THE Storytelling Centre is delighted to welcome two of Britain’s finest storytellers to Edinburgh for an intimate, jovial performance of a rollicking good story that imaginatively mixes Indian and Jewish folktales.
“We both come from a culture where storytelling is very much still a part of everyday life, and definitely not just confined to children! We want to show through our performances how enjoyable storytelling can be as entertainment for adults.”
– Peter Chand
One of only a handful of full-time Indian Storytellers working in Britain today, Peter Chand’s performances have been described as energetic, totally engaging, and always told with warmth and relish as he combines traditional tales from India with British tales he learned while growing up in the Midlands.
Shonaleigh is a Drut’syla, storyteller in the Jewish tradition – a tradition she sees as very much alive. With a repertoire of three thousand stories which can be adapted for different audiences and age groups, she is an incredibly versatile and talented storyteller. As a dyslexic, Shonaleigh loves to use storytelling to increase confidence and encourage those who struggle to embrace stories and literature.
The Petal Garden is Peter’s and Shonaleigh’s second collaboration together where they beautifully combine their separate traditions into one winning concoction of performance art. The fable explores one woman’s journey in a man’s world as Hannah Leah the Wise is set three impossible tasks by the ruthless King Shubash who fears her intelligence. The mixture of cultures takes you on a journey where you encounter the Stallion with the Gilded Hooves, an Army of Pretty Warriors and the fragrant garden of petals, where all is revealed…
The Petal Garden is Peter’s and Shonaleigh’s second collaboration together where they beautifully combine their separate traditions into one winning concoction of performance art.
Notes to editors:
The Scottish Storytelling Centre is the national body for the support and development of the storytelling artform. The organisation is a partnership between the Scottish Storytelling Forum and the Church of Scotland, and is supported by Creative Scotland, the City of Edinburgh Council and a wide range of charitable donations. www.scottishstorytellingcentre.co.uk
Peter Chand has been storytelling since 1999, and has entertained audiences all over Britain and further with his tales from the Indian sub-continent. His parents migrated to Britain from the Punjab region in the 1950’s, and though he was born in the Midlands, Peter grew up using Punjabi as his first language. His storytelling has taken him to Belgium, The Netherlands, Ireland, Norway, India, Greece, and many schools, festivals, libraries and community groups all over Britain. He has also told his stories on BBC Radio Four, BBC Asian Network, and many local radio stations. www.chandstory.com
Shonaleigh Cumbers has storytelling in her blood. Shonaleigh trained at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and graduated as the Best Interpretative Student, a talent that’s been put to excellent use throughout her storytelling career. www.shonaleigh.com.
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Contact: Lindsay Corr
Phone: 0131 556 9579
Email: lindsay@scottishstorytellingcentre.com
Website: http://www.scottishstorytellingcentre.co.uk
