July 2025 Newsletter
To become a member of Storytelling Association (Singapore), please click on this link | |
|
Donning a mask is often transformative for the wearer, as we discover the duality of a mask, which hides even as it reveals identity.
There will be no demon or devil masks, only a gallery of humanity.
Practical, participatory and fun workshop.
The 11th Storytelling Festival 2025 – Shine Bright Like a Diamond!
Events in Singapore & Around the World
‘Around the Corner’
Step into a world where anything could be just around the corner. From enchanted forests to bustling city streets, from ancient legends to deeply personal moments, this storytelling session brings together a tapestry of tales, all united by one mysterious phrase. Whether whispered in a fairytale, echoed through history, or spoken in a heartfelt memory, every story will leave you wondering what surprise, danger, delight, or discovery might be waiting… just around the corner.If you would like to tell a prepared story of 5-6 minutes email Christine Carlton at storyaus@gmail.com to be put on the list to tell a short story that must include the words “they all saw it”. The stories are told, not read.This is a free online event organised by the Australian Storytelling Guild (NSW) Come as a listener or teller. All welcome.
Wednesday, 16th July 2025 – 5.20 pm SGT
Register on Humanitix for your free link.
Stories arise from place and meaning comes from stories. Everywhere we look there are stories to be found – of individuals, and groups, of real events, and what might have been – and this is how storytelling can give life and meaning to inanimate places.
In this Learning Capsule, we explore how we can use real events, real people (important, unimportant, or invented representatives), as the sources of stories to tell in the places where those events or people really were, or apply great literature, or genre stories to places where we can imagine they might have occurred.
We will also look at the role of research, of invention versus accuracy, of impersonation and props, and the narrative structure we can use to organise our tales, and most importantly, just how we can use storytelling to build a bridge from past to present.
Click here to find out more and to register
FEAST has numerous events (some free and some for a small fee) every month. To find out more about FEAST or to become a member go to their website here.
Thursday July 10th 2025 7 am SGT
Flowers appear in stories, myths, and fables from all cultures as signifiers of meaning, companions of beauty, and agents of power and change. Do you have a favorite flower? Do you have a memory of when you first discovered the power of that flower, and what it was that brought you such an affinity for it? Do you have favorite stories featuring flowers? Together we will explore our relationships with flowers, and the role they play in our lives.
8 am Singapore time on Sunday July 27th 2025
Friday, July 11, 2025 at 8 am Singapore time
JOLLY VOLLEY JUNE
“It was June, and the world smelled of roses. The sunshine was like powdered gold over the grassy hillside.” – Maud Hart Lovelace
Willy-Nilly Piccadilly
Haram-Scarum Santorini
Namby-Pamby Tortellini
Roly-Poly pot-o-belly
After the harsh winter months, summer is welcomed with open arms in many parts of the world. Sunshine is embraced and picnickers and trekkers fill the outdoors, making the most of the blue skies and bright sun.
In Singapore, it’s the month-long school holidays. Laughter and chatter reverberate through our parks and playgrounds.
I remember the times when I was little and the endless fun I used to have reciting rhymes and sharing stories. School holidays were synonymous with boundless fun.
A game we liked to play was using reduplicative words to describe something we were eating, and we made up…
Munchy-crunchy murukkus
Hodge-podge fudge
Niminy-piminy pie
Hocus-pocus fries
Wishy-washy sushi
And it continued.
We carried playfulness and joy in our hearts and our holidays flew by!
“To me, age doesn’t make a difference in terms of how playful or fun life can be.” – Brit Morin
Let us explore some playful rhymes, stories and riddles.
Higglety, Pigglety, Pop!
The dog has eaten the mop.
The pig’s in a hurry
The cat’s in a flurry
Higglety, Pigglety, Pop!
Friends
The itching ibis said to the porcupine,
“I’ll scratch your back if you scratch mine!”
“Stop!”, said the ibis, “Your spines prickle!”
“Stop!”, said the porcupine, “Your feathers tickle!”
Joy Cowley
RIDDLES (Answers can be found at the end of the article.)
What is it?
In spring I look gay,
Dressed in bright array.
In summer more clothing I wear.
But when colder it grows,
I fling off my clothes,
And in winter quite naked appear.
Old Mother Twitchett had but one eye,
And a long tail, which she let fly.
And every time she went over a gap,
She left a bit of her tail in a trap.
Playful, Flippant Tenali
Tenali Rama was returning home after visiting a neighboring kingdom. He was tired and in need of some rest when he spotted some men sitting around a campfire.
Those men were engaged in animated chatter; each one outdid the other with their tales of courage and bravery. Perhaps they were war veterans.
One had kept an entire enemy regiment at bay during a battle. Another had single-handedly tackled a dozen rival soldiers. A third had once fought off a lion with his bare hands. The bragging and boasting continued when one of them turned to Tenali Rama and said, “Do you have any such adventurous tales to narrate? I am certain you have none.”
Tenali Rama replied, “Ah! Why indeed, I do have a few but let me share my best.”
Tenali Rama began…
One day just like today I was returning home exhausted and wanted some rest before I continued my journey when I spotted an unusually large tent. With a tent as huge as that one I was certain there would be enough room there for at least five more people.
I entered the tent and saw an unusually large man on a mat. I immediately recognized him as the most dangerous and wanted dacoit who had been tormenting and terrorizing the people of the land for decades.
“What happened next?” asked one, to which a second man said sarcastically, “He must have tiptoed out of the tent and run for his life”
The wise and witty Tenali Rama said, “I calmly took out my sword, cut off his toe, and ran for my dear life.”
“Just a toe?” sneered one. “If I were you, I would have cut off his head.” said another.
“Someone had already cut off his head, which lay menacingly next to his body.” retorted Tenali Rama.
The boastful men learnt some humility that evening.
Answers to riddles:
A Tree
A Needle and Thread
References
Tenali Rama Stories
Tenali Rama or Tenali Raman was a poet, scholar, and advisor in the court of Sri Krishnadevaraya of the Vijayanagara Empire.