In a world where stories are forbidden, books have been burned, and all information must be Sanctioned by the authorities before it is shared, we dare to tell tales from the time before…
In a not-too-distant future, the human race has been decimated, falling prey to starvation, disease, and societal collapse. Each person’s quality of life is now entirely dependent on the rulers of their particular territory and the way in which they choose to exercise their authority.
Our courageous Storytellers – who have named themselves the Magpies – have the misfortune to live under the rule of The Ravens, a harshly authoritarian group that controls everything from the flow of information or the food they eat, to when, or indeed whether they are permitted to reproduce. Education is basic at best and Unsanctioned information of any kind is prohibited, on pain of death.
June & July
Richmond Arts & Ideas Festival 2023 will see the debut of the Secret Storytellers!
This event, staged in a secret garden in Barnes SW13 for a select audience, runs for around 45-50 minutes. These performances signal the launch of new cross-platform project ‘Secret Storytellers’, and they are London previews, ahead of our visit to the Edinburgh Fringe this summer!
Defying the edict that prohibits storytelling, the Magpies are daring to tell tales of hope from the Old World – starting with the forbidden story of Persephone and the promised return of spring – as they strive to build a better and brighter future in this new one.
Dates: Fri 30th June & Sat 1st July
Times: 7.45pm – 8.45pm
Location: A Secret Garden in Barnes 2023 – Precise address and postcode will be sent with tickets
Tickets: Book Here
August 2023
The Magpies will also be heading to Edinburgh Fringe this August.
Dates: 4th – 12th August
Times: 12.55pm
Location: Edinburgh Fringe. The Space @ Surgeons Hall
Tickets: Book Here
Are you brave enough to defy The Ravens and listen to the Unsanctioned tales we tell? If so, send us a message at SecretStorytellers@outlook.com and we’ll be in touch soon to organise a visit from two of our very best storytellers. Just be certain not to talk about it in public – you never know who’s listening…
Our latest cross-platform venture, Secret Storytellers, will combine exciting online content based in a new, immersive story-world, with live performances of a variety of two-person plays for all ages and occasions. Online, should you (or your students or guests) wish to, you can meet the Magpies, learn more about the harsh reality of life under the The Ravens’ rule, choose a tribe of your own to belong to and get involved in the world.
While getting involved online will only enhance the experience of later meeting two of the Magpies in person when they come to perform a show for you, it is certainly not necessary in order to enjoy each production: they all stand alone as fully-formed works of entertainment in their own right. The repertoire will eventually include all the same tales as Fireside Folktales – rewritten, so that the scripts and style will be distinct for this new form – together with certain additional plays crafted just for Secret Storytellers. In the early months, therefore, you will be able to choose from:
~ A Tale of Robin Hood: The Rescue
~ Persephone & the Pomegranate Seeds
~ Macbeth
~ A Christmas Carol
~ Aesop’s Fables
~The Musicians of Bremen
~ A Secret Storyteller workshop
In common with Fireside Folktales, and in keeping with the world in which the overall project is set, we will provide our own costumes and props, with all music and sound effects performed live by the cast. No electricity or technical equipment is required, allowing us to be extremely flexible in terms of venue, performing indoors or in the open air, in school halls, on stages, or at private events in whatever space is available. If you have any doubts about the suitability of your planned location, or you are unsure which play to choose, please get in touch and we can discuss it further.
As well as a specific Secret Storytellers workshop delivered by our Magpies in character, we also offer certain additional workshops, outside of the Secret Storytellers storyworld, that can be booked as optional extras for the same visit.
Are you brave enough to defy The Ravens and listen to the Unsanctioned tales we tell? If so, send us a message at SecretStorytellers@outlook.com and we’ll be in touch soon to organise a visit from two of our very best storytellers. Just be certain not to talk about it in public – you never know who’s listening…
Our latest cross-platform venture, Secret Storytellers, will combine exciting online content based in a new, immersive story-world, with live performances of a variety of two-person plays for all ages and occasions. Online, should you (or your students or guests) wish to, you can meet the Magpies, learn more about the harsh reality of life under the The Ravens’ rule, choose a tribe of your own to belong to and get involved in the world.
While getting involved online will only enhance the experience of later meeting two of the Magpies in person when they come to perform a show for you, it is certainly not necessary in order to enjoy each production: they all stand alone as fully-formed works of entertainment in their own right. The repertoire will eventually include all the same tales as Fireside Folktales – rewritten, so that the scripts and style will be distinct for this new form – together with certain additional plays crafted just for Secret Storytellers. In the early months, therefore, you will be able to choose from:
~ A Tale of Robin Hood: The Rescue
~ Persephone & the Pomegranate Seeds
~ Macbeth
~ A Christmas Carol
~ Aesop’s Fables
~The Musicians of Bremen
~ A Secret Storyteller workshop
In common with Fireside Folktales, and in keeping with the world in which the overall project is set, we will provide our own costumes and props, with all music and sound effects performed live by the cast. No electricity or technical equipment is required, allowing us to be extremely flexible in terms of venue, performing indoors or in the open air, in school halls, on stages, or at private events in whatever space is available. If you have any doubts about the suitability of your planned location, or you are unsure which play to choose, please get in touch and we can discuss it further.
As well as a specific Secret Storytellers workshop delivered by our Magpies in character, we also offer certain additional workshops, outside of the Secret Storytellers storyworld, that can be booked as optional extras for the same visit.
Text I deleted for a more up to date version – Amy (Saving in case Emma wants later)
In a world where stories are forbidden, books have been burned, and all information must be Sanctioned by the authorities before it is shared, we dare to tell tales from the time before…
In a not-too-distant future, the human race has been decimated, falling prey to starvation, disease, and societal collapse. Each person’s quality of life is now entirely dependent on the rulers of their particular territory and the way in which they choose to exercise their authority.
Our courageous Storytellers – who have named themselves the Magpies – have the misfortune to live under the rule of The Ravens, a harshly authoritarian group that controls everything from the flow of information or the food they eat, to when, or indeed whether they are permitted to reproduce. Education is basic at best and Unsanctioned information of any kind is prohibited, on pain of death.