I do find it funny how the companies that have forced AI on us — Google, Meta — generally provide no option to disable it. It's like they know how many would choose to do that...
In this week that started with Mother's Day, it feels very fitting to bring CHANGELINGS to A Bit Crack storytelling club this Friday night. The daughter, the mother, the crone in this story are all bits of us....
See you at the Chillingham Arms! Booking:
www.abitcrack.com/event/change...
Our take on Yeats' beautiful poem The Two Trees. In case you are in need of some inner strength right now!
Thanks to Cage of Crows and Matlock Storytelling Cafe for the recording.
m.youtube.com/watch?v=0Dro...
Massive thanks to the wonderful team at Matlock Storytelling Cafe for hosting our performance of Sweeney Untethered last weekend. The most attentive audience too.
So shockingly spot on.
I fear society will fall for it again.
The new world order is exactly what it looks like. Are we too frozen with fear to name it? | Zoe Williams www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
These are only thoughts. What feels most important right now is to keep speaking thoughts out loud. Solidarity and respect to so many storyteller friends doing amazing work in their communities.
And maybe hardest of all, 4. Somehow we need to find the energy to stay tuned in. It's very tempting not to. That will mean different things on different days, and for different people. Sometimes what will be most needed is a raucous joyful night! It's a long haul trip we're strapped in for.
3. When we're looking listeners in the eyes - especially young listeners - we must be truthful. Young people don't want pat reassurance, but the assurance that we are walking with them and learning about resistance as we go.
2. We can search out stories of collaboration, true or mythical. Collaborative resistance, cooperative solutions. What the new oligarchs are above all trying to convince us of is that people are incapable of concerted action and need 'strong' leaders. We can undercut that lie with our stories.
1. We can support the organizations which act aa a 'forum' for our communities. Places where people meet in real life, networks people feel part of, which are capable of action. Help them tell their stories to a wider audience and bring energy to their gatherings.
What are the contributions storytellers can make right now, into this moment of darkening threats to democracy, basic rights and a livable environment? Some thoughts: 🧵
Who knew we were all so DANGEROUS?!? Joyous performing with you Tim Ralphs (yet to appear on here) at Infernal Delights.
Today from Timothy Snyder, author of On Tyranny:
snyder.substack.com/p/the-logic-...
When you're forming the thoughts that are about to fly from your mouth. A sort of murmuring space. A rare photograph of this very particular pre-show state of mind - thanks Tim Ralphs!
Night out at Rise for songs and a trip to the Underworld courtesy of @adderstone.bsky.social !
Some of our favourite audience luggage suggestions for the journey to the underworld at last night's double bill with Tim Ralphs, INFERNAL DELIGHTS.
What did you bring? 😀
The honour is sufficient! Thank you for your community-building work 🙏
Absolutely horrified to hear about plans for 'more planes in the sky'
Thanks @merlfluin.bsky.social for introducing us to this new environment and greetings storytelling friends!
