Once upon a time Storytelling in Hope hosted events in Blackheath with the help of Arts Council grants. When this funding was cut the group had to find a new way of telling tales to its audiences. Kerry Ann Eustice gets the inside story

IT MAY be an age-old tradition but storytelling is enjoying an exciting resurgence in the UK. The local face of this revival is Storytelling in Hope, an Eltham-based group telling tales in south east London. Storytelling in Hope holds an event at Age Reminiscence Centre's Old Bakehouse Theatre, Blackheath, around once a month. It's next night, this weekend, will see storyteller Fiona Collins, sharing Welsh-themed stories.

"I look forward to suggesting to Gordon Brown that 'living happily ever after' could be a good government policy." - Fiona Collins

Just this week, Fiona was at the House of Commons celebrating the launch of the Society of Storytelling's new website and working to convince MPs storytelling is as important as drama and music. She said, suggesting to "Gordon Brown living happily ever after could be a good government policy," was exciting.

Despite this active drive to boost the form's awareness, Storytelling in Hope suffered an unfortunate Arts Council funding cut last year, meaning it had less money to pay for professional performers.

But this turned out to be a fortuitous blessing and has helped add more chapters to their story.

"It's rejuvenated the club," said chair Pennie Hedge. "Before we were moving toward individual performances and it was more like theatre, but now we have stories from the floor and people are more engaged."

Now established storytellers take a shorter slot (and box office cut instead of a fee) and this allows the audience to contribute.

"It's back to basics," said Pennie. "We actively encourage the audience and there's a club feel."

"In English culture people tend to think storytelling is just for small children. But our stories are not designed to be like Little Red Riding Hood." - Pennie Hedge

Pennie agrees storytelling is gaining wider appeal but says there's room for more awareness. Elsewhere in the world storytelling is part of everyday culture.

She hopes one day people in the UK will relate to stories the way they do TV shows or films.

"The difficulty is getting people to understand storytelling. In English culture people tend to think it is just for small children. But our stories are best for audiences over 12. They're not designed to be like Little Red Riding Hood."

She added: "Good stories have entertainment value and a kernel of truth in them. The fact the stories have lasted all these yearss means they contain something which resonates with people."

Fiona Collins at Storytelling in Hope. March 16. 7.30pm. The Old Bakehouse, Blackheath. Call 020 8699 0675.

Storytelling in Hope holds regular workshops at its Eltham HQ. For further details click here