SUnday Workshops
Workshop times:
9.45-10.45 First workshop
11.00-12.00 Second workshop
12.15-13.15 Show case performances of what we've learnt in the workshops
We have put together an exciting and wide range of talented people to run workshops on Sunday morning.
Registration for the workshops will start Saturday at 8 am.
Briefly, we have:
Welsh folk singing (Lynne Denman); Improvised singing (Ailsa Mair Hughes); Georgian chanting (Alex Mangold, Regina Hellmich); Singing with Clara Clay; Yoga for singers (Sue Jones-Davies); Lap Harp workshop (Shelly Fairplay); Welsh Folk dancing (Nigel Hardy, Keith Floyd); Beginners guitar (Hazel Hudson); Story telling (MIlly Jackdaw); Alexander Technique (Mary Scott); Tai Chi/ Qui Gung (Siwan Morris) and CND worksop with Bruce Kent.
More details below....
9.45-10.45 First workshop
11.00-12.00 Second workshop
12.15-13.15 Show case performances of what we've learnt in the workshops
We have put together an exciting and wide range of talented people to run workshops on Sunday morning.
Registration for the workshops will start Saturday at 8 am.
Briefly, we have:
Welsh folk singing (Lynne Denman); Improvised singing (Ailsa Mair Hughes); Georgian chanting (Alex Mangold, Regina Hellmich); Singing with Clara Clay; Yoga for singers (Sue Jones-Davies); Lap Harp workshop (Shelly Fairplay); Welsh Folk dancing (Nigel Hardy, Keith Floyd); Beginners guitar (Hazel Hudson); Story telling (MIlly Jackdaw); Alexander Technique (Mary Scott); Tai Chi/ Qui Gung (Siwan Morris) and CND worksop with Bruce Kent.
More details below....
singing workshops
Singing Traditional Welsh Folk Songs
Leader - Lynne Denman
Biography - Lynne Denman sings solo and with folk duo Ffynnon. She has many years experience of running workshops in the UK. Her career started when she was invited to sing with Welsh band Dynion Hysbys at the Khartoum International Music Festival. Since then she has performed throughout Wales and the Celtic countries and on five continents, recently returning from the Cambio S Festival in Brazil. She is currently touring with storyteller Michael Harvey and musician Stacey Blythe.
Details
Simple songs with harmonies. Firstly I would sing the song to the group, then teach it line by line, making sure that the words are pronounced correctly and that the rhythm is understood.
(I would have the lyrics on a big sheet of paper for the group to see) and finally I would split the group into two or three to teach harmony lines.
Relaxing into song
Leader – Sue Jones-Davies
Biography - Sue Jones- Davies is a singer/actress. She began her career in the chorus of the original production of Jesus Christ Superstar in the West End in the 70s. After which she became a member of the Bowles Brothers Band, specializing in Country Swing.
When she returned to her native Wales she formed an a cappella duo with Annie Morgan Jones called Cusan Tân, singing Annie’s original compositions and Welsh folk songs.
She is currently a yoga teacher with an interest in how breath influences the body and the voice.
Details
To explore your breath and understand how it affects your voice.
Looking at the components of the breath: Nose, Larynx, Lungs and diaphragm
Looking at the components of the voice and likening it to an instrument:-
Three parts: Breath, Body and Vocal chords
Tension and its effect on the voice. You cannot separate your voice from the rest of you. So if you are tense it will affect your voice. Discovering the tension and then working to diminish it. The importance of the spine and good alignment
Choral Activism
Leader – Kirsty Martin
Biography – Kirsty is an experienced vocal musician, teacher, choral director and composer, based in Brighton, England. She honed her craft through 'years of writing songs, harmony busking and being an incurable workshop junkie' which then lead her to create the much loved and now very well established Hullabaloo Community Quire in 1999.
Kirsty trained in community music at Goldsmiths College, London, and is a founding member of the Natural Voice Practitioners' Network, (www.naturalvoice.net). She is well known throughout the UK for her spine tingling harmonies and choral compositions, as well as her energetic and inclusive approach to singing and vocal exploration. Her style is relaxed, affirming and fun, and her inspiration comes from many forms of music - from folk to funk, doo-wop to hip-hop and Baroque to Balkan...and beyond.
