Would you mind giving us insight into your art/event/performance?
I’d be delighted to share my personal story-crafting process and my collaboration with musician Toby Hawks.
Tell us about the creative team and the process involved in producing your performance?
Storyteller Jan Bee Brown
Musician Toby Hawks
We developed Raven Tales together for SISF 2024 and we have continued to tour it to Dementia Meeting Centres and dementia groups at The Festival Theatre over the past two years.
I am currently manager of the Heart of Newhaven Dementia Meeting Centre where I asked our members to share their thoughts in story workshops during the early days of ‘Bear with Me’. We also discussed what makes a performance ‘dementia inclusive’ and their feedback has shaped both the story and the flow of the performance. We also wanted ‘Bear with Me’ to be family friendly so that grandparents could bring their grandchildren and spark intergenerational conversations.
The origin of this tale is a short Icelandic Saga in which a boy buys a bear to gift to a king. Whilst this is a classic epic adventure the message that I hope will resonate with our audience is that ‘life is a gift’.
I love to craft and adapt ancient stories from the point of view of the women and children involved. I have chosen two folktales to enhance the original saga, one from Norway and one from Canada that guide us to question the nature of generosity, what the act of gifting has become and what is actually ours to gift.
Bear with Me has taken 9 months to develop, after months of research into the folklore and mythology of bears around the world I spent a month writing in a wooden hut in Norway. Toby is an expert in Nordic String instruments and has a deep knowledge of ancient songs so once the story is written we discuss ideas for music and songs to be included, during the rehearsal process and the performance we continue to redraft and revise.
With the launch of this year’s programme, Birds and Beasts, how does it feel to be involved in the Festival?
It is an honour to be involved and this year’s theme is so rich. The wonderful thing about this festival is that it is not only based in the Storytelling Centre, I am really proud to be part of the Go Local strand where fantastic storytelling is taken into community settings around. Scotland so that folk who live in rural area, or who cannot access events in the city, can experience stories eye to eye, heart to heart and mind to mind.
With shows from all over the world, is there anything in the production/team’s backgrounds and identity that influences the show?
As a storyteller I like to explore other cultures, especially those that are still in touch with nature. I look north for inspiration and love Icelandic and Sami stories. I am drawn to the stories of people who respect nature and are embedded in their environment. Toby has lived and worked in Scandinavia and is an ardent Finnophile!
Storytelling in Scotland is a treasured, if often unsung, craft within the media. For those who may be unfamiliar with a live performance, what can audiences expect?
A relaxed performance in a safe space where magic happens, songs are sung and adventures are had.
With one foot in tradition and another in the present, what do you hope for Storytelling’s future, either as a performance or as a community?
Storytelling has the power to make us see things differently, stories can help us to heal.
I am excited to explore how folktales can help build community and build resilience in times of trouble.
My hope for the future is to see more funding available for stories to be told in local community settings and that the next generation are encouraged and supported to find their voice. Stories are for all, for younger and for older, for richer and for poorer, in sickness and in health.
A story is a gift that keeps on giving – which is rather appropriate for ‘Bear with Me’.
Bear With Me runs at The Scottish Storytelling Centre as a part of The Scottish International Storytelling Festival on 18th October
Running time – One hour without interval
Interested in being featured on our Have a Gander page? With many previews and Q&As lined up, we’re always happy to chat about including your show in future articles. Please do get in touch through the contact page to feature in an upcoming ‘Have A Gander’