Tell tale signs

Mona

She summons the goddesses in her stories, and it was pull of the Mansa Devi that brought Xanthe Gresham, the master storyteller, to Chandigarh yet again. 

A bright Phulkari dupatta wrapped around her shoulders, an accordion in her hands, she tuned into children’s imagination taking them along on a swift journey to Sussex, Kazakhstan and Kashmir at the British Council on Wednesday evening.

She goes around the world telling stories, but this was not what she signed up for. An actor, tired of ‘resting’ in between work, it was her stint at teaching that she truly realised the power of storytelling.   

Putting her accordion aside, she is happy to talk about how the goddesses of India charmed her as much as that of her hometown Sussex, and how goddesses and environmental causes align. Her interest to find ‘what is lost’ is only recent in her 25-year-long-career. “I am a traveller and love going around. It took me some time to warm up to the idea that folks world over actually enjoy the stories of Sussex”

She tells stories to adults as much to children and finds it a therapy. “Whether you are telling or listening, a story flies eye- to-eye, mind-to-mind, heart-to-heart. Though never she sat down to count, her repertoire is rich with thousands of stories plucked from different parts of the world she has travelled to. She is only happy sharing them.

Over the decades, storytelling has changed, “There is more of a feminist tinge now, and many more gender neutral narratives.” The professional story telling scene is thriving in the UK, with many coming together and being a community. A successful workshop here and a story telling session on Children’s Day, Xanthe looks forward to travelling to different parts of the country where she says she has only foundenthusiasm and kindness.

Make a connect

Storytelling remains one of the best ways to bond between parents and children. We ask Xanthe Gresham on tips how to make most of it. Right story is always enough. As they say you can’t give wisdom, you can only inject it. It’s good to have the books, but at times keep them aside to connect. Place the children in the centre of the story and see them take on adventures like never before.

The Duchess of Sussex

Oh, it is ‘good news’. Lady Diana was the Princess of people’s hearts. Post her tragic death, everybody stakes claim to her sons.