Guest storyteller to offer humour, music, tall tales
What’s the first thing that comes to mind with the word storytelling? Perhaps a group of curious kids gathered around the kindergarten teacher? A feel good tale your mom used to read before checking for monsters under the bed and kissing you goodnight?
The Victoria Storytellers’ Guild is breaking down those preconceptions with Kim Weitkamp, a humourist, storyteller and musician, performing Penny Candy Love, Saturday, June 4 at Grace Lutheran Church.
“The word storytelling is a hurdle for people,” says Weitkamp. There’s a whole world of storytelling that’s geared for adults, they just have to get past that word.”
Weitkamp is an award-winning storyteller from the U.S. who is coming to Victoria for a coaching workshop with the Victoria Storytellers Guild. She will spend most of her weekend in workshops with the guild, but is making time for one performance, which is open to the public.
Some guild members went to one of Weitkamp’s performances in Port Angeles last fall and decided to bring her up.
“Kim just grabbed our hearts,” says Shirley Routliffe. “I came back so fired up, I couldn’t stop writing for three months.”
The title for Weitkamp’s show comes from a story about finding out her parents’ motives behind sending her to Harlow’s store to get candy. “They wanted me out of the house,” she says. “My stories capture general things about life. They’re personal stories with comedic twists.”
The Victoria Storytellers’ Guild has been around for almost 25 years, bringing storytellers and story lovers together for intimate evenings of tall tales, ghost stories and more.
“We have about 80 members on the list and about 50 come to each meeting,” says Routliffe. “Most come just to listen, some listen and tell. No one is discouraged from coming because we always need listeners even if you don’t tell, you’re welcome.”
The Victoria Storytellers’ Guild meets the third Monday of each month at the Quaker House (1831 Fern). There is a drop in fee of $5, or purchase a membership for $20. Visit victoriastorytellers.org for schedule and more information. M
Kim WeitKamp
Grace Lutheran Church
Saturday, June 4, 7:30pm
Tickets: $15 advance, $20 door. Available at Chronicles of Crime (1057 Fort), Munro's Books (1108 Government),
Ivy's Bookshop (2188 Oak)