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Once upon a time, on a teensy-weensy island ...

Settle down andbehave, boys and girls,as Today tells you a tale:

THIS year’s Singapore InternationalStorytelling Festival kicked off yesterday and runs until Sept 9.

The festival, which began three years ago, has been gaining a lot of attention, despite its low-key (read: unglamorous) reputation — unlike a flashy arts festival or a biennale.

Last year’s festival drew more than 50,000 people to its public events, workshops and seminars.

The talk of people sitting down and listening to someone tell a story seemed interesting, so we decided to get into the mood of things by telling you a story ... about stories and storytellers in Singapore.

Grab a chair!

CHAPTER 1

MEET STORY

Once upon a time, on a teensy-weensy island called Singapore, there lived a widdle creature named Story, who some said was furry and huggable and cute.

Others swore it had sharp teeth, burped loudly and occasionally scratched its bum.

But, no one was sure what it looked like because very few had ever seen Story.

You see, poor Story lived inside a cramped place called the Brain.

And Story was lonely and had no one to talk to.

CHAPTER 2STORY BECOMES A STORYBOOK

One day last November, a mother named Adeline Foo read something interesting in a Peranakan Association newsletter about a certain “kitchen god”.

“Hmm ...” mused Mrs Foo. “This sounds interesting.”

That night, Mrs Foo took out her special key and unlocked her Brain (because most of the people in Singapore have one).

Luckily, it was in that particular Brain where Story happened to be sleeping.

The next morning, Story woke up to discover it had become a book. It even had a new name: The Kitchen God.

It was published by Booksmith Productions, which published other books like Story.

There were other companies, like Bookaburra and Marzarts Publishing, who publish children’s books in Singapore.

Story was happy, thinking it was free. But it looked around and found that it was still stuck, in another place. Along with other Stories.

This time, it was called the Children’sSection. Of a bookstore.

Oh no!

CHAPTER 3STORY LOOKS FOR OTHER STORIES

One night, a mysterious man appeared to Story in a dream (because Stories do dream sometimes).

“I am R Ramachandran, executive director of the National Book Development Council of Singapore! But you can call me Rama!”

“Why are Stories like me stuck in the Children’s Section?” asked Story.

“Aha! That is where you are wrong, little one. Stories are everywhere!” the jolly Rama’s voice boomed. Rama took out his magic wand, and with a wink, they were off and flying up, up and away!

CHAPTER 4NO ONE IS LISTENING TO STORY

Rama pointed out all the other places in Singapore where other Stories could be found.

He pointed to libraries and bookstores and schools. He pointed out The Arts House and The Substation.

And then he frowned and sighed.

“Stories are here, there and everywhere. But, no one is listening. And, even if they are, their minds are elsewhere. People have become ... visual.”

Story had no idea what Rama meant about people becoming “visual”, but when they passed by houses, Story saw peopleinside.

They were watching TV, or hunched over the Playstation.

Out on the streets, people were listening to their iPods and not talking to anybody.

Story suddenly felt very sad.

CHAPTER 5STORY MEETS A STORYTELLER

“But all is not lost!” guffawed Rama. With a mischievous wink, he whispered: “The secret is to look for the storytellers.”

Rama wriggled his nose and he and Story found themselves face to face with a lady named Verena Tay.

Verena belonged to not one, but two “families” of storytellers.

They were the Storytelling Association Singapore (SAS) and Moon Shadow Stories.

“Adults like to listen to stories too. But when I tell stories to kids, I put in a little more action and comedy,” Verena said, smiling.

She said that her first “family” now has 12 members, 60 associate members and47 “friends”.

Her second “family”, meanwhile, was formed with friendKamini Ramachandran (who’s also president of SAS).

“You can log on to www.storytellingsingapore.com and www.moonshadowstories.orgfor more details,” she said.

Yeah!

CHAPTER 6

STORY MEETS A LIBRARIAN

Story then found itself in the National Library, where it met Ms Raneetha Rajaratnam.

Raneetha was a storyteller who was also the Children’s Services senior librarian.

Raneetha said storytelling for children has become very, very popular these days.

From April last year to this past March alone, they held 2,800 events in public libraries.

“There were over 67,000 participants,” she shared.

“Wow, that’s a big number! I can’t even count to 10!” blushed Story.

Raneetha also said that grandparents and dads are mostwelcome to tell stories too.

In fact, the National Library Board was holding two events.

The first was a storytelling contest with other Community Development Councils this month for senior citizens.

The other was the closing event for 10,000 Fathers Reading on Saturday, Aug 30, 10am, at the Woodlands Regional Library.

“You’re most welcome to call 6332 3255 for details.

“Or visit golibrary.nlb.gov.sg,” she said.

Cool beans!

CHAPTER 7STORY MEETS MORE STORYTELLERS

After this, Rama told Story an even biggersecret. He said that for the next two weeks, storytellers from different places would be coming to Singapore to share their Stories.

Rama was referring to this year’s Singapore International Storytelling Festival.

He said it even includes the first Asian Digital Storytelling Congress, which runs from Sept 2 to 6.

“What’s digital storytelling?” Story scratched its widdle head.

“It is telling your story through electronic means,” said Rama.

He then went on to say it uses various pre-existing visual archives, such as recorded speeches, photos and audio-visual clips that are then worked into a three- to five-minute clip using software such as Adobe Photoshop or Microsoft Moviemaker.

“I don’t understand,” said Story, scratching its head even more.

“Never mind, you can just call up 6848 8290 or visit www.bookcouncil.sg/sisf for more details.

“The festival will be held at The Arts House, the National Library and othervenues, by the way.”

And one more thing is certain at thefestival, Rama beamed.

“Everybody will be listening.”

Yay!

CHAPTER 8STORY BECOMES A SUCCESS

And so it came to pass, wherever Story looked, it saw storytellers telling other Stories.

In the libraries and schools, people were telling folk tales to children.

In business conferences, stiff-looking people in dark suits were telling tales ofsuccess.

In theatres, adults were left wide-eyed as another adult told them a haunting Story.

In prisons and hospitals, people were listening and sharing their own too. Even as they blew into their handkerchiefs and wiped their teary eyes.

And Story and all its friends lived happily ever after in Singapore.

The End