Welcome to the UK’s largest selection of:

~ Introductory storytelling courses

~ Week long summer storytelling courses

~ Accreditated weekend storytelling workshops

~ Full time professional storytelling training over 13 weeks every autumn

~ Specialist 5 week storytelling courses in the UK, New Zealand and South Africa

~ Short intensive courses in the States

 

A storyteller is more than a teller of tales. Storytellers are entertainers, teachers and healers with a long spiritual tradition. To be true to this tradition requires ongoing renewal and inspiration.

 

The International School of Storytelling, founded in 1994, is the longest running centre of its kind where the craft of the storyteller is practiced and honoured. Here stories come alive and serve performers, healers, teachers, the business world, the environment and the wider community.

 

All storytelling courses are taught in English but for sixteen years we have taught people from over 17 countries around the world and most courses have a truly international flavour

We offer a wide range of courses from weekends to full-time programmes. Whether an experienced teller or a beginner to the art, everyone is welcome here.

 

Read on for Ashley’s story of how the School Storytelling came into being!

 

“In the autumn of 1990 I had already been telling stories for about 10 years in Australia, the States and the UK. On this particular evening I was storytelling in Wales near the little village of Rhandirmwyn. After the performance I needed a walk so I took to the lanes.

 

The sun had already set and the evening wind was bringing in clouds heavy with rain. Soon I was out in a royal 'dark and stormy night' and getting soaked to the skin. I searched for a place to shelter but there was nothing at hand. It was then that I passed a huge oak tree and noticed a hole at the base of it large enough for me to crawl inside. I crouched down and entered. To my amazement I found that inside it was dry and I could not only stand up but even stretch out my arms so far that they barely reached the sides.

 

Inside the oak I rode out the storm and wondered what to do next in my life (like you do!) It was here that the thought came," What if there was a place in the world to learn the art of storytelling, where people could come and find their voices and celebrate the stories from their different cultures? Why not start a School of Storytelling?" Immediately I shuddered, for with that thought came the voices of doubt "Who are you to do such a thing? What do you know about storytelling, your only qualification is a divinity 'O' level!' Luckily I didn't listen to those voices for a stronger voice inside me said "Don't try and do this alone. Call on those who know the things you don't, invite them to take part and build something together........"

The next day I drove back to Emerson College in East Sussex where I was based, with the idea that had come to me in that oak like an acorn. The following year I started to organize an annual International Storytelling Symposium with my friend and fellow storyteller Nancy Mellon. By 1994 this grew into the opening of the School of Storytelling. Since then I have been joined by my colleagues Sue Hollingsworth and Roi Gal-Or and by now, over 400 students from 17 countries all over the world have completed the 13 week professional storytelling training and many, many more have come to week long or weekend courses.

 

The school recently changed its’ name to the International School of Storytelling to reflect the international nature of our students, the staff (English, Israeli and Swiss!) and the courses we now teach in many other countries around the world. It is heartening to see how many of our students have gone on to found storytelling initiatives in their own communities, spreading the magic of stories around the world.”

 

We hope you will be inspired by the courses and performances on offer and we look forward to hearing from you!