A Minimilastic Storyteller

Vivina Vincent
Aug 26, 2017 · 3 min read

Storytelling happened by chance to me. The more I came to know about storytelling as an art, I was more intrigued into it and now every time I tell a story I don’t just entertain, but get entertained too. The responses of children, the changing expressions on the faces of listeners, the instant giggles and not just that looking for stories, dramatizing them, learning about different places and cultures and more. There is so much to a story and a storytelling! One must experience it to know it.

Whenever, I am asked to tell about myself as a storyteller I always put in the phrase no book no props storyteller. All the storytelling events that I have done till date, none of them included any kind of props or books. At the first thought, it sounds a bit blank. However, it gives a lot of freedom to me. I don’t need to hold a book and read. It gives me freedom of movement to swing and sway my hands and body as and how I like when telling a story without having to think how I should be handling the book along with it.

No props? Why? I do agree props do add some ‘catchy’ and entertainment factor. At the beginning of my storytelling journey, I would browse through sites to buy some puppets (till date I just bought one). Initial days were more of volunteering, so money was a constraint to buy them too and for me they were expensive as well. I continued to do storytelling focusing on my actions and voice to make it more interesting for my listeners which I thought was my effort of making up for lack of props. I continued to enjoy my storytelling even without props and so did the listeners.

I was hesitant to add props or puppets to my storytelling because of the materials they were made of. All of them were made from artificial fabrics which are not sustainable neither biodegradable and even drums ribbons, whatever they may be — everything had plastic, polyester, nylon etc. I looked for all cotton made puppets never found one, or even if I did find they were very expensive. Many people suggest why don’t you add props to enhance the entertainment factor and this is my reason. If I do find props which are biodegradable, then definitely yes else I don’t prefer. There are some many cheesy attractive things in the market which could add a lot to entertainment factor. However, this one time use or short-term use of props (short because even if I end up using them for 5 years they would be on this planet for many more years even after a lifetime) will add up to litter. How about recycling them. Oh yes, I could recycle them, but for how many times can these be recycled? Once, twice, thrice and then it will be litter.

I have made a conscious decision to use props only if they good for the earth, else my skill should be enough to entertain. If I don’t, I will work on my skills and stories but would not buy something which is end up in litter for a lifetime or more. I am the minimalistic storyteller!

Original post available at https://wordpress.com/post/iseenature.wordpress.com/389

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Written by

A Storyteller, Therapist , Climate Reality Leader and an animal rights activist.

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