| Press reviews and praise for Midnight
Storytellers |
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| 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 |
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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.'
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| "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) |
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'Thank you so much for telling
such fantastic stories at my party. All my friends were very impressed'
- S B, aged 17, Buckinghamshire (2002)
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| ' 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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