Details
Kirsty will run a BIG SING session, designed to cure the Sunday morning post performance blues. Expect an eclectic mixture of short, funky, accessible songs of Protest, Passion and Celebration (including some hot-off-the-press arrangements and compositions) - all shimmering with gorgeous harmonies, pulsating with funky rhythm and rhyme, and delivered clearly with skill and love (and silly jokes) - that will make you move and groove with joyful attitude!
Polyphonic (Georgian) Voice & Singing
Leaders - Alex Mangold and Regina Hellmich
Biography - Alex and Regina are theatre professionals who have worked with polyphonic singing for many years. They trained with companies and practitioners such as Gardzienice, Theatre Zar, Joseph Jordania and Christopher Sivertsen and have held numerous workshops on voice and polyphonic singing in both Europe and the UK.
Details
This workshop will focus on the techniques and harmonies required for polyphonic singing. We will explore the voice as part of the body and introduce a few basics of Eastern European and traditional polyphonic singing. We will then try our hands at a few traditional songs together.
The workshop is suitable for more experienced polyphonic singers and for those who are entirely new to it.
Strength and Harmony
Leader – Clara clay
Biography - Clara has an extensive musical background as a folk fiddle player and finds the sharing of music and song deeply thrilling. "What I love about harmony song workshops is that anyone can join in. We all have a voice and no matter how much or little confidence we feel, to open our voices in a group brings a joy and satisfaction that everyone feels."
Details
I'll be teaching empowering, uniting songs with a gentle earthy warm up.
Gospel Harmony
Leader – Rebecca Gross
Biography - Rebecca Gross is a folk singer, vocal specialist and music educationalist based in Whitby, North Yorkshire. Working nationally and regionally with many genres and vocal traditions, she firmly believes that the experience of singing in harmony, especially as part of a choir, can have a real and transformative effect on anyone’s life.
She leads several choirs on a weekly basis including Whitby Community Choir and Moorvoices, and also leads the Musicport Festival Scratch choir.
Email - [email protected]. Find out more at rebeccagrossmusic.wordpress.com or on twitter @rebeccalgr
Details
Join Rebecca to experience soaring harmonies and stomping good fun guaranteed with gorgeous songs drawn from the gospel tradition, perfect to sing out the weekend.
Improv-i-sing!
Leader – Ailsa Mair Hughes
Biography - I am a self-employed singer, cellist, songwriter and improviser. Early musical experiences were singing passionately along to car tapes, hearing Mum spontaneously bursting into nursery rhymes around the house and finding simple cello lines to jam along to Dad's favourite pop songs which he played on guitar. I trained classically on the cello and sung in the BBC National Chorus of Wales when I was studying Music at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama and at Cardiff University. Since then I have been more involved in improvising and writing music and currently have several projects on the go including performing my songs for cello and voice, playing with multi-instrumentalist Pixy Tom in Mackerel Sky, working with storyteller and illustrator Peter Stevenson in the Cabinet of Curiosities, singing with gypsy swing band Chocolat, Cor Gobaith, and playing and composing for Bristol-based woodland theatre company Whispering Wood Folk. You may also find me busking on the seafront in Aberystwyth on a sunny day. I am in my element making music in nature and spend as much time as possible doing this, finding it to be a meditative and healing thing. I want to share the positive powers of music-making with as many people as possible in order to spread peace, and I definitely believe that singing to the flowers, bushes, trees and vegetables in one's garden makes them grow better.
Details
A workshop aiming to have fun and build confidence in exploring our voices away from already-composed music in a friendly, supportive environment. You don't need to have done any improvisation before. Time and feeling depending, it will include singing in call-and-response, connecting music and movement, listening to and expressing 'silence', tapping into nature and directing positive energy with the voice, creating canvases of beautiful sound and spontaneous song. (and maybe more...) All comfort zones and abilities respected and encouraged to grow as much as you are willing and able.
Leader - Lynne Denman
Biography - Lynne Denman sings solo and with folk duo Ffynnon. She has many years experience of running workshops in the UK. Her career started when she was invited to sing with Welsh band Dynion Hysbys at the Khartoum International Music Festival. Since then she has performed throughout Wales and the Celtic countries and on five continents, recently returning from the Cambio S Festival in Brazil. She is currently touring with storyteller Michael Harvey and musician Stacey Blythe.
