Untheatrical Storytellers

[David]

Greetings.
I have a question for all the professional storytellers out there: does one have to be theatrically trained or have a background in drama to be a "proper" storyteller?
Of course, I know that this isn't truly the case. Recently an individual I know made a comment about a "true storyteller" being an actor or someone with a drama background, not just someone who can tell a good story or two. Nonsense, of course, but in the wee hours it has made me question whether there may indeed be something to this...
Any comments?

[Rachel Hedman]

Dear David:

Some people have more narrow definitions of "storyteller" than others. The Media has one of the most broadest views of the art and uses it often to describe anyone from a filmmaker to a writer to an actor.

Each person needs to decide for themselves what "storyteller" means to them. Are they even willing to use the label of "storyteller"? People like Spalding Gray may have experimented being called a storyteller--even graced the stage at the National Storytelling Festival--and then settled for terms like monologuist, actor and novelist.

As for me, I have never been in a play so my theatrically training is lacking despite my tellings often on the dramatic side. I did compete in storytelling during high school through public speaking contests, however I do not count that in what you deemed as "background in drama".

For my latest narrative production of "Family Famine: Hunger for Love", I will use theatrical elements (minus the fourth wall), and yet I probably would not meet what your friend has said is needed to be a "proper" storyteller.

Until we tell again,

Rachel Hedman

[David]

Thank you Rachel.
I am myself still trying to define what I mean with the title storyteller, hence the questions that my friend's comments raised in my mind. I myself have never been in a play either, and have never found myself in a situation where I could compete in storytelling. Most of my stories are told at parties or at the schools where I teach, in fact today I told an Icelandic fairytale to a group of 3 & 4 year-old boys at the lunch table. Certainly not professional...
I thank you for your comment, and wish you luck in your narrative production.
David

[Glenda Bonin]

Hello David, (I thought I sent this a few minutes ago, but can't find it, so I'm sending it again.)

Who or what is a “proper storyteller?” This is an interesting question, and one that I’ve struggled with for quite a while. As an artist on several state rosters, I have found that commission and council folks often do not quite know just where to “put” storytellers. Some agencies place storytellers under the Theater category and a few have a special category for storytellers. Then there is the Language Arts issue. . . .

Recently, I have found that more agencies are acknowledging storytelling as a full and stand-alone art form – recognizing that storytellers convey stories person-to-person through the effective use of vocal, facial and kinesthetic skills. Admittedly, these skills are also part of the actor’s repertoire, but in the pure sense of theater, the play will go on (for the most part and with or without an audience) as scripted – not so much as how the audience responds or fails to respond. By this I mean that a storyteller may shorten or lengthen a story, and add different storytelling techniques as they see fit in order to tell a story with the audience, not to it. In theater, this latitude is not usually as available.

Since most storytellers integrate their personal skills (music, dance, visual art, string manipulation, improvisation, magic, puppetry, etc.) into their individual shows, we might seem to defy some pre-set category, or (on the other hand) by so doing we invite different opinions as to how we should be classified.

All this is to say, I believe a proper storyteller is one who stays true to him/or her self and tells a story with an audience, making necessary changes and adding elements to help make the story come alive during the telling. Theatrical background has little to do with one’s ability to do this. Having theatrical skills may help some storytellers “loosen up” and become part of the story, but I don’t think a person has to become a card-carrying actor’s guild member to tell a good story.

(As you may have guessed, I have no strong feelings about this subject.)

Best wishes, Glenda

[David]

Thank you for your comment Glenda.
I really like your words on latitude and how a storyteller might change their tack, make a story longer or shorter according to the audience they are storying for. I also believe that a storyteller is someone who tells a story with an audience and is true to both the story and the audience while being aware of their place as a link between the two.
Your feelings are indeed strong, and well appreciated.
David

[Leslie Slape]

I have a theatrical background, but telling a story is, to me, nothing like acting in a play. I can borrow theatrical techniques, such as clean and clear movements or character voices, but I'm not acting when I tell. My short answer to your question is "No."

The exception would be tellers who perform biographical pieces. Because they're speaking as if they were that person, acting skills are necessary.

I have enjoyed countless performances by storytellers, trained and untrained, those who use props and those who don't, those who incorporate music and those who don't, those who sit quietly and those who move about. There is no right way to tell a story. Just do it the way that works best for you.

[David]

Greetings Leslie.
I like your short answer... I like to think that my most important education would be the actual storytelling, be it my own or watching others and seeing how many different types of tellers there are. I look forward to someday having enjoyed as many performances as you already have.
Thank you.
David

[Daniel Bishop, the Storyteller]

Dave
This is an honest question. Do you need to be an actor to be a storyteller? NO. Will theatrical training help you be a better storyteller? YES. (In 90% of the storytellers)

I have known some great actors that couldn’t tell a story to save them. And I know some great storyteller who couldn’t act in a play (maybe a crowd scene). The ability to tell a story well is a God given Talent. My Dad is one of the best storytellers I know, he can hold a group of scouts better then any movie could. But a talent undeveloped is like not having the talent at all. If you run fast as a talent, you can’t just try out for the Olympic Team, you need to train and learn what it takes to be the fastest runner you can be. Just because you can tell a good story doesn’t mean you’re a professional storyteller. You must train and learn what a great storyteller is and what it takes to get there.

