Learn art of classic storytelling (From Gazette Series)

Learn art of classic storytelling

ONCE upon a time right up to the part where they lived happily ever after, those are the skills being taught during a weekend of stories.

Between Friday, October 14 and Sunday, October 16 storytellers will be told the essence of a good tale and how to capture an audience.

The weekend for story makers takes place at Farncombe Estate Adult Learning Centre, near Broadway on the Gloucestershire and Worcestershire border.

Cotswold-based entertainer Chloe, of the Midnight Storytellers, is leading the course.

It gets off to a spooky start with her Halloween story cabaret, A Voice in the Darkness, on Friday, October 14 (8pm). The show is also open to the public.

Saturday will feature an autumn story, Walk on the Wild Side, when Chloe will lead a walk through the meadows and woods of the estate. Chloe and others will tell the stories.

Chloe said: "It's about telling stories in the landscape, allowing the colours, scents and textures of the environment, plus Farncombe's wonderful hilltop views, to infuse the words."

People can do the walk as a one-day course or as part of the full weekend.

The workshop session on the Sunday stays in the comfort of Farncombe Estate's superbly equipped conference facilities - it sends participants "on the trail of your tale", with stimulation for all the senses provided by chocolate, incense and more.

This day is also available as a one-day course for people who can't attend the whole weekend.

Chloe added: "I've planned everything to refresh and inspire creativity. Most of the work is verbal, for speediness, but you can choose to write.

"The course is suitable for writers and storytellers with some experience, and for anyone working in the creative industries. "It could be surreal - it's definitely different. "

Chloe is lead performer of the Midnight Storytellers, a duo which has been entertaining throughout the Cotswolds and beyond since 1999. She is also an experienced tutor with more than nine years designing and leading courses, and a background in theatre and writing.

Midnight Storytellers are touring Gloucestershire this autumn, with Country Tales from the Cotswolds.

Call 0845 230 8590 or visit ww.FarncombeEstate.co.uk to book a place. For more about Midnight Storytellers, visit www.midnightstorytellers.co.uk