Mary Medlicott & Storyworks [Home] - Storyteller and Storytelling Author

International Storytelling Network (RIC)

Mary Medlicott, Storyteller and Author - Storyworks

"Shemi was a complete delight. It was an object lesson in how to engage children as well as a feast of story for adult ears." - Marion Leeper, Bridge of Tales Storytelling Festival, Cambridge

The Transformation Game

This storytelling game arose from my fondness for objects – plus the fact that, on a visit to Bruges, I’d acquired a double-lidded basket in a Sunday market. It became enormous fun to ply this basket with unusual objects, then play The Transformation Game with different suitable groups.

The Basic Plan:

As the facilitator, you first point out that you’ve got a double-lidded basket and that, inside, there are some interesting items.

Then you ask for a volunteer to come forward and choose which lid of the basket to open. Of course, both lids open onto the same inside but it’s a bit of fun to pretend that the choice is real.

Now you ask your volunteer to feel around in the basket and, not looking at what's inside, to pull out an object of his or her choice. And of course, if it’s children you’re working with, they’re going to enjoy tittering about the possible things they might feel - a living snake or a real eye.

Click here to go to more of my Storyworks Blog

And now let me introduce myself

What do I tell? All kind of stories! Ancient myths and local legends. Tales from history or things that have happened to me. Stories I’ve heard on my travels or found in dusty old books. Stories I’ve created myself and some which I have published, as in Shemi's Tall Tales and Stories for Young Children. All are prepared for the particular audience and then spontaneously adapted to the particular occasion as and when I speak.

I perform in English and Welsh and for all kinds of audiences - adults, children and family audiences. I also work as a storytelling consultant and trainer, running all kinds of courses to help teachers, students, parents and others to be able to tell stories too. These are based on my Storyworks philosophy which is, in essence, a belief in the importance of sharing our stories and our experiences of them. (Click here to find out more.)

My storytelling takes me to schools and libraries, festivals and arts centres, conferences, concerts, colleges, children’s centres and community venues.

With me I bring my story bag which contains all kinds of surprises - objects, cloths and sound-making instruments to beguile my audiences, young or old.

I travel round England and Wales and abroad to perform my stories, speak at conferences and run my courses but my time is mostly divided between the London area and South-West Wales. My education work in Wales is particularly suited to the Cwriciwlwm Cymreig.

I am a member of Equity and of Academi and am on the Academi database of writers in Wales. I was a founder member of the Society for Storytelling and I edit their Artisan, Oracle and Papyrus publications. I review children's books for School Librarian and write articles on storytelling and related subjects for the general press.

Do please contact me to discuss bookings or for any further information