While taking a break from work this week, I’ve really enjoyed attending an online workshop hosted by my research centre at the University of Brighton, the Centre for Memory, Narrative and Histories: Antiutopia as an Enforced Dominant Horizon of Mass Culture: Causes and Consequences for Personality and Utopianism, organised and led by Dr Patricia McManus … More Hope and anti-utopianism in GoT-era fantasy
Hello all! Well, I started this year with a burst of energy, and it’s already taken me to some fun new places, conceptually and actually really. For a start, I was SO thrilled to be shortlisted for the Get A Word In Edgeways Step Up Commission 2023, with an idea for a show that I … More Travels and Reflections
A cracking photo taken by a very kind audience member at Strange Games festival near Hailsham this weekend! I had the most amazing time telling tales by their main campfire every night, and everyone who came was just LOVELY. And during the day, my youngest and had a GLORIOUS time with all the wonderful people … More Strange Games festival…!
I was stunned (but not surprised) by the news yesterday that the US Supreme Court has overturned the Roe vs Wade ruling, denying women a constitutional right to abortion. So now individual states are allowed to ban abortion, and women across one of the richest “civilised democracies” in the world will suffer even more. Despite … More For Roe Vs Wade
Gigs a-gogo this week, with LOADS of good stuff going on: Wed 4th May I will be co-hosting the always-splendid South Downs Storytellers for their sixth birthday celebration! Join us online at 7:30pm and bring your own cake! Thurs 5th I am sharing the stream with some amazing tellers at Word Spun Zoomed: Myths & … More Week of Gigs!
Whhhow. That was quite a night! Last night was the first performance of my new show, Merlin In The Wild Wood, in the beautiful, atmospheric surroundings of St Augustine’s Arts and Events Centre. And I think it went rather well…! It’s a really exciting new step for me: for much of the show, I’m not … More Merlin’s first outing…
Hi all! Yesterday I had the good fortune to be at TWO splendid monthly events: UpRoar People’s Ceilidh and Spoaken Word (both of which are wonderful and I would heartily recommend them!) – and while at UpRoar, my good friend Robb Johnson happened to mention that I’m a storyteller – hence I was invited to … More New video – a Tale for Our Time
Just heard the news that the comedian Barry Cryer has died aged 86. Very sad. I never met him, but I always felt I knew him and that we’d get on. I always really enjoyed him as a child, a teenager and an adult: he was always around on the radio and telly, and always … More Barry Cryer RIP
Two episodes of Technecast in which you can hear me talk about the practice of storytelling and re-enchanting our world! … More Listen! New podcasts on storytelling, history and re-enchantment
Happy New Year all! My first gig of the year is on its way: an online telling of the Norse tale that inspired Tolkien, Wagner and countless others. The Saga of the Ring is the spectacular and tragic tale of Sigurd the hero, Brunhild the valkyrie, Fafnir the dragon and the cursed treasure that might … More Norse myth online this month…!
Jon the Storyteller 