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Storytelling at Greenbelt by Murray Watts
Storytelling has always been a big part of Murray Watts' life. It started with his mother reading him the works of Hans Andersen and Grimms' Fairy Tales, which later led to his live broadcasts of monologues and parables on Radio Merseyside in 1971. It's now come full circle to the publication of 'Yours Truly', a collection of 18 brilliant and poignant parables and stories. Murray tells us about his storytelling journey and his plans for this year's Greenbelt Festival.
I have been writing stories for 50 years. Even as I write this alarming figure down, I think, ‘Half a century!’ But this is nothing compared to the many thousands of years during which human beings have told stories beside fires, have encouraged, entertained, terrified, excited and inspired each other with the simplest and, arguably, the oldest of all art forms.
The power of story….
I was lucky to have a mother who told brilliant stories, ones which she made up, as well as reading the unforgettable works of Hans Andersen and Grimms’ Fairy Tales, the Greek and the Norse myths and, above all, the incredible diversity, beauty and mystery of the great Bible stories.
My very earliest stories and sketches were often inspired by the Bible, so it was a privilege to write the Lion Children’s Bible in the year 2000.
My first live broadcasts were for the new Radio Merseyside in 1971… little monologues, parables, ‘three minute worlds of the imagination’… before long it was theatre sketches, comic revues, plays, films, three books of jokes and stories, the Lion Bible, a novel, a biography. So the publication of ‘Yours Truly’ this August takes me right back to the beginning, to my childhood inspirations, to the very simple art of storytelling… I have come full circle.
Yours Truly has eighteen stories and parables, which take anything from one minute to fifteen minutes to read out loud. I hope that this book will be useful to churches, schools, colleges – families, house parties, festivals - and every context where people appreciate humour, insight and spiritual inspiration.
The Greenbelt Festival is the ideal place to launch this book – and the stage show based on the book. Greenbelt’s theme this year is ‘Wit and Wisdom’ and I hope Yours Truly will make its own colourful contribution to this ancient (and biblical) theme. I gave some of my very first talks at Greenbelt and, indeed, I was involved (with fellow founders of Riding Lights, Paul Burbridge and Nigel Forde) in the very first theatre presented at Greenbelt. There is a long and significant history for me here, and the stage version of Yours Truly, brilliantly performed by Andrew Harrison, is one of many productions I have had at the festival. But perhaps the most important connection is that Greenbelt first inspired me to create my own parables, to illustrate talks…. Everything was different about Greenbelt! The arts, instead of being on the margins of many churches, were central to the Greenbelt vision. It made sense to make up stories, illustrate, tell jokes, laugh, act, make public speaking into a performance art! We sometimes had to contend with very loud music from a nearby tent, so we became loud, vivid, memorable and larger than life, even giving talks, bible studies and lectures. One of mine was ‘How to be a Fool for Christ without Being a Super-Spiritual Idiot’ – and, looking back, it was more like stand-up comedy than a typical lecture.
The Yours Truly show takes several stories from the book, ranging from a satirical piece on Christmas letters to a dramatization of the thief on the cross suddenly stumbling into heaven and confusing the angels… it’s a brief journey, lasting one hour, through repentance, forgiveness, grace and glory. It’s funny, but it’s moving and, with the help of the finest actor, it promises to take the audience to new levels of wonder and celebration. A bold claim – come and see if it’s true!
The great thing is, anyone who likes the show can then buy the book. This is rare for me – perhaps the only other similar context was the film I wrote about the story of Jesus, ‘The Miracle Maker’, when people could buy the novel or, eventually, purchase the DVD. The Miracle Maker was seen by many millions around the world. Yours Truly may have a humbler audience but this book is all part of one life and one calling… to tell stories, ‘to enjoy God and glorify him for ever.’
The Yours Truly stage show will tour round the UK over the next year but, with or without the stage show, I hope this little book will take wings and fly.
Murray Watts
Yours Truly is a collection of brilliant and poignant parables and stories, for personal reading and public use.
Order your copy here >>
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