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Spreading the word worldwide

Will YeomanThe West Australian
Award-winning WA author Holden Sheppard will be taking part in Stories from Home.
Camera IconAward-winning WA author Holden Sheppard will be taking part in Stories from Home. Credit: IAIN GILLESPIE/The West Australian

In the COVID-19 age, people are finding more creative ways to use the internet than ever before. Not only does this allow virtually borderless virtual travel; it also allows us to share our stories around the world, virtually but in real time. You could say the ancient art of live storytelling has been resurrected for the digital age.

Perth’s Centre for Stories is right up there as one of many smaller community-based organisations capitalising on this technology to continue doing what they’ve always done: tell stories.

Stories from Home is an intimate live storytelling event shared online through Zoom. Featuring different storytellers, it invites audiences to listen and learn about a diverse range of people. Told from first person perspectives, you will hear how people make sense of the world, what matters to them, and why stories are as important now as they ever were.

Tickets to Stories From Home employs a “Choose What You Pay” approach. Guests can choose to pay $5, $10, $15 or $20 for their ticket, depending on what is financially viable for them on any given week. This is a way to support community artists and organisations during this time, while also ensuring that in times of financial instability, our community still has the opportunity to engage with arts and culture.

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Having run two sessions so far, Stories From Home has been a great success, with audiences tuning in from London, Jamaica, Boston, India, Pakistan, and of course, Perth. Feedback received has been extremely positive, with audiences reporting that the online format gives an intimate insight into each person’s home and life, and helps them to feel connected to others in this strange time of social distancing and isolation.

UPCOMING EVENTS

April 23 – Sandi Parsons

“Despite society’s expectations, which disabled me far more than my body did, I have outlived my expiry date many times over.”

Sandi considers her guardianship of gifted lungs one of her many victories in her ongoing battle with Cystic Fibrosis. She was 38 when she underwent a double lung transplant. Sandi’s story explores her lifelong battle with Cystic Fibrosis, and the fulfilling life she has managed to create for herself despite its ongoing challenges.

April 30 – Holden Sheppard

“When I realised I was attracted to blokes, I found it impossibly out of sync with every aspect of my identity as a man.”

Reflecting on the years before coming out as openly gay, Holden Sheppard says hiding his sexuality was like sitting in front of his favourite meal every single day, without ever getting to have a taste. He shares his poignant, personal, and hilarious story about travelling across the globe to find out exactly who he is.

May 7 – Sankari Sivaramalingam

When Sankari moved away from home in her twenties, she quickly found her confidence through self-expression. A spontaneous haircut lead to another, and then another, and another more. It didn’t take long before she realised the implications of her actions and had to deal with the consequences.

Tickets available here.

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