VIRTUALLY SPEAKING: FOURTH EDITION OF STORYFEST GOES ONLINE IN JULY 2020

As the world adapts to this new normal, delve into the world of imagination with StoryFest Online 2020. From 17 to 27 July 2020, The Storytelling Centre Limited and The Arts House will co-present the fourth installment of the annual storytelling festival virtually. Themed “The Heart of Story”, local storytellers ascend beyond the landscape and reach out across the digital space to take audiences on an odyssey into the essence of stories brought to life through the oral tradition.

Held at The Arts House every June, the 2020 edition will see StoryFest being presented as a series of videos that will be released on the StoryFest website over the ten-day festival period. Originally expressed through live performance, StoryFest Online 2020 explores how traditional art forms can interact with you virtually to reveal the authentic voices behind these spoken narratives. As these storytellers invite you into their world, listen closely and let your imagination open yourself up to the heart of their stories.

⇒ Related Read: How Storytelling Can Help Your Child To Be Successful

Master Storyteller and Creative Producer of StoryFest Kamini Ramachandran shares that “I first came up with the theme “The Heart of Story” with the intention of excavating the spirit of storytelling. What is it about stories that thrill and captivate us, and is there room in this crowded world to engage in active and imaginative listening? While the theme was decided long before the circuit-breaker, it is more resonant than ever as we adapt StoryFest into an online festival. StoryFest Online 2020 is an opportunity to question how traditional art forms can retain its timeless essence even as it adopts other mediums, and how the virtual sphere can also be a space to connect more intimately to others and, ultimately, ourselves.”

Enriching your imagination through these timeless tales

Featuring a diverse lineup of local storytellers and artists this year, enchanting tales emerge from places both familiar and unknown. In The Heart of Story: The Singapore Showcase, five stories take us on a captivating journey through the passages of time. Ranging from the ancient annals of ‘The Sejarah Melayu’ to the archetype of the shapeshifting fox, these stories are drawn from mythologies, histories, and memories that exist between the recent past and primordial times. Bringing stories from farther afield are young storytellers with a penchant for the unpredictable. A Dance of Stories: The Young Storyteller’s Showcase promises a voyage through the luscious jungles of the Indonesian peninsula to the scorching deserts of Persia where tales of magic horses, bewitched monkeys, and mischief abound.

For quieter adventures with your family, sit alongside the young storytellers and The Story Tree for a time of fantastical stories. With your imagination, catch a glimpse of children battling an invasion of swordfish or cheer on Momotaro, a peach-sized boy, as he fights against Japanese ogres. Listen closely and you might even discover the secret name of this magical tree! After experiencing all the excitement, the young storytellers would like to invite you to the Teddy Bear’s annual Story Picnic. Meet Peter Rabbit, Little Red Hen, and the Teddy Bears themselves and indulge in their spread of hearty snacks as they share their stories with you.

Embark on a journey of self-discovery through the art of storytelling

If these stories have inspired tales of your own, take a dive into the world of storytelling with Dr Nazry Bahwari. In Tales with Tails, Dr. Bahrawi unpacks the use of animal figures in cultural lore and its relationship to the stories we tell today. From the pigs and horses that populate George Orwell’s famous modern classic, Animal Farm, to majestic tigers that appear in Malay legends, let these animals enchant their way into your own timeless tale. As we move on from the world of folklore to reality, discover the fundamentals of a good narrative in How to Tell Personal Stories for a Story Slam as Anna Ong introduces the art of the Story Slam. Leave no guest unimpressed as you work the room at your next dinner party.

⇒ Related Read: Improving Your Child’s Mandarin through Storytelling

Join Chan Shu Yin and learn from how she demonstrates a meditative approach to personal narratives. Mandala Storytelling: Exploring Nature & Pyrography explores how the self, imagination, and introspection converge in the Mandala, a symbol of contemplation in many cultures around the world. Using the process of pyrography or wood-burning to make mandalas, Chan shows how engaging with nature can allow one to access a creative flow in conveying your story to the world.

Finally, discover the connection between puppets and storytelling in A Puppeteer’s Journey with Frankie Malachi. Step into the world of puppetry inside Frankie Malachi’s virtual puppet studio. With magical and delightful puppets on display, ranging from string puppets, to marionettes and ventriloquist puppets, learn more about Frankie’s puppet making practice through this online video interview. Get a glimpse of some of his oldest and favourite puppets that have been with him for close to 30 years. Meet some unfinished puppets and moulds used to make them. Join us to experience the magic of puppets!

“We often think of storytelling as a kind of personal, even intimate connection: sitting up late at night with family, friends, or maybe fellow travellers, sharing. But stories are everywhere, informing all aspects of our lives: from our memories and desires to shared ideas that bind our world. The internet especially has been filled with stories from the beginning, and so the shift online for StoryFest 2020 – taken in light of COVID-19 – is one we take enthusiastically with our valued partner The Storytelling Centre Limited. Join us for enlightening and powerful stories from across Singapore, delivered to you online,” says Rupert Thomson, Head of Artistic Programmes at Arts House Limited.

For the complete list of programmes for StoryFest Online, please visit here.

Event Details
StoryFest Online 2020
Accessible online via storyfestsg.com/online
Dates: 17 – 27 July 2020

Access to all videos is free.

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