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Stories for our time

Feel the power of story as you've never known before
Hear the wisdom of mountains
Thrill to the voices of dragons
Find hope for today in ancient dreams
Press reviews and praise for Midnight Storytellers
What the Press said

Audience enchanted by tales of chocolate

- Di Alexander, Wilts & Gloucs Standard 20 May '04

“The Midnight Storytellers Karen-Eve & Chloë made their debut at the Everyman Theatre's Other Space studio recently, delighting audiences with their Tales of Lust & Chocolate.

“Southern belle Karen-Eve's tales of goings-on in the high Appalachian Mountains between grandpa and his whore contrasted delightfully with her story of the little chocolate cake and the fox, which owed a lot to Aesop .

“In turn, Chloë's stories – apart from the one about forbidden love in the Caribbean, in which you could feel the sweltering heat – owe much to the European to which she belongs, including finding out the truth about Red Riding Hood's old grandma (not for children).

“Part of the charm of these two is the way in which they and their stories complement each other.

“This was a slick, beautifully delivered show which left the audience wanting more.”

"A master storyteller who can make the prosaic present shimmer and disappear, and conjure up the sinister and unfamiliar to take its place" - Katie Jarvis, Cotswold Life, interview with Chloë, January 2003.
"An evening of sheer delight" - Di Alexander review, Wilts & Gloucs Standard, December 02
 

FULL TEXT:
'Midnight Storytellers Chloë and Karen-Eve recently enthralled diners at the Fosse Manor Hotel, Stow-on-the-Wold, with stories both old and new, told before and after a delicious meal.
'Their Winter Story Supper was a very different experience for most of the diners, who listened to modern urban tales and to stories from the mists of time told by these two talented raconteurs.
'Hearing these tales, each with a moral of its own, made one realise what a paltry diet of television most of us are fed and to long to return to the days when people sat round the fire telling stories.
'From the story of the wife who sold her magnificent hair to buy her husband a Christmas present of a gold watch chain, only to find he had sold his watch to buy her some costly hair combs, to that of the fisherman's cat who tamed the fearsome Storm Cat and brought her master and his catch safe home, this was an evening of sheer delight - and the food was pretty good too.'

 

 
"Spellbinding tales in magical setting" - Wilts & Gloucs Standard, November 02
'Kept their audience enthralled' - Di Alexander, The Standard, 2000
'In a country that expects storytelling to be something to keep the children occupied… the pair have certainly broken down a few barriers' - Carl Stringer, Dursley Gazette, 2000
'Another feast of heart-warming, thought-provoking and outrageously funny stories' - Stroud News & Journal, 2001
'[Karen-Eve's] accent makes a lively contrast with Chloë's very English delivery… The pair's joint presentation of St George and the Dragon, an interpretation of a poem by U A Fanthorpe, was an excellent illustration of their ability… It's encouraging to see a determined effort in the direction of bringing storytelling to an adult public' - Cotswold Life magazine, 2001
'…All part of putting the pleasure of literature and language into people's everyday lives' - Gloucestershire Echo
Audience comments
“I got more out of this show than all the rest this season” – audience member, Storytelling Café at Wednesbury Library, 20 July 2004
"We'd seen your summer show, and we came back all the way from Cornwall to see you tonight. Absolutely magical!"
Audience member at Wildwood Tales, 11 Oct 03 Westonbirt Arboretum.

'We have had excellent feedback from our friends about Richard's 65th party…We went to a drinks party on Sunday and people were still talking about you! Although my favourite was the cat that spoke a second language, the story that was mentioned time and time again was the one about the pear seed!
We've also had a few thank-you notes which specifically mentioned you so I quote from them:
  - "What an absolutely fantastic weekend… and the pièce de resistance - the storyteller - what a brilliant idea."
  - "Thanks again for a fantastic weekend - the storyteller was magical...
  - " Good luck and thanks very much for helping make the weekend so special to both Richard and me.'
P B, Surrey (December 2002)

'Thank you so much for telling such fantastic stories at my party. All my friends were very impressed' - S B, aged 17, Buckinghamshire (2002)

' I am writing on behalf of all our pupils and staff to thank you for entertaining us so wonderfully… The pupils enjoyed all the activities during the workshop week but yours was something completely different and was very popular' - S Vesey, St Brandon's School, Clevedon (2001)
'Thank you so much for giving us such an unusual and delightful evening entertainment, it was obviously enjoyed by all' - J Taylor, Glevum WI (area rally) (2001)
'Not only was the audience of around 70 adults kept spellbound at all times, during the supper break everyone was busy dissecting the stories and marvelling at Chloë's manner which brought the story to life. During the stories no one made a sound, we were so enthralled. It is no mean feat to keep so many women quiet! …With her marvellous diction and clear delivery, all members - even those who are hard of hearing - heard every word and no sound system was necessary. I have no hesitation in recommending Chloë as a storyteller and know that everyone who hears her comes away feeling refreshed and impressed. For an hour or so one is transported out of this world into one of fantasy and enjoyment' - J Lawrence, Northleach WI (area rally) 2000
'Thank you for coming to our meeting last night and for entertaining us in such dramatic form. Your presentation certainly held our attention and was quite different from anything we had experienced before. It's nice to think that the art of storytelling still continues' - J Courtney, Stow Ladies Tuesday Club (2001)

'…An afternoon of thrills, dreams, fear and laughter. Chloë has that knack of holding her audience on the edge of their seats… There were moments when we could have heard a pin drop, the atmosphere filled with anticipation and other moments filled with laughter' - D Smith, Northleach & District Evergreen Club (2001)

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