How do you tell a story? Is it the voice, the actions or the story itself? What is the secret? Kids found out how to tell a story well at a workshop held recently.
Photo: T. Vijayalakshmi
Storytelling: Jeeva Ragunath with kids at the workshop.
"Then how will a monkey speak?” asked seven-year-old Ayushi.
“Whatever way you want your monkey to speak and it will speak exactly like that,” responded Jeeva Raghunath who was conducting the “Art of storytelling” workshop at the Alliance Francais recently. Inspired by her grandmother an
d mother who were fine storytellers; Jeeva carries on this legacy and passes it on to the younger generation. However modern the era has become, all of us still love to listen to a story and especially when it is well presented. And this story-teller has set out exactly to do that – to hone the skills of the young, so that the tales they relate will be remembered and enjoyed.
The group of six children began with a “warm up” — a robust shout of “hi, ho, hi”. Breathing exercises followed next and then a hum that became prolonged and in different pitch. With a staccato “huh”, they went on to imitate the act of pushing that was accompanied by facial expressions and sounds that one usually makes when trying to push something. They also tried out the vowels with exaggerated facial expressions. Jeeva explained to the children that these exercises would help them to relax, especially the facial muscles. She pointed out that the workshop encouraged the children to create their own stories or adapt stories that they already know. Voice modulation, expression and language skills were fine-tuned till the story became part of their psyche. This way there never can be mugging, copying or imitating. She was trying to break the monotone the children had learnt to relate the stories in, and this she said came especially when the stories were mugged up and related in a dead-pan singsong manner. By getting them to relate original stories she did away with the usual “And the moral of the story is…” kind of ending.
Important details
While the children were relating she gave out little tips. To connect with the audience is one and to do so one needs to make eye contact. Looking up at the ceiling and “reciting” the story will not do. Take your time, for it’s your story time and try not to fidget, as it’s another easy way to lose the audience.
Planning out your plot, the dialogues it contains, the voice changes when it comes to the different emotions, should be thought of well in advance. Special attention must be paid to the dramatic elements it contains and the building up of the tempo. When a story has dialogue and description, it should be brought out well. And the sequence of the events must follow naturally. For when one goes on chopping and changing during the narration, the story does get “killed”.
Making a mistake is not a crime she said, provided you admit it and make fun of yourself. And in a humorous way change it to your advantage, instead of going “chee” and covering your mouth in embarrassment.
The children also learnt to “draw and tell” stories and “sign stories”. Tearing up paper and relating stories according to the shape was another method. She taught them how to get the audience to participate, especially when lines get repeated, the audience can be asked to recite them. This interactive aspect is a bond between the storyteller and his audience.
The workshop ended with a presentation where these young story tellers — George, Johann, Charuvi, Ayushi, Shivam and Shashank, aged between seven and 12, enthralled the audience the ancient art of storytelling.
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