School Shows

SCHOOL SHOWS

 

Bookings

Jenni’s rates are based on the Australian Society of Authors. Single session rates below. To book Jenni for a show in the Northern Rivers, contact her here. For shows and workshops south or inland of the Northern Rivers, contact Jenni to negotiate a package visit.  To book Jenni for school shows or workshops in Brisbane or the Gold Coast, please contact Speakers Ink. Listen to recordings or watch video’s of Jenni telling tales by following the links below.

For student, teacher and parent workshops, please go to SCHOOL WORKSHOPS.

 

 

Why Storytelling? 

 

Oral stories were the first form of literature, so experiencing live storytelling supports the development of written literacy. While reading is primarily a solitary experience, live oral storytelling is a collective experience, which builds relationality, a sense of community, emphatic imagination and knowledge creation. Each listener conceives the tale in their own unique way, greatly igniting and strengthening imaginative faculties. Yet they do so as a member of a focused group, each listener experiencing the same story with all the emotions it evokes. Students with literacy and attention challenges respond with enthusiasm to aural storytelling, because it engages multiple intelligences: not just visual, but aural and kinaesthetic. Storytelling supports children to understand story structure and children often feel inspired to recount the story they most loved. Jenni’s storytelling performances are multi-modal, as she employs not only spoken word, but drama, movement, song and kamishibai pictures. (Kamishibai is a traditional Japanese form of storytelling, using large illustrations in a ‘stage’ or frame. See photo below.)

 

Storytelling Repertoire and Story Selection

 

One of the many strengths of oral storytelling is that is builds relationality. The story lives between the teller and the listener, as a vibrant co-creation, yet stories sometimes have a mind of their own. A storyteller may plan to tell a certain story, but on arrival may sense that these listeners need something different. Jenni has at times told a story that asked to be told, wondering why, only to discover that there was someone in the audience who really needed that particular story.

Like many storytellers, Jennis repertoire spans preschoolers to adults. While some stories only suit one particular age group, others can be adapted for any age. They just need to be delivered differently. With thirty years experience, Jenni aims to select and attune her stories for the age, energy level, gender, culture, interests and mood of her audience. In designing story sets, Jenni makes sure they are complementary in plot, style, type of protagonist, dramatic arc, rhythm and emotional tone.

With enough notice, Jenni is very happy to develop a story set to fit a particular theme the school is working on, if she has suitable tales in her repertoire. She may need time to dust some older ones off and re-weave them, or even weave a new one!

 

Infants 45 – 50 mins

Interwoven with chants, participative actions, song, students could hear three of the following:

  • The Wonderful Coat – Jewish folktale – told with felt board, similar to The Blue Coat but with gender neutral pronouns. Listen here. 
  • The Cap Seller and the Monkeys – Indian panchatantra folktale
  • Matryoshka dolls –  as props for a family story, personal
  • The Two Russian Goats –  Russian folktale ~ A lively, dramatic story for acting out with two child actors as goats about co-operation and kindness. From the album ‘The Mermaid’s Shoes’. Listen here.
  • The Cracked Pot – (a Kamishibai or Japanese paper story)
  • The Mermaid’s Shoes ~ original ~ told with a pair of shoes made from kangaroo and barramundi leather. Listen here.
  • Long Long Long – Chinese dandling song – students join in through song and rhythm in an exciting adventure through a dark forest and two students up on stage as tigers.
     

 

Lower Primary 50 – 60 mins

Interwoven with chants, participative actions, song and a fun drama game, students will hear three stories chosen from the following, ending with Q & A:

  • The Mulberry Tree ~ original ~ Jenni’s beloved childhood mulberry tree was ringbarked, but now mulberry trees follow her wherever she goes. . Listen here.
  • The Three Magic Charms ~ (a Kamishibai or Japanese paper story)
  • Molly Whuppie ~  Scottish adventure tale with lots of fun sound effects and actions to join in with. Listen here.
  • The Mermaid’s Shoes ~ a simplified, shortened version for preschoolers of my ever-popular original story about the Mermaid of Byron Bay and my magical storytelling shoes, with participative refrains. Watch here.
  • The Tale of the Wonderful Coat ~ Jewish folktale with gender neutral pronouns, the masculine version of The Blue Coat ~ watch here.
  • Matryoshka or nesting dolls ~ as props for generational family stories . Watch 5 min video here
  • Tanabato Soma ~ Children love to hear the story and sing the poignant song from the Star Festival of Japan. Two children play bells and all the children join in with hand actions. From the album “Molly Whuppie and other wonder tales’. Listen here.
  • Never Give Up ~ folktale about a very persistent frog. From the album ‘Reaching for the Moon’. Listen here.
   

