous stories about heroes and magic and all things fantastical. Sue believes that […]
Catalina Figini
The trip started in 2009, after finding too many tails without heads. When Catalina met stories, everything fell into place for her. Since then, she has been journing with them, learning with them, and going wherever they take her. She has developed and participated in different projects which are, in one way, different forms of […]
Cath Edwards
Cath Edwards professional storyteller who delights audiences at festivals, in storytelling clubs and at many other venues across the country. Working mainly with traditional material, she creates a series of compelling images that will stay with you long after the story is ended. She tells stories to all ages from adults to families and the […]
Amy Bruton Bluemel
Amy Bruton Bluemel is a registered member of the Chickasaw Nation, storyteller, artist, and a member of the Chickasaw dance troupe Chikashsha Hithla. Her appreciation for cultural awareness came at an early age. She was raised in a military family; she lived in Germany, Okinawa, Turkey, and Scotland before returning to her Chickasaw roots in […]
Simran Nagwani
Simran Nagwani is a professional storyteller and a theatre artist. She believes listening to stories develops a better theory of mind and emotions. She believes, stories connect us to ourselves and the world. Telling stories is her passion and she enacts them in, her unique way. Since 2017 she is associated with Secret Passages Theater […]
BABA – C
Baba-C, GMS – the DMV’s foremost interactive Griot/Master Storyteller, a native Washington, DC (Washington, DC USA), has been described as a “Creative force of Nature.” Ambassador, mentor, father, educator, motivator, community activist with a career spanning over four decades. Baba-C’s accomplishments include: Extensions of Creative Expressions Literary Workshops, Tomorrow’s Voices Apprentice & Leadership Workshops, and […]
Fiona Collins
Fiona is a community storyteller who lives in North Wales. She tells stories in English, her mother tongue, and Welsh, her second language. She loves telling stories indoors and outdoors, and has even got used to telling them on zoom!
Ailsa Dixon
Ailsa is a young Aberdeenshire apprentice storyteller passionate about traditional tales, both Scottish and international.
Rock the Casbah
À special edition of our monthly fund raiser, lead teller Ian Douglas and featured Riad Les Yeux Bleu.
Chef Mohammed Essakhi
Mohammed Essakhi is a Moroccan born chef who has worked in the restaurant business for thirty years.
Cathy Carson
Cathy Carson I am a cancer nurse, a counsellor, writer and spoken word performer from Northern Ireland . I have performed at festivals, charity events and for local radio and television. I use storytelling and poetry to narrate my own journey in a way that creates empathy, healing and hope. I’m really looking forward to […]
Maria Gillen
Maria Gillen Storyteller in Residence with Kerry Writers Museum Maria spent 22 years in a Global Multinational environment, spending her last 4.5 years as a European Operations Manager. Maria became a Biodynamic Therapist (graduated from the Centre for Biodynamic and Integrative Psychotherapy, Galway 2007), and graduated from the MA programme in Dramatherapy Maynooth in […]
Moth & Butterfly
Moth & Butterfly is an Arts Collective based in the West of Ireland, celebrating the art forms of storytelling and improvisation. We host regular nights, as well as other arts engagements throughout the year. Our first festival is 19th-21st February 2021. Thank you very much for supporting us. https://paypal.me/pools/c/8wAW4BRyJW
Rachel Murray
Rachel Murray Rachel is a resident storyteller at Matlock Storytelling Cafe, and has been telling stories since she was ‘nowt but a slip of a lass’. From telling her first stories to stuffed animals and long-suffering pets, she soon graduated to telling stories to her Mum who would then draw pictures to go with the tales […]
Manuela Kelly Calzini
Manuela is a Storyteller based wherever her flying carpet takes her in the world. She shares her time between Tuscany (Italy), Northumberland (England), and Geneva (Switzerland). She is a warm, engaging and lively storyteller, she tells stories in both English and Italian. Manuela has pursued her passion for storytelling in a wide variety of settings […]
Have a Laugh in Lockdown
WSC together with The Society for Storytelling and Get a Word In Edgeways invite you to join us and tell a joke or just laugh your socks off
British Moroccan Society
BMS is a registered Charity in the UK and dedicated to the promotion of links and understanding between Morocco and the UK
Worldwide Story Round
In conjunction with Get a Word in Edgeways. A bi-weekly story round . Everyone is invited.
