In the course of three days from October 18 to 20, a storytelling masterclass was held at the cultural venue “Pegaza Pagalms” in Liepāja. It was led by Danish actor and inclusive theatre creator Jesper La Cour.
Besides the immediate benefits of expression through storytelling, it helps to preserve the memory of a society’s history and are an integral part of our lives today. A creative process, Jesper la Cour emphasizes, as a basic condition in the creation of a meaningful story. To systematise this creative process, he has developed Story Play, a working method consisting of five elements: 1. The listener – what do you hear? 2. The carrier – what can/choose to carry? 3. The opening – where/who does it resonate with? 4. The situation – the expression/exchange. 5. The echo – what’s left?
Story Play is a creative form of self-expression that is useful for learning, communicating with others and enjoying meaningful togetherness. It is suitable for anyone who enjoys storytelling and wants to explore the power of narratives. Essential elements of the play include good humour, self-dialogue, courage of self-expression, using one’s voice and vocalising sounds.
During the masterclass, participants learned useful exercises and games to unlock storytelling skills. They sharpened the skill of engaging into inner dialogue and getting to know oneself. According to the artist, storytelling is a source of spiritual strength in a world of changing normalities and traditions. The Story Play has now been integrated into the daily practices of many schools in Denmark.
"The wide range in ages from 16 to 61 years made a marvelous ground for the very valuable exchanges between different life experiences without competition or judging between right or wrong. It was such a release especially for the youngest. Being allowed to be creative in the Story Play-process and feel comfortable and trusted in a safe space allows access to your own personal storytelling as an active creative artistic source. This became a very clear quality in the evaluation round. Everybody benefited from the creative atmosphere in their own way, and it was a great pleasure to witness how future plans between the participants were established."
- Jesper La Cour
With the support of the Nordic Council of Ministers, participation in the masterclass was free of charge. It was organised in collaboration with the Liepājas Leļļu teātris. Project coordinator: Ieva Hermansone, Advisor on Culture, Media Literacy and Youth. The Nordic-Baltic Storytelling project has offered several practical worshops in Latvia. The latest ones helld by Jakob Elofsson and Tine Winther.