Details
Simple songs with harmonies. Firstly I would sing the song to the group, then teach it line by line, making sure that the words are pronounced correctly and that the rhythm is understood.
(I would have the lyrics on a big sheet of paper for the group to see) and finally I would split the group into two or three to teach harmony lines.
Relaxing into song
Leader – Sue Jones-Davies
Biography - Sue Jones- Davies is a singer/actress. She began her career in the chorus of the original production of Jesus Christ Superstar in the West End in the 70s. After which she became a member of the Bowles Brothers Band, specializing in Country Swing.
When she returned to her native Wales she formed an a cappella duo with Annie Morgan Jones called Cusan Tân, singing Annie’s original compositions and Welsh folk songs.
She is currently a yoga teacher with an interest in how breath influences the body and the voice.
Details
To explore your breath and understand how it affects your voice.
Looking at the components of the breath: Nose, Larynx, Lungs and diaphragm
Looking at the components of the voice and likening it to an instrument:-
Three parts: Breath, Body and Vocal chords
Tension and its effect on the voice. You cannot separate your voice from the rest of you. So if you are tense it will affect your voice. Discovering the tension and then working to diminish it. The importance of the spine and good alignment
Choral Activism
Leader – Kirsty Martin
Biography – Kirsty is an experienced vocal musician, teacher, choral director and composer, based in Brighton, England. She honed her craft through 'years of writing songs, harmony busking and being an incurable workshop junkie' which then lead her to create the much loved and now very well established Hullabaloo Community Quire in 1999.
Kirsty trained in community music at Goldsmiths College, London, and is a founding member of the Natural Voice Practitioners' Network, (www.naturalvoice.net). She is well known throughout the UK for her spine tingling harmonies and choral compositions, as well as her energetic and inclusive approach to singing and vocal exploration. Her style is relaxed, affirming and fun, and her inspiration comes from many forms of music - from folk to funk, doo-wop to hip-hop and Baroque to Balkan...and beyond.
Details
Kirsty will run a BIG SING session, designed to cure the Sunday morning post performance blues. Expect an eclectic mixture of short, funky, accessible songs of Protest, Passion and Celebration (including some hot-off-the-press arrangements and compositions) - all shimmering with gorgeous harmonies, pulsating with funky rhythm and rhyme, and delivered clearly with skill and love (and silly jokes) - that will make you move and groove with joyful attitude!
Polyphonic (Georgian) Voice & Singing
Leaders - Alex Mangold and Regina Hellmich
Biography - Alex and Regina are theatre professionals who have worked with polyphonic singing for many years. They trained with companies and practitioners such as Gardzienice, Theatre Zar, Joseph Jordania and Christopher Sivertsen and have held numerous workshops on voice and polyphonic singing in both Europe and the UK.
Details
This workshop will focus on the techniques and harmonies required for polyphonic singing. We will explore the voice as part of the body and introduce a few basics of Eastern European and traditional polyphonic singing. We will then try our hands at a few traditional songs together.
The workshop is suitable for more experienced polyphonic singers and for those who are entirely new to it.
Strength and Harmony
Leader – Clara clay
Biography - Clara has an extensive musical background as a folk fiddle player and finds the sharing of music and song deeply thrilling. "What I love about harmony song workshops is that anyone can join in. We all have a voice and no matter how much or little confidence we feel, to open our voices in a group brings a joy and satisfaction that everyone feels."
Details
I'll be teaching empowering, uniting songs with a gentle earthy warm up.
Gospel Harmony
Leader – Rebecca Gross
Biography - Rebecca Gross is a folk singer, vocal specialist and music educationalist based in Whitby, North Yorkshire. Working nationally and regionally with many genres and vocal traditions, she firmly believes that the experience of singing in harmony, especially as part of a choir, can have a real and transformative effect on anyone’s life.
She leads several choirs on a weekly basis including Whitby Community Choir and Moorvoices, and also leads the Musicport Festival Scratch choir.
Email - [email protected]. Find out more at rebeccagrossmusic.wordpress.com or on twitter @rebeccalgr
Details
Join Rebecca to experience soaring harmonies and stomping good fun guaranteed with gorgeous songs drawn from the gospel tradition, perfect to sing out the weekend.
