workshops

With over twenty years experience leading workshops in conference centres, classrooms, marquees, care homes and forest clearings the Talesman can offer a variety of workshops for corporate, education and community clients all delivered with my usual energy, enthusiasm and ability to adapt to the audience.

Powerpointless

A darkened room, a gently whirring projector and a monotone voice issuing from a shadowy figure. Is it any wonder people fall asleep? Save money, time, effort and carbon.
Come back in to the light and learn how to use your voice, knowledge and personality to get your point across to people who are awake and engaged.

Outcomes

By the end of the day delegates will have

techniques for effective preparation for a presentation
a personal resource of memory tricks to call on when planning presentations in future
vocal techniques for clear and engaging presentations
knowledge of the benefits and hazards of props
confidence to take control of the presentation environment
awareness of different approaches to microphone use
enhanced awareness of the impact of their own body language, an understanding of the benefits of consciously improving it, and the knowledge to do so
skills in narrative structure
a variety of techniques to get and maintain audience engagement
awareness of the advantages and drawbacks of presenting in a team
tricks for dealing with problems during presentations

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The Storytellers Toolbox

Aims:
To introduce the basics of unscripted public speaking.

1 hour. Key stage 2 -Adult. 6-30 students.

Sample story
What do you need to be a story teller?
- memory exercises
- descriptive exercises
- voice exercises
Tale creation/learning in groups
Presentation of stories

Create A Story

Aims:
To introduce the basics of narrative structure in folktale.
To collectively create a coherent and entertaining story.

1 hour. Key stage 3- Adult. 10 to 40 students

Sample story
What are stories for?
The other world: getting into storyland and avoiding the mundane
Elements of folk tales
- person, place, event
- Protagonist: antagonist (hero: villain)
- The rule of three
- Good deeds and magic helpers
Guided story creation

The Great Telling

Aims:

To develop skills in public speaking.
To develop understanding of narrative structure.
To encourage an interest in folk culture
To encourage an understanding of the value of oral culture.
To give an experience of public performance.

4x1 hour (min)+ performance. Key Stage 3- Adult. 6 to 30 students.

Sample stories
What do you need to be a story teller?
- memory exercises
- descriptive exercises
- Voice exercises
What are stories for?
Elements of folk tales:
- person, place, event
- Protagonist: antagonist (hero: villain)
- The rule of three
- Good deeds and magic helpers
The other world: getting into storyland and avoiding the mundane
Talk like a storyteller:
- descriptions v lists
- setting a mood
- classic tricks
Group character creation
The value of repetition
Tale types and genres
Find/adapt/create a story
learn a story
Grand performance

The Magic Hat

A communication and creativity project to promote accepting, valuing and passing on.
Involving 3 or more geographically and/or organisationally disparate groups.
Improving staff buy in, efficiency and satisfaction.

Outcomes:

Geographically and/or organisationally disparate groups share creativity with each other, forming links across departmental and social barriers. Greater communication and understanding between groups: After completing the project participants will be able to

identify individuals in other departments/ offices
accept and value others work for it's positive aspects
see their own contribution in context with the larger work
appreciate the development their work may go through when handed on to others
communicate across departmental and geographical boundaries more efficiently and effectively
use creative thinking to find resolutions
empathise with colleagues in other areas
avoid classic misunderstandings arising from 'them and us' mentalities having engaged in a more multi-team oriented activity
call on their shared history with other groups

Participants will also develop improved presentation skills and confidence.

Increased acceptance of others input	Leading to	improved buy in for projects and processes
Increased readiness to exchange information		higher efficiency and error detection
Increased willingness to report back		more useful feedback and greater satisfaction in completed tasks

Facilitation:

Each group will paricipate in workshops local to themselves to minimise disruption, room costs, transport etc. during which they create and pass on elementsof a story to the other groups.
All groups will have to come together for the final sharing and evaluation.

Why Magic Hat?

The Magic Hat is a device through which the concept of sharing (accepting, valuing, passing on) becomes intrinsic to the stories and the nature of the project.

Summary:

Each participant experiences:

Creating
Letting go of their creation
Receiving others creation
Valuing others creation
Adding to others creation
Sharing the results

Communication between geographically and/or organisationally disparate groups is improved increasing staff buy in, efficiency and satisfaction.

For more details left click and "save as" to download PDF