Jamie Crawford: Storyteller

‘Outstanding’

Pippa Smith, Arts Officer, Brighton Festival

Shows

King Arthur

The Accidental Storyteller

The Last Warriors Project

Wayland Smith

Once Apop...

The Dreaming of Britain

 

The story of King Arthur

Jamie Crawford has delved into the earliest sources as well as subsequent reworkings to find a living connection between the Arthurian story and 21st century Britain. By turns playful, tragic and mysterious, this spirited new show cuts through the cliches surrounding King Arthur, bringing to life the passions and flaws that beset the Fellowship of the Round Table from its inspired rise to its violent fall.

The show deals with the central story of the Arthurian cycle, from Arthur's conception to his passing, focussing on Arthur himself, Morgana, Merlin, Mordred, Guinevere and Lancelot. Among the episodes covered are the sword in the stone, the lady of the lake, the Holy Grail and the final battle at Camlann, as well as many lesser known parts of the story.
 
Composed by Jamie Crawford in collaboration with John Wright, June Peters and Hugh Lupton. Suitable for adults and children aged 12 upwards.Developed with financial support from Arts Council England.

“his powerful and provocative one-man show "

Kevin Maher, film critic for the Times

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The accidental storyteller

The birth of my son when I was forty seven changed everything for me. This new show is a playful collage of traditional story with reflections on my personal life and on my experience as a performer over the last quarter of a century. Suitable for adult audiences.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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THE LAST WARRIORS PROJECT

 

A one or two day STORYTELLING THEATRE WORKSHOP
with JAMIE CRAWFORD and BERNARD TAGLIAVINI

(based on an original idea by Dan Keding)

Create eye-catching, thought-provoking and amusing stories through improvised group work. The workshop culminates in a short performance by participants to invited interested parties.

The workshop uses music and mime to depict a great battle which results in the last two surviving opponents coming face to face, too exhausted to continue fighting. Through a series of experimental games, devices and exercises, the workshop participants are encouraged to devise short stories and scenarios about themselves, families, friends, and experiences in their lives. These form the basis of what the two warriors learn about one another during the course of the night they spend together on the battlefield. The conclusion of the battle is then portrayed. The final results invariably produce the unexpected..... and a great deal of animated discussion!

 

 

 

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Wayland

Wayland the Smith And other Stories

Wayland
Who works the Fire
Labouring Night and Day
For the Few and the Many
Rose up and sang this Lay...

The show includes pieces such as the Icelandic riddling story of Gestumblindi, the Sussex legend of St. Dunstan and a new version of How the Bee Became, originally by Ted Hughes. The title story is an ancient Germanic tale of love, abduction and revenge featuring a mythical blacksmith with extraordinary powers and very human passions. Suitable for adults and children of 12 upwards.

‘“Jamie Crawford's performance of Wayland Smith was stunning.  He is one of the few storytellers that has pulled off the magic of maintaining a high emotional charge while at the same time keeping a close connection with his audience." Graham Langley, Storytelling Café   

 

 

 

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frog

Once Apop a Snickety Wow!
Old stories told in a new way.

Listening to storyteller Jamie Crawford children and parents will journey to extraordinary worlds, they will laugh out loud, fall silent in wonder, jump with surprise, grapple with riddles, call out, join in, sing along to the choruses and come back home in time for tea.

A family show suitable for ages 5 and upwards

 

 

 

 

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ongoinG Project

An unfinished repertoire drawn from what I call the dreaming of Britain, these are stories that spring from landscapes and lore that have spoken to my imagination in various ways and the result is an eclectic mix of tales,  traditional songs and poetry,  including several legends from my home county of Sussex. Suitable for adults and children of 12 upwards.

 

I picked a coin from the floor of the cave.

It was worn almost smooth

but on one side I could just make out the head of a god

with two faces

one looking back into the past

one looking forward.

'Good choice,' said the old man. 'We must go.'

 

 

 

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