Improv-i-sing!
Leader – Ailsa Mair Hughes
Biography - I am a self-employed singer, cellist, songwriter and improviser. Early musical experiences were singing passionately along to car tapes, hearing Mum spontaneously bursting into nursery rhymes around the house and finding simple cello lines to jam along to Dad's favourite pop songs which he played on guitar. I trained classically on the cello and sung in the BBC National Chorus of Wales when I was studying Music at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama and at Cardiff University. Since then I have been more involved in improvising and writing music and currently have several projects on the go including performing my songs for cello and voice, playing with multi-instrumentalist Pixy Tom in Mackerel Sky, working with storyteller and illustrator Peter Stevenson in the Cabinet of Curiosities, singing with gypsy swing band Chocolat, Cor Gobaith, and playing and composing for Bristol-based woodland theatre company Whispering Wood Folk. You may also find me busking on the seafront in Aberystwyth on a sunny day. I am in my element making music in nature and spend as much time as possible doing this, finding it to be a meditative and healing thing. I want to share the positive powers of music-making with as many people as possible in order to spread peace, and I definitely believe that singing to the flowers, bushes, trees and vegetables in one's garden makes them grow better.
Details
A workshop aiming to have fun and build confidence in exploring our voices away from already-composed music in a friendly, supportive environment. You don't need to have done any improvisation before. Time and feeling depending, it will include singing in call-and-response, connecting music and movement, listening to and expressing 'silence', tapping into nature and directing positive energy with the voice, creating canvases of beautiful sound and spontaneous song. (and maybe more...) All comfort zones and abilities respected and encouraged to grow as much as you are willing and able.
Instrumental Workshops
Hands on Harps
Leaders – Shelley Fairplay
Biography - Shelley Fairplay is a passionate harpist based in South Wales and working throughout the UK.
She has performed with harp ensembles, regional and county orchestras and provided music for her local youth theatre. Shelley went to study a degree in Music at Cardiff University and was privileged to be chosen to perform as a soloist for the Boieldieu Harp Concerto with the University Symphony Orchestra. She then went on to complete a Masters in performance on the harp (M.Mus) at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. She was a member of the National Youth Orchestra of Wales, the Rehearsal Orchestra and played many works with various orchestras in Wales including performing the beautiful work for harp and strings Danse Sacrée et Danse Profane by Debussy and the famous Mozart Flute and harp Concerto.
In addition to performing Shelley greatly enjoys teaching the harp to all ages and abilities and has been doing so for 15 years. She is a fully qualified teacher (PGCE from Aberystwyth University) and holds a diploma in instrumental teaching from the ABRSM. She also often runs ‘hands on harp’ workshops using her fifteen lap harps for organisations and schools, where complete novices of all ages can try their hand at the harp.
In 2013 Shelley is working hard to realise ideas that have been developing over the years; a harp tutor book, online video harp lessons and a CD of her own arrangements/compositions which are all to be released this year. If you would be interested in any of these publications/releases please contact Shelley via her Website: www.harpwales.com and she can add you to her mailing list. She is also active on twitter: @HarpWales.
Details
Always wanted to try the harp? Come along to try our National Instrument of Wales, with harpist Shelley Fairplay (www.harpwales.com). This workshop will include demonstrations on a Pedal, Celtic and Lap Harp. You will also learn basic skills and techniques so you can play (and singing to!) one of the fifteen 17 string lap harps available on the day. Shelley works as a harpist throughout the UK at concerts, events and harp teaching both one to one and in workshops.
Try the guitar for the first time!
Leaders – Hazel Fairplay
Biography – Hazel Fairplay teaches classical guitar and has been enthusing and inspiring guitar groups for over 30 years.
Details
Always wanted to accompany yourself when singing? Never tried the guitar?
Come and enjoy and informal introduction to accompanying your voice. Limited places only, new guitars supplied with the option to buy at the end of the workshop.
Leaders – Shelley Fairplay
Biography - Shelley Fairplay is a passionate harpist based in South Wales and working throughout the UK.
