Mark Steinhardt shared storytelling insights at a Cambridge event, discussing techniques and personal journey.
Mark shared tales at Ross Street Community Centre earlier in February. He told traditional and new stories from Norway, Iceland, and Japan, using voice and acting.
Jenny Langley liked Mark’s mental pictures and subtle gestures. She cared about his characters and was glad she went.
We asked Mark how he started. He was at a rock concert and felt distant from the singer. He craved something smaller, so he went to folk clubs, told jokes, and enjoyed it. He then found traditional stories.
Mark was already fifty and had written short stories before. Storytellers come from many fields; musicians, actors, and teachers can tell stories.
Mark chooses stories for his audience. He knew this crowd was thoughtful, so he chose fun and serious stories. He has enough stories to choose from.
How much is made up? Some made-up parts are well-practiced! Simple stories are more improvised, while complex ones are more rehearsed. This is just Mark’s way.
Did Mark visit Norway for stories? No, that would cost too much! Printed stories travel to him. A “Norwegian” story might be found elsewhere.
Everyone finds their own way. Some tellers train, but Mark likes tellers who learn themselves.
How did the audience react? Mark hopes they were intrigued and will think about the stories later. He wants the stories to last.
Mark loves doing this work. He tells stories for charities and schools and knows ancient Egyptian stories. He likes “afternoon tea and tales.”
Is storytelling a calling? Not exactly, says Mark. He needs a creative outlet and values small, local sharing of culture. Anyone can share stories with friends, but not all are ready to perform. Storytelling is for all levels, similar to music folk clubs.