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. Growing up in the very heart of London with her summers spent in the landscapes of Ireland, Theresa’s storytelling is a reflection of that […]
Dawn Ellis
Dynamic teller specialising in stories from the Caucasus, passionate about the natural world and mythology
CONNECTING THE WORLD BY STORY
World Storytelling Cafe curator, John Row hosts a panel and storytelling discussion every Monday at 6pm BST.
Raine Geoghegan
A poet and prose writer of Romany, Irish and Welsh descent who shares tales of the English Gypsies (Romanichals) through poetry, monologue and song.
Sharon Jacksties
Sharon Jacksties www.sharonjackstories.co.uk has been a professional traditional storyteller for 30 years. She has a particular interest in stories and place. This film of traditional animal stories, told on location in the Somerset landscape, is inspired by her new book ‘Animal Folk Tales of `Britain and Ireland’ which has also informed the course she will […]
Colin Urwin
Colin Urwin is a professional folk singer, songwriter and storyteller from the Glens of Antrim in the northeast of Ireland. Mainly influenced by traditional Irish and Scottish music, he has been playing and singing folk songs for over four decades. In recent years Colin has been working closely with world renowned storyteller Liz Weir MBE […]
Alastair K Daniel
Alastair K Daniel is a storyteller and educator who enjoys telling tales to the young and the young of spirit. He tells in schools and club settings and, through his work as an academic at the University of Roehampton (London), Alastair aims to inspire young teachers to create classrooms rich in story and storytelling.
Maria Papanikolaou
I studied History and Journalism and I worked for many years in publishing houses. I have a Masters degree in Social & Cultural History from Leeds Beckett University, UK (MA of ARTS). The last 10 years I combine storytelling with educational programs for children, in Museums, Cultural Centers, Schools, Art places, etc. I love working […]
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.
Bob Kanegis
A storyteller from New Mexico who lives the storyteller life and works with Native American Pueblo schools.
Fabio Lisboa
Brazilian storyteller and author with a degree in Languages and a postgraduate degree in Storytelling. Storytelling Trainer who has performed/taught in Brazil, Canada and the United Arab Emirates. He writes in Portuguese (and sometimes in English) at www.contarhistorias.com.br
Kingdom 1000
Marking 1,000 years since Britain’s Danish conqueror Canute granted all people living in Britain, rich or poor, the equal right to petition the king.
Epic Tales
Using the power of storytelling to boost your children's confidence in literacy, numeracy, science and more.
Tithi Dani
Poems in Hindi and English from an award-winning Indian poet with a love of Russian folk tales.
Frances Roberts Reilly
Heritage tales and poems of Gypsy/Roma family and community, journeys and landscape.
Ahn Sook Kim
Ahn Sook helped to organize the Korean First International Storytelling Festival in Korea (2018/2019) Ahn Sook has kindly offered that any tips be given to FEAST (the Federation of Asian Storytellers)
Peter Optical
Actor. Writer. Director. Fir-eater. Wire and Stilt Walker. Juggler. Musician, Mime and oral Storyteller.
Deeptha Vivenkanand
Indian Based Storyteller who loves to tell stories about stories, strong women, and political satire.
Paul Richmond
“Assassin of Apathy – power of words / humor - on the unthinkable, the unsolvable, to analyze to digest to give birth to creativity and hope.”
Trevor Millum
a writer of… poetry for children and adults, short stories, a novel, books of local interest, education resources.
Sarah Lloyd-Winder
Folk tales from Japan and Iceland, and tales of adventurous women from around the world.
Justine de Mierre
A passionate, energetic and inventive storyteller who delights in connecting playfully
John Row
Much-loved and respected curator and storyteller hosts 'Connecting the World' series every Monday.
