The art of storytelling has been practised since time immemorial, right down to the days of your childhood, when your grandmother would put you to sleep with her bedtime tales. But what happens after those blissfully ignorant days? You get caught up with life, forgetting those simple pleasures that stories brought you.
As an adult now, you still might have a shot at redemption, by sharing and listening to stories. Ashvita Bistro, powered by The Narrative, has initiated a series of open mic nights, exclusively for and by adults. The series, which is to be held on every last Wednesday of the month, will have a different topic for each session.
The first session, which started on July 29, saw a good turnout of speakers that consisted of both professional storytellers and impromptu deliveries. The audience too was a mixed lot, most of whom were curious to find out what the event was, and some courageous ones who took to the stage on the spur of the moment.
The theme for the evening was ‘What’s in a name’. Certain standard guidelines are usually followed by participants throughout the series. Primarily, the content should be a story and a personal one, not borrowed from anywhere or anybody. Each teller has a time limit of seven minutes.
While some were unsure of these guidelines and tried their hand at storytelling for the first time, others came well prepared for their part. More importantly, it was interesting to see how each of them interpreted the theme differently.
One storyteller used semi-visual techniques to paint a picture of the name Katrina, from a hurricane to the experience of human life in the womb till birthing, and the baby subsequently named Katrina. Many used humour to lighten the atmosphere.
Open Mic aims to encourage people to cultivate their storytelling skills, and not just the ability to deliver speeches or presentations. “The idea here is that we can connect with people, expand our network, and make new friends. There might be somebody out there who just needs a story at that moment to be inspired to lead their life,” said Indu Divya, founder and lead storyteller at The Narrative.