Do you need to be an actor to be a storyteller? NO. Will theatrical training help you be a better storyteller? YES. Voice training, learn how to use your voice to it full potential. Character Development, learn how someone ells acts and why and that can make your stories better. Stage Movement, yes even if you just sit on a stool, knowing the basics of stage movement will help you look like you want to be there and that helps your audience want to be there.

Do you need to be a Folklorist or an Historian to be a storyteller? NO. But learning about folklore and history will help. Do you need to be an author to be a storyteller? NO. But knowing how to use the words will help.

Take your talent, develop it, make it grow, that is how to be a “proper storyteller.” Only through the love of the craft can you be Great. For some it is easier then others, but it is no less true.

Thank you for letting me stand on my soap box.
Daniel Bishop, the Storyteller

[David]

Danny
The question is honest, yes, and I must say I am very pleased with the many answers that I have been receiving here from the many professional storytellers . It has been a real gift.
I certainly appreciate your candor. And I do agree, the talent isn't enough without some refinement. This is where the choice comes in: to rely on experience, trial & error to perfect the craft or to undergo training as well as using experience. I am, as yet, not sure.
And don't worry about standing on your soapbox. I think that if more passionate and intelligent people did so, and not the irrational ignorant ones, the world would be a better place.
David

[Daniel Bishop, the Storyteller]

Davy
Your situations seem to me to be unique. In art, not just storytelling, the wrong choice it the choice not tried. Try training, always work hard and gain experience. A painter friend of my told me he would take a sculpting class every now and then, he said it helped him paint. The skill you learn may not help you tell a story better, but new skills make you better, and that makes everything about you better. On the other hand, people who spend all their time in the class room never go anywhere. Get out and tell. Find school to tell to, find gatherings, find parties, find anyone to tell a story to. The more you tell the more you can. Buy a camcorder and record yourself telling stories to an audience. Watch it as a storyteller, and as an audience member and see what your doing and see where you think you can improve. Let the fire and passion drive you through the hard times and then you will reap the rewards.

And if you will let me give you some advice on being in Iceland. Your you, don't try to be them. If you try to be someone ells, you will fail. If you try to be you, you will succeed. I live between the Ute tribe and the Bannock tribe and I tell stories from and to each. I'm not a Native American I don't try to be. I tell the story. I stay true to me and the story and they like it. I stray from the story or me and they don't like it. This is where experience come in. The effort you make to learn their stories in there language, will impress them more than being a "foreigner" will turn them off. Try it and see.

Keep telling
Daniel Bishop, the Storyteller

[David]

Daniel
I am not sure how unique my situation is, and believe me, foreigners who try to be an Icelander (there are only a little more than 300 000 of them in the world) fail and fail miserably. But I see where you are coming from and judging from what I see on your page you certainly aren't just "talking the talk." I generally only sporadically have the chance to tell a story due to, well, life and work and such, but in joining this community and communicating with everyone here I feel that I am certainly taking a step in the right direction towards having the opportunity to tell a lot more often.
I will certainly be more aware of what is available for me here in Iceland and back in Canada whenever I return to visit, in terms of classes and training in various disciplines. We´ll see what kind of rewards I can get towards.
Thank you
David
(Davy is too much)

[StoryMasters • Linda Day & MyLinda Butterworth]

David;
I don't believe that you have to have any theatrical background to be a good storyteller. There are lots of fine tellers who simply have the fire in their belly and the telling coursing through their veins.Their stories are well told and well received. Think about someone like Elizabeth Ellis who began as a librarian and has no theatrical background. I would consider her a proper storyteller whose style and technique come from years of telling, not acting. Sometimes I find that my theatrical background gets in the way of the telling because I want to show the story rather than let the story tell its' self.

Every conference or workshop I go to allows me to add depth to my telling. If you find you wish you had a little more flourish in your movements or more control over the use of your instrument/voice then take a workshop at a conference or a class at a community college in the area you feel the weakest. I am a perpetual student of life and find joy in learning even the smallest of things that make me a better storyteller. Sometimes my children or even nature itself is the best teacher.

Always a tale to tell,
MyLinda Butterworth

[David]

Dear Storymasters.
I am starting to believe that the status of a storyteller as "proper" or "good" or even "real" is more about this fire in the belly that you speak of. I definitely feel that I have it, I just need to figure out what form it ought to take.
I agree that the workshops would help very much, my only problem is to find them. I am a Candian living in Iceland, where ther is a storytelling culture that is deeply ingrained into the history of the nation. The only problem is that it is dying out with the younger generations and Icelandic is not my native language, so any hiccups in my ability to tell a story with proper grammar/accent is a hindrance which can ruin a telling (the Icelanders are pretty sensitive to how foreigners speak in Icelandic).
Perhaps a workshop on Icelandic would be a good idea, or even just learning from my daily life here... I am also a student of life.
Thank you very kindly for the inspiration.
David