 

Upper Primary 50 – 60 mins

Interwoven with chants, participative actions, song, and a fun drama game, students will hear three stories probably chosen from the following, ending with Q & A:

  • The Mulberry Tree ~ original ~ Jenni’s beloved childhood mulberry tree was ringbarked, but now mulberry trees follow her wherever she goes. Listen here.
  • The Black Prince ~ Egyptian folktale
  • Molly Whuppie ~ a perennial favourite, this Scottish adventure tale involves lots of fun sound effects and actions to join in with as Molly outwits and outruns the giant. Listen here.
  • The Monkey’s Heart ~ Indian panchatantra trickster tale – baby monkey and baby crocodile are good friends, until crocodile mother decides she wants a monkeys heart. Listen here.
  • Jack and the Beanstalk ~ English folktale rewoven
  • The Three Magic Charms ~ (a Kamishibai or Japanese paper story) – a child monk outwits a monster with the help of his wise master.
  • The Haunted Boots – humorous Scottish folktale ~ told with a candle, a satisfying tale to end with!
   

 

Secondary 50-60 mins

Interwoven with introductions and explanations and discussion of metaphor and motifs in stories, students will hear three stories chosen from the following, ending with Q & A:

  • Goldenheart ~ original ~ the fable of a young man who throws away his heart and how it is returned to him. Listen here.
  • The Mulberry Tree  ~ original ~ Jenni’s beloved childhood mulberry tree was ringbarked, but now mulberry trees follow her wherever she goes. Listen here.
  • The Fisherman’s Baby ~ Irish folktale ~ a young father makes an unwise choice and a seal keeps his baby safe in a storm ~ listen here.
  • The Black Prince ~ Egyptian folktale ~ a tragic romance of love and loss with a theme of self acceptance.
  • The Tale of the Wonderful Coat ~ Jewish folktale with gender neutral pronouns, the masculine version of The Blue Coat. Watch here. Told very differently for secondary students and adults.
  • The Three Magic Charms ~ (a Kamishibai or Japanese paper story) delivers to provoke a discussion of metaphor, strong emotion and the visual literacy of Kamishibai theatre.

 

Thankyou Jenni for all your wonderful stories. The children have been passionately inspired. The expressions on their faces tell of exotic locations and incredible journeys. Many will retell these stories to their families. Cheers and all the very best for the future.

Walter Vecchio

Teacher Librarian, Belmont Public

Jenni was great with the children – very interactive. She was also a wonderful person to host at our school. I received lots of positive feedback from staff & students.

Teacher, Australian International School Malaysia (AISM)

A very big thank you for organising a wonderful speaker, Jenni Cargill. Our students and teachers were enthralled. Her props and ability to keep her audience entertained was amazing. I would recommend Jenni to other schools.

 

Teacher , St. Ignatius School

Jenni has an empathy for her audience adjusting to meet their needs. She presents beautifully crafted and told stories to suit the needs of the students and the curriculum on request perfectly. Her skills as a storyteller are amazing, our students were entirely absorbed.

Kym Oestreich

Teacher Librarian, Trinity Lutheran College, Ashmore

Just wanted to thank you for the wonderful show you did last week – we LOVED it and will definitely be in touch with you for further shows next year if you’re interested. Your huge energy and 100% commitment to the performance was such a joy to behold, along with your lovely openness and flexibility to this special audience. Thank you again so much.

Sally Newham

Multitask: Empowering people living with a disability

Performances

For school bookings in the Gold Coast and Brisbane areas, contact Speakers Ink. For all other enquiries regrading performances in the Northern Rivers area, contact Jenni directly. She is currently based in Ballina, south of Byron Bay.

Call Jenni 0403 328 643 or email jenni@storytree.com.au. 

BELOW: Jenni telling a Japanese Kamishibai story

Jenni tells a kamishibai story
Jenni Story Board Regional Northern Rivers tour
Jenni telling to students in Malaysia
Jenni at Tweed River Art Gallery
ASA school in person rates