Refreshing, unexpected and surprising.
This is how it felt to be working with Young Reporters this year to produce Settle Stories blog. 7 Young Reporters between the ages of 12-19 who live across North Yorkshire helped create new pieces for our blog to promote Yorkshire Festival of Story 2020. These budding reporters are passionate about writing. They created blogs for Settle Stories to gain valuable experience, to use as a stepping stone for their careers in journalism. Chloe Thwaites (North Yorkshire County Council) facilitated this group as part of her work on Youth Voice groups.
This final piece by Rhea, aged 13 delves into storytelling, questions digital vs live events and reflects on some of her personal festival experiences.
Throughout the pandemic and lockdown, we have seen many organisations and companies adapt to the strange times we are in. One of these organisations is arts charity Settle Stories who produce Yorkshire Festival of Story. They have had their storytellers tell their tails online. I joined one of these events and, along with other people, I had the pleasure of listening to Kevin Crossley-Holland talk about his adaptations of the thrilling Norse myths.
He had done a few events with the Festival Guest Director, Joanne Harris at the festival and was happy to contribute.
I asked what his thoughts were on adapting the festival to online and did he think it would be used in the future or is face -to -face interaction part of the storytelling magic.
He said there is no doubting the value of speaking and listening online and his last audience came from far and wide. But to his mind storytelling depends on interaction.
I think storytelling is universal and the internet provides a wonderful way to bring tales to everyone. However, I have sat in the quiet corner of the library with other children and listened to an author tell their stories, it is a magical feeling that cannot quite be captured online, I hope this festival, and others like it, can combine the two moving forward.
Most people have heard the Greek tales of Zeus and Olympus, but the Norse myths are thrilling stories of strength and adventure. Kevin said they embody our deepest human questions; who are we? Why are we here? What really matters?
Their clothing may differ from culture to culture, but their body and bone are much of a muchness. He told me he was inspired to pursue the mythology genre by his Father, who used to tell traditional tales accompanying himself on his welsh harp.
Every artist has a message they want to convey or something they want people to take away from their work. As well as what’s been said about myths and folktales, Kevin hopes people get a sense of the fascination and crucial value of history.
He hopes people recognise his love of language and the fact that good writing always involves making images and creating music.
Yorkshire Festival of Story was an amazing experience for me, and I learned a lot about different cultures and myths. There were so many stories to be told and I will definitely return next year to listen to them, whether its in person or online. And I hope you will too.
A huge thank you from the Settle Stories team to Rhea and all our Young Reporters who helped to make Yorkshire Festival of Story the success that it was.
We are always looking for new writers of all ages to contribute to our blog.
