Author: Dee
The email simply enquired if two of the writers from The Story Works anthology book could read on the night of the Bournemouth Writing Festival? I, of course, said yes, I always say yes, ‘what could possibly go wrong?’ is my mantra. Violet and Cece’s mums both assured me they would be happy to read to the room. It was then I realised I had forgotten to mention the room was actually a two-hundred-seat theatre. And that wasn’t all I had forgotten to mention, as I recalled yet another of my mantras (I have many), ‘What’s the worst that can happen?’
I thought they would be nervous. How could they not be? A sold-out theatre, a backing band to instruct (Tongue Fu, so good), surrounded by professional performers and only a brief ten-minute rehearsal. And then they were up. Violet and Cece took their place centre stage, gave the band instructions and then began to tell the story they had conjured up in a Story Works workshop. In their own unfiltered words, they unleashed their story and let it run amok amongst the audience. Norwegian fjords, special bacon and big round pigs travelled around the rapt audience. They laughed in all the right places, of course they did, the story was fab, and the delivery was a proud parent’s dream. Then there was applause, a lot of applause, some whooping and Violet and Cece exited stage left to tell all their friends in the playground on Monday about the night they smashed it at the Bournemouth Writing Festival!
I never got the chance on the evening to thank Violet and Cece for advertising to the Bournemouth public what it is The Story Works can enable you to do if given the opportunity. So, thank you, Violet and Cece, for sharing your words in the magical manner you did, and I can put those mantras away for another day; they weren’t needed.
If you would like to know how we help to build confidence and skills in children and young people, and offer opportunities to perform, please get in touch at info@thestoryworks.org.
