Seeing Stories

Feral, ferocious, affectionate, loyal, dogs have provided poets and storytellers with boundless inspiration for thousands of years. In this podcast Maria Whatton and Matt Black discuss the inspiration that human's best friend has given them and the fascinating facts that prove we are connected in so many ways.

You cannot mistake the top hat wearing man with the glorious white beard and jewel-coloured garb, master storyteller and poet John Row. In this podcast John talks to Maria Whatton about his rich poetic narratives formed from collecting people's memories, thoughts and opinions. Common experiences, censorship, and respect are part of the discussion around a form of writing that captures moments in time, conflict and change. These written works are rich in imagery, place and time, fragments of lived lives that may otherwise never be heard.

Liz Weir MBE a storyteller and writer from Northern Ireland has worked across five continents telling tales and promoting the art of storytelling. She has told her stories to people of all ages in pubs, prisons and hospitals as well as New York's Vanderbilt Hall and England's Royal Albert Hall. In conversation with Maria Whatton she discusses the memoir she is writing – “Story Woman”. Maria talks to Liz about her pioneering work in the library service during the years of conflict in Northern Ireland, the development of Ballyeamon Barn - a site for tourism and storytelling in the wild Glens of Antrim, and the importance of stories within our communities. Liz is an exceptional woman with a truly extraordinary life story. www.lizweir.org www.ballyeamonbarn.com https://armstory.org.uk/

What does a 1970's council estate and the ancient island of Erin have in common? Maria Whatton (storyteller) talks about how she has always been drawn to the tales of Irish mythology which are populated by forceful, mighty women and how she was surrounded by women just like them on her working-class estate, as a child. Sit back, pour yourself a drink and immerse yourself in Maria's telling of “Fionn and the Seven Sisters”.

It doesn't have to be dry or dull. Self-confessed research geeks Matt Black (poet) and Maria Whatton (storyteller, writer) discuss how they view research as a world of wonder and fun. Here they share processes that find them staring at paintings, eating Georgian banquets and sniffing pavements. (Contains mild adult content).

Is there such a thing as a creative gene? Are you the parent of a creative child? Are you the child of a creative parent? Nature v nurture. In this podcast Maria Whatton weighs up the pros and cons. A special Seeing Stories podcast which includes a very honest interview with Maria's daughter musician and artist Maya Sinead composer of the Seeing Stories theme.

What are the ingredients for a successful artistic collaboration? What should artists avoid and what should they be seeking out? The poet Matt Black and Maria Whatton discuss their recent collaboration discussing practical tips for making a performance and setting up tours.  Matt Black  Maria and Matt have been touring their Wonder Dog shows – The Snoopy Question and City of Dogs as a collaborative performance event, poetry and storytelling. www.matt-black.co.uk www.storytellermaria.com

Traditional stories are passed on from one generation to the next  but where does the emerging storyteller find the stories that they really want to tell? How can ancient tales be brought to life and made relevant for contemporary audiences? What makes a riveting story and an engaging telling?