Roger Jenkins Storyteller

I am a Singaporean storyteller who discovered oral telling 25 years ago, after a 20 year career spent drama teaching, theatre production and creating written storytelling as a poet and playwright. I love telling stories and also helping others – adults – and kids – discover or develop the teller in themselves.

As I journey through my 70th year (from February 2023) I have been thrilled to perform in BhuFeSto (Bhubaneswar Storytelling Festival, January), returning to the Nepali contingent Mount Vernon Camp to train the wives in using story to develop language (February) and staging a multi-disciplinary story event at the National Gallery (10/17 March).

In September i was delighted to be a part of the 398.2 Storytelling Festival, which I founded in 2015 but which is now in the truly capable and resourcceful hands of the Storytelling Association Singapore. Next year will mark the 398.2’s 10th Anniversary, which is something I shall certainly look forward to. During the 398.2 I returned yet again to tell in the PENANG INTERNATIONAL KIDS STORYTELLING FESTIVAL (PINKS) – and in fact gave a tandem performance on zoom for the 398.2 from my hotel room in between PINKS’ shows!

October is proving to be a marvellously busy month (see my blog post) and November will surely be a high ponit with both the 3rd FEAST STORY CONFERENCE on 23/24 (at which I’m facilitating a MASK workshop using my Indonesian masks) after performing in the YOGYAKARTA STORYTELLING FESTIVAL.

HALLOWE’EN IS COMING!

Are ye lookin’ for company?

The Strange Visitor is a deliciously spooky tale for kids (those that like a little chill down their spine) – but there’s also a wee bit of comedy in this old Scottish tale! hold on to your sweat – rocking back-and-forth by candlelight optional!

WHAT AM I DOING AT THE MOMENT?

Enjoying a very busy October!

With 18 days running workshops in Eton House pre-school, Zhenghua & Punggol Green Primary schools, plus the Australian International School, Maris Stella High, plus telling at Henry Park Primary, AIS and Cheng San CC! See my blog!

Launching STORIES WITH STUFF!

Two P6 classes at Zhenghua have signed up for the inaugural run of this fun AEP programme which stretches participants’ imagination and performance skills by challenging them to devise and then tell stories inspired by everyday objects.

Preparing for my MASK WORKSHOP

I’m looking forward to presenting this highly participatory Mask Workshop at the FEAST Storyteller Conference in Jakarta (Nov 23/24.) Most of these Masks are from Yogyakarta and Bali, so they’re returning home!Accordion Content

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As I approach my 70th year (February 2023) I am looking forward to performing in BhuFeSto (Bhubaneswar Storytelling Festival, January), returning to the Nepali contingent Mount Vernon Camp to train the wives in using story to develop language (February) and staging a multi-disciplinary story event at the National Gallery (10/17 March). And celebrating World Storytelling Day (and being a septuagenarian!) at 42 Waterloo Street on 19/20 March.

How Can I Serve You?

Performance

live on site – by far the most effective
live on zoom. After 3 years of zooming, I’ve become very comfortable telling to camera, but you lose much of the interaction
pre-recorded stories on The Story Stream, an online catalogue of mostly wisdom tales grouped by age group from pre-school to teen.

Where I perform

Schools, Libraries, Galleries & Museums
Community events
Corporate events (eg family day)
International Story Festivals (eg BhuFeSto in Bhubaneswar, Jan 2023)
Private events (anniversaries, birthday parties)

Looking for story training for Adults?

Are you a teacher?
A parent?
Exploring storytelling within your Organisation?

My School Programmes

I have been involved with a NAC’s Arts Education Programme from the very beginning and I’m delighted to offer a mix of new and established performances and workshops in 2023/24. (all titles link to the AEP Directory)

Performances:

TIMELESS TALES – live on site storytelling
A-to-SEE STORYTELLING (live on zoom for pre-school audiences)
STORY STREAM – a catalogue of pre-recorded story videos suitable for different levels from primary to JC/ITE
STORY STREAM – preschool
STORIES FOR OURSELVES
We tell ourselves stories all the time. Unfortunately most of the stories we tell ourselves are negative! Roger demonstrate with Masks & Story, how, while we can’t change what happens to us, we can choose how we respond.

Workshops

STORIES WITH STUFF! (Desktop Object Theatre) New 2023
WRITING RIVETTING STORIES
STORIES FOR SUCCESS (storytelling as a lifeskill) New. What careers are your students considering? Sales, Healthcare, Lawyer, Entrepreneur? A leadership role? Whatever path they follow, the ability to tell a good story, a story that they need their audience to hear and respond to, will make them more effective in their chosen role.

On the road in January

updated 23 Jan 2023

10 Jan: I joined the Year 3’s at Tanglin Trust for their Viking Day and told the dramatic story of Sigurd Slaying the Dragon Fafnir. (eight times during the day = 160 minutes of telling!)

Participating in the second BhuFeSto (13-17) Story Festival in Bhubaneswar was a fabulous experience. We performed in 4 parks daily from 2.30 – 7pm with stories in Hindi, Odia & English (and lots of bi-lingual tandems!) It was great to reunite with Antonio Rocha (US) and Ariyo Zidni (Jakarta) Rohini Viz and Nupur Agrawal (both from India) and to make lots of news friends including Marion Kelly (UK) and Bongiswa (South Africa). I also gave a performance/teacher workshop at the impressive SAI INTERNATIONAL School.

www.storystream.com.sg

is endorsed by the National Arts Council
Arts Education Programme.
Schools booking views of stories on the Story Stream
are eligible for 50% Totalisator Board subsidy

What is the Story Stream?

An online library of mostly traditional stories told by several highly experienced Singaporean storytellers which I created in response to the covid lockdown. The stories are grouped in four age bands (pre-school, lower and upper primary, and secondary) and most last between 7 – 15 minutes. most of the stories also come with suggestions for follow-up activites which parents/teachers are welcome to download.

The Story Stream uses a dedicated server, so there are no distracting ads (unlike youtube) nor any inappropriate content.

Home viewing packages are at $10/$20/$40 for 10/23/50 views respectively
School bookings are priced at $10 per class view.

Enjoy a free bilingual English/Mandarin or English/Malay story

The Story Stream gratefully acknowledges the support of the National Arts Council,

How do I tell stories?

The most frequent descripters I hear about my telling are that I’m conversational, comical, engaging.

Thanks to my background in theatre and improvised comedy (Singapore’s first professional improv group, The Madhatters) I’m comfortable playing with my audience, relating to them and using their response to the story as I tell it. I like to animate my telling when its appropriate – with puppets and props (such as fans with cloth attached to represent fire or storms) or sound (to summon, excite or soothe an audience). I founded/directed Singapore’s Theatre of the Deaf (Hi! Theatre, 1985-1994) and that (and my work with deaf story partners) has made me much more visually aware in my telling.

Becoming an audio describer in 2019 has also enriched my telling, making me more precise (and concise!) in my word choice!

World Storytelling Day 18/19 March 2023

Join me for a 75 minute selection of stories celebrating both World Storytelling Day and my turning 70! The theme of this year’s WSD is Together We Can, so I’m delighted to join with friends to present this showcase of my favourite stories relating to teamwork, community and sharing.
Venue: 42 Waterloo St
18/19 March 7.30pm
All ticket sales
donated to FEAST