We know you have a story in you. Unleash it. Conjure a memory, recent or ancient, good or bad.
Tell it to yourself, re-tell it, hone it, cut it, embellish it.  Pitch it to us. Get on stage and tell it.

Ikon, in collaboration with the Birmingham Book Festival presents a new series of free literary events. Hosted in Café Ikon, Tell Me On A Sunday is storytelling from life. Participants tell stories based around a specially selected theme, all with truth (and a good performance!) at their heart. Each month, five storytellers will be chosen to perform a seven minute story live.

 

The events feature special guests and are curated by Cat Weatherill, one of Europe’s leading performance storytellers, who will also tell her own story. Originally championed by the Hay Festival, Cat has been creating and telling tales to adults and children for twelve years. She is also a best selling author, with books translated into nine languages.   

The dates of these events are:

Sunday 19 February
Theme: Off the beaten track

Sunday 25 March
Theme: Hope and glory

Sunday 22 April
Theme: Feathers and bones

Sunday 27th May
Theme: Secrets & Lies

All events running from 4pm (Story Supper)– 6.30pm  and are FREE

 

Events begin at 4pm with Story Supper, a chance to meet fellow audience members and story tellers over a special Café Ikon menu (contact Ikon for prices). Performances commence at 5pm, finishing at 6.30pm.

Please note these events are intended for adult audiences. Places are free but should be reserved by calling Ikon on 0121 248 0708.

How to pitch your story:

To pitch your story, send us a 100 word written (or 1 minute) audio pitch. This should be an exciting teaser/summary of the story, making it clear that the story has substance and style.

Please indicate which theme you are pitching for, and submit your pitch by the deadlines below. You will be notified 2 weeks before the event you wish to perform at whether your story has been chosen, giving you time to prepare. We strongly recommend you take a look at the guidelines storyteller Cat Weatherill has written to help you hone and tell your story. Anyone can do it!

Pitch Deadlines:

Hope & Glory – 9th March
Feathers & Bones – 2nd April
Secrets and Lies – 7th May

 
Send your pitch by email to: sara[at]birminghambookfestival.org. Please include a short statement about yourself – your name, where you live, and whether you’ve done any storytelling before. These details will not affect your entry.
Good Luck!