StoryFest 2021 – this year’s ReStory theme presents a variety of online storytelling programmes by local and international artists; See list of programmes here –

StoryFest 2021, the fifth edition of the annual storytelling festival, is co-presented by The Storytelling Centre Limited and The Arts House, online from 20 June – 11 July. This year’s theme, ‘ReStory’, encourages audiences to appreciate the familiar and moving moments of their lives and surroundings, and reimagine their new stories for the future.

StoryFest returns with a three-week long virtual line-up featuring a series of evocative talks and performances hosted across Zoom, VOD and the StoryFest YouTube channel. To commemorate its fifth year, a specially commissioned digital picture book was produced by international storytellers and local visual artists.

Awesome Adventures

This takes children on five different adventures with exciting tales, featuring humans and animals on their quests of boisterous mischief. Suitable for children aged 4 – 8 years old, this could be a fun activity for families to engage in.

Journey with these tales and celebrate curiosity from the depths of the thick African jungles in ‘The First Music’, and learn humility in ‘Ganesha & Kubera’ with an Indian feast fit for the gods.

The Book of Tales

This brings together five of our previous Asian premiere storytellers and local artists to create five illustrated stories in a digital picture book.

These stories cater to all audiences, whether you are looking for a light-hearted tale on unexpected friendships in ‘Edith’s Lyrebird’ or a fantastical story like ‘Shela’s Journey’, that traces the heroine’s roots as she guides her ancestors back home.

Stories From Our Shores

Uncover the legends of majestic Singapura against a backdrop of storytelling, percussive instruments and vibrant illustrations as you hear how two heroes demonstrated resilience in trying times.

Discover how Badang, a struggling orphan who was tricked into slavery, breaks free and rises to become Badang the Magnificent. Learn more about Sang Nila Utama’s roots and join Raja Suran as he embarks on an epic adventure, in search of an elusive land.

ReStory: Celebrating the Feminine in Folklore

In Vengeance is Mine, hear this chilling story of how a lovelorn pregnant village girl transforms into a Pontianak, after dying during childbirth, to exact revenge on the young Datuk who abandoned her.

Follow a princess in Savitri: The Woman Who Walked with Death as she accompanies Yama, the God of Death in a ruse to revive her beloved husband. Celebrate sisterhood and empathy through toilet confessions in the supernatural tale of The Toilet Goddess.

Mindfulness as a Tool for Effective Storytelling

Learn to apply the qualities of mindfulness when telling stories and become more self-aware. Other benefits of practising mindfulness include being calmer and more connected, improving your listening skills and memory.

Pitching for Laughs

Laughter is the best medicine for the soul and best way to connect with your audience, especially when you’re making a persuasive pitch. Learn how you can add humour to boost your presentations and speaking engagements.

Puppets and Narratives

Are you curious about the different forms of puppetry and how you can include them in your storytelling? Discover more and how you can use recycled materials to create your own puppets.

The Healing Power of Stories

For those looking to soothe their souls and calm the mind, follow Susan Perrow, an Australian educator and storyteller and be introduced to the art of therapeutic storytelling. Susan will show participants how they can gain hope and build resilience through the restorative benefits of storytelling.

Introduction to Sensory Stories

Engage your senses with Joanna Grace and explore how stories can be harnessed to create a more inclusive space to engage children with different educational needs. These techniques can also be used by the individual to support their daily lives such as preparing for a good night’s rest.

Telling Stories with Confidence

Whether you are an aspiring performer or working professional, being able to tell well-crafted stories will help in bringing our ideas alive and engaging audiences. Learn more about the craft of storytelling.

Organisational Crisis and Storytelling

The key to managing organisational crises lies in identifying and shaping the different types of narratives which could go a long way in recovering a company’s reputation. This is for managers and executive leaders.

 Story Talk

If audiences are interested in learning more about the rituals behind storytelling, join StoryFest’s Creative Producer, Kamini Ramachandran’s Story Talk, a series of short conversations with storytellers where they share more about their practice. Some of the topics include gender and mythology, storytelling and wellbeing, as well as producing festivals during this pandemic.

KL Noir: Magic – Storytelling Series

Dive deep into the insidious underbelly of Malaysia’s capital, presented through seven storytelling video adaptations of the bestselling KL Noir series. Unravel the truth behind a mysterious mask-wearing cult as a mute soldier enters its highest ranks in ‘War Dogs’, or even witness how a conman’s victims engage the help of a Chinese shaman to exact their revenge. Be prepared to experience some heart-stopping moments as you immerse yourselves in the quiet stories with unexpected turns that will haunt you in new ways.

If you are keen to find out more about the programmes, please visit here.