"Write about what you know," that is what you are told on writing courses and it is also true of storytelling. "Well," I hear you sigh, "what about your definitive telling of the Three Little Pigs? How long did you live a life of a pig? "Ah, yes, but", I sigh back, Mummy Pig is a bit like my mum and the wolf is very much like my older brother, whom I am hoping will not read this blog. Most of my characters are based on someone, or some people, I know or have seen. My "Jack" in "Jack and the Pirates" is based on Eddie Izzard, luckily, I never wear costumes whilst storytelling, so, I get away with the cross-dressing.
I tell quite a few sea faring tales - and I have spent a long time at sea, well, nearly all of it has all been in a canoe, but the experience helps me tell about the sea. My description of Sindbad alone in the ocean, is based on an incident in March a few years back off Old Harry, when a big wave and I had an encounter, which the wave won. Many other descriptions and scenes I pick up from books, films and stories.
Family history, I also use as inspiration. Over the past 40 years I have probably discovered as many names and dates which I am likely to glean from records. Most of my ancestors, were recorded as "Occupation - Labourer". Even with these fine, ordinary folk, by looking at the places in which they lived and the times through which they struggled, makes me feel I can get to know them, at least, in passing. One particular ancestor stands out amongst my list of labourers, straw platters, dock labourers, bakers and coopers. He is Richard Curtis. I discovered he was at Trafalgar on a ship named the Spartiate. After reading 10 years of logbooks, muster books etc., I have become somewhat an expert on this particular warship. Richard joined the Royal Marines as an 8 year old drummer boy. It is part of his life story, and a few log entries, which has inspired my shot at a "Family Story" for next session at the Elm Tree. I better get on and plan it.
