Wonder: hone your writing & performing skills

Wonder /ˈwʌndə/

noun- a feeling of amazement and admiration, caused by something beautiful, remarkable, or unfamiliar.

The U.K has an ever expanding and exciting spoken word, live lit and storytelling scene- so now is a great time to hone your writing and performing skills, so join White Rabbit for 2 exclusive FREE one day workshops and get your work out there!

Saturday 9 November 10am-4pm  St Marys Church, The Churchyard Ashford

Creative writing workshop: Fact and Fiction with Bernadette Russell  

Bernadette specialises in creating fictional work using history and non fiction as a spring board for creative ideas.

In this workshop you will be invited to explore the church and graveyard of St Mary’s in Ashford, and use the environment as a springboard for your own creative writing, with an a emphasis on finding the wonder in the every day. Bernadette will provide written prompts and provocations, plus hints and tips about how to shape your idea into a story.

Please dress warmly, with waterproof clothing, as we will be spending some time outside.

Saturday 29 February 10am-4pm  St Marys Church, The Churchyard Ashford

Performing your own writing: Gareth Brierley

Writer, actor and film maker Gareth, will be running a workshop for those interested in performing their own written work. With over 25 years’ experience of performing his own scripts and short fiction both nationally and internationally, Gareth will help you bring your pieces to life, whether they be short stories, monologues or poems

Please bring a piece of written work which you would like to perform, no longer than 1500 words- it doesn’t have to be perfect or finished but just something you would like to work on.

About White Rabbit:

Bernadette Russell is an award winning  storyteller. She is  the author of short stories and creative non-fiction for adults and children, including “The Little Book of Kindness” and “Be The Change,  Make it Happen.”  She is also a playwright and poet. Most recently she was writer-in-residence at Talliston House and Gardens. She has been a monthly columnist for Balance magazine since 2016. www.bernadetterussell.com

Gareth Brierley is an award winning script writer and author of short stories for adults and children. He has written over 60 plays, most notably “Nice People” which won the Brighton Festival Angel Award for Artistic Excellence, an Edinburgh Fringe First Nomination, and came in the Top 5 Shortlist for the Carol Tambor (New York) “Best of Edinburgh” Award. Nice People was broadcast on SKY ARTS for two years. www.garethbrierley.co.uk

Together Gareth and Bernadette are White Rabbit and have written and created shows for many organisations including: National Theatre, Southbank Centre, Birmingham Rep, Thames Festival, National Trust, English Heritage, BFI, London Month of the Dead, Turner Contemporary, Tate Modern and LIFT Festival amongst many others.

Most recently they wrote a walking tour of Deptford in SouthEast London to celebrate the life and work of ecologist and diarist John Evelyn. The walking tour was a live event and also is available as a podcast. They were recently awarded “BEST WEB SERIES” for their show PITCHES by FESTIGIOUS in Los Angeles.

Their sell out award winning immersive storytelling cabaret “Are You Sitting Comfortably?” was resident at Toynbee Studios in London from 2008-2018- showcasing the work of over 1000 writers. “Are You Sitting Comfortably?” continues as a quarterly event in venues all over the U.K. www.thewhiterabbit.org.uk

“the novelty of being read to, sat in a basement in the middle of the night with a midnight feast ofchildren’s party food, is irresistible…an enchanted night. ****”

• Attendees of Bernadette’s workshop are welcome to attend Gareth’s workshop with the piece you may have written- a chance to bring it to life!
• No previous experience of writing or performing is necessary- but please book your place in advance as numbers are limited! We will provide pens and paper, tea, coffee and light snacks.
• You will be invited to submit any finished short stories (with a maximum word count of 1500 words) by on the subject of WONDER, to be included as part of the live lit Immersive cabaret event in March.
• Don’t worry if you can’t come to the workshops. If you are a writer who may be interested in taking part- please email your WONDER themed story of up to 1500 words to areyousittingcomfortably@live.com and visit thewhiterabbit.org.uk for guidelines and info about FREE creative and life writing workshops.

DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION FRIDAY 14 FEBRUARY 2020

This project has been commissioned by Revelation and is supported by  Ashford Borough Council, Arts Council England, Kent County Council & Music Venues Alliance