This is our second ADULT PERFORMANCE STORYTELLING MENTEE SHOWCASE which we were delighted to present as a precursor to our inaugural Learning Festival in September 2022.

Our five mentees - Nidhi Gujral (India), Swetha Prakash (UK) Mette Kuhlen Gullach (Denmark), Susie Miller (Ireland) and Stefania Ganzini (Italy), who are listed here in the order they decided to tell in the showcase - bring a diverse set of life experiences and a relative lack of storytelling experience (certainly in terms of telling to adults!)

Their journey began in May with their Mentors - Mabel Lee, Anna Fancett, Roger Jenkins, Jeeva Raghunath and Kiran Shah (again listed in order of mentor/mentee as above) - and, while they were due to receive five hour-long sessions, as most of the mentees mentioned, they received more than they bargained for!

For members (and non-members considering becoming members?) the mentees comments on the process, which follow the performance, may be of particular interest, for they speak in very positive terms of the relationship between mentor and mentee (never judgmental and often offering new and helpful perspectives on the story, as well as advice on technical aspects of their performance, in addition to their guidance when exploring the story itself.) A common refrain was that the original story was far too long and the mentor played a critical role in helping the mentee decide what to keep and what to cut.

FEAST congratulates the mentees on their highly entertaining performances and express its appreciation to our mentors for sharing their expertise, as Nidhi-as-emcee eloquently said, so generously and unselfishly.