She has performed with harp ensembles, regional and county orchestras and provided music for her local youth theatre. Shelley went to study a degree in Music at Cardiff University and was privileged to be chosen to perform as a soloist for the Boieldieu Harp Concerto with the University Symphony Orchestra. She then went on to complete a Masters in performance on the harp (M.Mus) at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. She was a member of the National Youth Orchestra of Wales, the Rehearsal Orchestra and played many works with various orchestras in Wales including performing the beautiful work for harp and strings Danse Sacrée et Danse Profane by Debussy and the famous Mozart Flute and harp Concerto.
In addition to performing Shelley greatly enjoys teaching the harp to all ages and abilities and has been doing so for 15 years. She is a fully qualified teacher (PGCE from Aberystwyth University) and holds a diploma in instrumental teaching from the ABRSM. She also often runs ‘hands on harp’ workshops using her fifteen lap harps for organisations and schools, where complete novices of all ages can try their hand at the harp.
In 2013 Shelley is working hard to realise ideas that have been developing over the years; a harp tutor book, online video harp lessons and a CD of her own arrangements/compositions which are all to be released this year. If you would be interested in any of these publications/releases please contact Shelley via her Website: www.harpwales.com and she can add you to her mailing list. She is also active on twitter: @HarpWales.
Details
Always wanted to try the harp? Come along to try our National Instrument of Wales, with harpist Shelley Fairplay (www.harpwales.com). This workshop will include demonstrations on a Pedal, Celtic and Lap Harp. You will also learn basic skills and techniques so you can play (and singing to!) one of the fifteen 17 string lap harps available on the day. Shelley works as a harpist throughout the UK at concerts, events and harp teaching both one to one and in workshops.
Try the guitar for the first time!
Leaders – Hazel Fairplay
Biography – Hazel Fairplay teaches classical guitar and has been enthusing and inspiring guitar groups for over 30 years.
Details
Always wanted to accompany yourself when singing? Never tried the guitar?
Come and enjoy and informal introduction to accompanying your voice. Limited places only, new guitars supplied with the option to buy at the end of the workshop.
Dance Workshops
Welsh Folk Dancing
Leaders – Nigel Hardy
Biography - Nigel Hardy has been doing folk dance from various parts of the British Isles for over 35 years and has been the leader of the Aberystwyth Welsh Folk dance group for nearly a decade now.
Details
The welsh folk dance is mainly quite gentle "country" dancing involving sets of couples dancing figures (shapes) with not too much complicated stepping. But we will take it from scratch in each session and get you doing some of our long-ways sets. Think period drama on the tele - but we won't make you wear the tailcoats or whalebone (and Mr Darcy can't be with us).
Two left feet: an introduction to Breton dancing
Leader – Annette Davies
Biography – Annette Davies has over ten years’ experience as a Breton and French dance teacher. She has led workshops at numerous European music and dance events and festivals across Wales and England. Her popular workshops cater for everyone from absolute beginners to experienced dancers. She shares her passion for Breton and French dancing with infectious enthusiasm! As well as dancing, Annette also plays fiddle and accordion and is a member of the band Kantref.
Details
The workshops will offer the opportunity to learn some social Breton dances to live music. No previous dance experience is necessary and having two left feet is almost an advantage!
Leaders – Nigel Hardy
Biography - Nigel Hardy has been doing folk dance from various parts of the British Isles for over 35 years and has been the leader of the Aberystwyth Welsh Folk dance group for nearly a decade now.
Details
The welsh folk dance is mainly quite gentle "country" dancing involving sets of couples dancing figures (shapes) with not too much complicated stepping. But we will take it from scratch in each session and get you doing some of our long-ways sets. Think period drama on the tele - but we won't make you wear the tailcoats or whalebone (and Mr Darcy can't be with us).
Two left feet: an introduction to Breton dancing
Leader – Annette Davies
Biography – Annette Davies has over ten years’ experience as a Breton and French dance teacher. She has led workshops at numerous European music and dance events and festivals across Wales and England. Her popular workshops cater for everyone from absolute beginners to experienced dancers. She shares her passion for Breton and French dancing with infectious enthusiasm! As well as dancing, Annette also plays fiddle and accordion and is a member of the band Kantref.
Details
The workshops will offer the opportunity to learn some social Breton dances to live music. No previous dance experience is necessary and having two left feet is almost an advantage!
