Storytelling Starters ~ Necklace of pearls
On Thursday four wonderful stories were told by participants on my Kensington Palace storytelling course for parents. I’ve mentioned some of the stories before. For me, the making of them was one marvellous element of the course. Other elements included my imparting some of the techniques of storytelling with Early Years children, such storytelling essentials as visualization and, of course, aspects of the history and life of Kensington Palace including the 18th century mural by William Kent and other objects and paintings in the palace which in turn gave rise to our storymaking.
All the stories we heard on Thursday were made up by the parents working in groups, all revolved around an object real or imagined and what follows is one of the four. It’s a Cinderella-type story and I hope I can do it justice. Its makers said they were willing for me to retell it but the retelling is in my own words.
The necklace of pearls
Once there was a king and a queen who had a son. When the son grew up, his royal parents decided it would be good if he got married. So they announced a great ball to be held at the palace. At the ball, they were thinking, he might meet a suitable bride.
After the ball was announced, there was a great deal of preparing. Extra people were brought to the palace to help – cooks, cleaners, hat-makers, musicians.
One person who was sent to help at the palace was a quiet, shy and good-hearted young girl. The job she was given was to assist with the cleaning. On the morning of the ball, she was sent to clean a particular room in which was a beautiful painting. The painting was of a lovely-looking woman with a little girl beside her who looked as if she was her daughter. Both the woman and the girl in the painting were wearing necklaces made of pearls.
But the painting was very dusty. The cleaning maid took out her duster and carefully started to dust it down. She began at the top – dusting, dusting, dusting – and it was when she came to the face that she experienced a very big surprise. As she dusted the face of the woman, the woman in the painting began to smile. Then as the cleaning maid continued, the woman’s necklace began to glow and slowly, gradually, it came out of the painting and clasped itself round the cleaning girl’s neck.
Just then, a strange creaking noise came from the wardrobe that was the only other thing in the room and when the maid turned round, she saw that the wardrobe’s doors had opened and inside was a most beautiful ball-gown. Then she heard a woman’s voice speaking. It was the woman in the painting. ‘You must put on this dress,’ the woman said, ‘and wear it with the necklace to the ball tonight.’
So that’s what happened. The cleaning maid put on the beautiful dress and went to the ball in the dress and the necklace and as she stepped into the room, everyone fell silent, she looked so lovely. The silence was followed by an audible gasp that seemed to come from everyone there.
Then the musicians began to play and soon, when the first dance was called, the prince who was the king and queen’s son stepped up to the girl in the necklace and asked if he might have the pleasure of dancing with her. The next dance, the same thing happened and every dance after that they danced together so that by the end of the evening, all who were present felt quite sure they knew who the prince was going to marry. They were quite right. The prince and the cleaning maid married and lived happily together ever after.
Story does work:
One element of my Storyworks philosophy – it’s outlined on my website – is that a natural, friendly approach to storytelling is an essential part of working with many different types of groups. The high art of stage tellings is not what is needed in work with beginners such as those who came together for the parents’ course in Kensington Palace. It would not have helped them relax and feel confident. Nor would it have helped them learn how to become storytellers in their own lives and with their own children or to appreciate what storytelling can give them as adults on a day-to-day basis.
A second part of my Storyworks thinking is that true stories of people’s lives – be they historical stories from the royal palaces of the past or anecdotes from our own personal lives – can resonate fruitfully with other kinds of stories, including traditional tales, and also the new stories that can be created. All these different kinds of narrative can work together to create a compelling new awareness of the part story can play in our lives.
Responses
At the end of Thursday’s Kensington Palace session (Session 6 after Easter is when we’ll talk about the future), participants were asked if they would each like to say something they felt they had gained from the course. The confidence to carry a story forward … looking deeper … greater attention to detail …the endless possibilities … one door opening after another …
What wonderful things were said and what wonderful participants those who said them have been. For it is they, in their diversity and commitment and interest and openness, who have made the course so satisfying. It’s a remarkable course to have been included in the Outreach work of the Palace. Thanks to everyone concerned.
Happy Easter!
Tags: Kensington Palace, parents course, story-making, Storyworks philosophy, The Necklace of Pearls