Oral storytelling is one of the most ancient art forms, continuing to this day as a vibrant part of culture throughout the world. Its power is timeless — good stories will always captivate audiences, whatever the medium.

Storytelling predates writing. The earliest forms were usually oral, combined with gestures and expressions. In Europe, much of the tradition comes from the days when people gathered on dark nights and told stories by firelight, drawing on the old bardic traditions.

Modern storytelling has a broad purview. In addition to its traditional forms — fairytales, folktales, mythology, legends, fables — it has extended to history, personal narrative, political commentary and evolving cultural norms.

What happens at a meeting?

Groups of people get together to hear each other's stories and to tell them. At Malvern Storytellers you can come and tell a story or just come and listen, as you wish.

From time to time we invite professional storytellers for a special evening. Our stories come from a wide range of sources: traditional, modern, folk and multicultural — and the occasional song or ballad is welcome too.

In the modern idiom, stories are typically short (10 minutes or less), but a well-trained storyteller can hold audiences captivated for longer. Come and experience it for yourself.