Other Workshops
Story Telling
Leader – Milly Jackdaw
Biography - Milly Jackdaw began her acting career in 2002 working with Southwark Playhouse and ENO Baylis before becoming a full time member of Purple Broccoli Theatre and touring environmental theatre to schools throughout London. Her work with Purple Broccoli beautifully united her biggest passions, theatre, nature and children and gave her opportunities to create meaningful performances which, she believes had a great impact on children’s lives and outlooks. She raised tens of thousands of pounds to take environmental theatre and educational residencies into schools, literally planting seeds for the future.
During this time Milly developed her ability as a storyteller and in 2008 put all her efforts into this aspect of her work. Since then she has written and performed six full length storytelling shows working in collaboration with artists and musicians and incorporating, poetry, sound, music, dance, physical theatre and visual art into the performances. She loves the fusion of art forms and also really values the power of a good story simply told, allowing the listener to do the rest of the creating.
Milly is currently performing with sound specialist V Robinson with whom she has created a full length adaptation of The Nightingale by Hans Anderson. This production takes the healing aspect of storytelling to another level by incorporating healing sounds into an already transformational story. A new piece is in the pipeline for Christmas, watch this space.
Details
Workshop 1.
The Life of the Story.
The focus will be on finding your connection to a story (you may like to bring a story or choose from a selection I will bring with me) and on learning simple techniques to bring the story to life. Whether you are telling a story or singing a song your personal connection and ability to communicate will animate the performance. Milly draws on her theatre and storytelling experience to create a supportive environment for you and your stories to blossom.
Workshop 2.
The Story comes Alive. Story performance.
Participate in the creation of a musical/storytelling performance with Milly Jackdaw. Storytellers, musicians and singers all welcome. Together we will work on a group storytelling performance using simple songs to enhance the performance. There will be an opportunity to perform this piece on the main festival stage.
No experience necessary. Suitable for anyone age 16 and over.
Relaxing Chigong
Leader – Siwan Morus
Biography – Siwan has been practicing Tai Chi and Chigong for ten years. She is a qualified martial arts and Chigong instructor. She qualified with and continues to train with Raymond Towers of the UK Tai Chi Chuan foundation and has been teaching her own classes since 2011.
Details
In this workshop you will be led through a set of gentle Chigong exercises, co-ordinating body movement with the breath to promote relaxation and healing. The session is designed to leave you feeling relaxed in body, calm in mind, revitalised and ready for the day.
Alexander Technique
Leader – Mary Scott
Biography – Mary Scott is an STAT trained and qualified Alexander technique teacher with over 20 years teaching experience with individuals and groups.
Details
An introduction to the Alexander technique which could help you to learn how to stand, move and breathe more easily and efficiently, to let go of excess stress and to get the most out of singing.
Campaigning choirs joint actions in the year to come – let’s plan
Leader – Lotte Reimer
Biography – Lotte is a member of Côr Gobaith and Aberystwyth Peace & Justice Network. She is an activist for peace, social justice and environmental sustainability and loves joint action.
Details
We don’t often have the opportunity to get together and discuss our campaigns and the Street Choirs Festival seems such an obvious chance – not to be missed. Singing in London during the anti-cuts demonstration, organised by Raised Voices, was a powerful experience with various people conducting, sharing and learning songs and, as a big group, being a real presence. It builds solidarity and the more we can cooperate, the better. So,, the idea with this get-together is to bring our campaigns to the fore and see how we can support each other and where we can link up in joint action. Bring your diaries, dates, causes and actions and let’s get planning!
Scrap Trident Campaign
Leader – Bruce Kent
Biography – Bruce Kent will need little introduction. He has been involved in working for peace for more than 50 years, in many roles, including as General Secretary and, currently, Vice-President of CND.
For the month of April he went on tour, spreading the scrap Trident message far and wide. The tour saw Bruce speaking at events big and small, from street stalls to packed cathedrals.
His message: to highlight the wasteful spending on Trident when billions of pounds of investment are needed to eradicate poverty and boost people-friendly development. He has been heard by thousands of people so far and we now have the opportunity, too. Bruce’s connection with Aberystwyth and CND Cymru is long and deep and he has made a special effort to be here at Street Choirs - we are honoured to have him!
Details
Bruce will talk about his recent Scrap Trident Tour. Come and be inspired by him and take part in the discussion of how to take further action.
