Introduction to Oral Storytelling
a 4-week course led by Jennifer Cayley
TUESDAYS - May 13, 20, 27, & June 3, 2025
4:30 to 6:30 p.m. weekly
Pre-registration via Tickets Please
Early bird rate (until April 19) $100.00 per registration
Regular rate $120.00 per registration
Almonte Readers & Writers is pleased to present the May series of Art of Writing workshops and courses exploring aspects of creative and technical skills development in literary arts, offered as part of the 2025 Lanark Lit Festival of Writing.
Overview
The traditional folk and fairy tales will be the foundation for exploring the world of oral telling and for beginning to find yourself as a teller. These old tales, rich in imagery and metaphor, are narrative gems, which have been polished over hundreds of years. No matter what kind of stories you may want to tell, or even write, they are a fine place to start.
What will we do in the series?
Working with this rich material, you will experience breathing the story in, learning it “by heart” rather than memorizing it; finding its images and telling out of what those images call forth. You will hear some good stories and undertake practical exercises to assist you in finding your way as a teller. Listening will be a big part of what we do and everyone will have an opportunity to tell in a thought provoking and encouraging atmosphere.
Who is this course for?
No previous experience with telling necessary. All you need to bring is a sense of adventure, good listening ears, and some passion for “story.” Come comfortably dressed.
About the instructor:
Jennifer Cayley has been telling stories for more than four decades. Her repertoire includes traditional, epic, literary, historical and personal material. Performance
highlights include: collaborating with Jan Andrews on touring The Book of Spells: A Love Story to Rome, Australia, Wales, USA and southern Ontario; appearing at festivals across Canada and once in Hawaii; making regular appearances at the Ottawa Storytellers’ National Arts Centre series; telling the great epics of the world at Rasputin’s Cafe and the National Arts Centre and Taylor Lake, in Lanark Co.
Working with young people, especially in educational settings, has always been integral to her storytelling work. Jennifer has had a long commitment to building excellence in performance. She has worked extensively both as a workshop leader and as a mentor to help tellers connect deeply to their material, so they can create performances that are as compelling and authentic as possible.
Jennifer lives in Lanark, Ontario. More about Jennifer can be found at www.jennifercayley.ca
The 2025 Lanark Lit Festival of Writing is presented by Almonte Readers & Writers thanks to the generous funding support of Lanark County, the Municipality of Mississippi Mills, the Perth & District Community Foundation, and the Elizabeth Kelly Library Foundation, with community partnership from the Mississippi Mills Public Library, the Perth & District Public Library, Mill Street Books, and the Almonte Writers Guild