Leader – Milly Jackdaw
Biography - Milly Jackdaw began her acting career in 2002 working with Southwark Playhouse and ENO Baylis before becoming a full time member of Purple Broccoli Theatre and touring environmental theatre to schools throughout London. Her work with Purple Broccoli beautifully united her biggest passions, theatre, nature and children and gave her opportunities to create meaningful performances which, she believes had a great impact on children’s lives and outlooks. She raised tens of thousands of pounds to take environmental theatre and educational residencies into schools, literally planting seeds for the future.
During this time Milly developed her ability as a storyteller and in 2008 put all her efforts into this aspect of her work. Since then she has written and performed six full length storytelling shows working in collaboration with artists and musicians and incorporating, poetry, sound, music, dance, physical theatre and visual art into the performances. She loves the fusion of art forms and also really values the power of a good story simply told, allowing the listener to do the rest of the creating.
Milly is currently performing with sound specialist V Robinson with whom she has created a full length adaptation of The Nightingale by Hans Anderson. This production takes the healing aspect of storytelling to another level by incorporating healing sounds into an already transformational story. A new piece is in the pipeline for Christmas, watch this space.
Details
Workshop 1.
The Life of the Story.
The focus will be on finding your connection to a story (you may like to bring a story or choose from a selection I will bring with me) and on learning simple techniques to bring the story to life. Whether you are telling a story or singing a song your personal connection and ability to communicate will animate the performance. Milly draws on her theatre and storytelling experience to create a supportive environment for you and your stories to blossom.
Workshop 2.
The Story comes Alive. Story performance.
Participate in the creation of a musical/storytelling performance with Milly Jackdaw. Storytellers, musicians and singers all welcome. Together we will work on a group storytelling performance using simple songs to enhance the performance. There will be an opportunity to perform this piece on the main festival stage.
No experience necessary. Suitable for anyone age 16 and over.
Relaxing Chigong
Leader – Siwan Morus
Biography – Siwan has been practicing Tai Chi and Chigong for ten years. She is a qualified martial arts and Chigong instructor. She qualified with and continues to train with Raymond Towers of the UK Tai Chi Chuan foundation and has been teaching her own classes since 2011.
Details
In this workshop you will be led through a set of gentle Chigong exercises, co-ordinating body movement with the breath to promote relaxation and healing. The session is designed to leave you feeling relaxed in body, calm in mind, revitalised and ready for the day.
Alexander Technique
Leader – Mary Scott
Biography – Mary Scott is an STAT trained and qualified Alexander technique teacher with over 20 years teaching experience with individuals and groups.
Details
An introduction to the Alexander technique which could help you to learn how to stand, move and breathe more easily and efficiently, to let go of excess stress and to get the most out of singing.
Campaigning choirs joint actions in the year to come – let’s plan
Leader – Lotte Reimer
Biography – Lotte is a member of Côr Gobaith and Aberystwyth Peace & Justice Network. She is an activist for peace, social justice and environmental sustainability and loves joint action.
Details
We don’t often have the opportunity to get together and discuss our campaigns and the Street Choirs Festival seems such an obvious chance – not to be missed. Singing in London during the anti-cuts demonstration, organised by Raised Voices, was a powerful experience with various people conducting, sharing and learning songs and, as a big group, being a real presence. It builds solidarity and the more we can cooperate, the better. So,, the idea with this get-together is to bring our campaigns to the fore and see how we can support each other and where we can link up in joint action. Bring your diaries, dates, causes and actions and let’s get planning!
Scrap Trident Campaign
Leader – Bruce Kent
Biography – Bruce Kent will need little introduction. He has been involved in working for peace for more than 50 years, in many roles, including as General Secretary and, currently, Vice-President of CND.
For the month of April he went on tour, spreading the scrap Trident message far and wide. The tour saw Bruce speaking at events big and small, from street stalls to packed cathedrals.
His message: to highlight the wasteful spending on Trident when billions of pounds of investment are needed to eradicate poverty and boost people-friendly development. He has been heard by thousands of people so far and we now have the opportunity, too. Bruce’s connection with Aberystwyth and CND Cymru is long and deep and he has made a special effort to be here at Street Choirs - we are honoured to have him!
Details
Bruce will talk about his recent Scrap Trident Tour. Come and be inspired by him and take part in the discussion of how to take further action.
