The regular First Thursdays in Cape Town has seen the Woman Zone Storysharing sessions at Mogalakwena Gallery grow.
On Thursday March 3 a new collaboration with The Story Club Cape Town (TSCCT) offers a wider platform for these well-established events.
TSCCT was established in June 2014 and meets every month at St Mark’s Church in District Six. Adding the Woman Zone First Thursday event to their portfolio sees a broader and more diverse opportunity for women – and men, to share their stories in an informal and warm environment.
The aims of both organisations are very similar.
The Woman Zone Storysharing sessions are an open forum where women are invited to come and ‘share their story’, talk (sing or recite) about whatever they’d like to, what they’re doing, thinking, creating, feeling, experiencing etc – each speaker has about 13mins. Informal and relaxed, warm and friendly, visitors are invited to share or just listen. The space at Mogalakwena exhibits magnificent arts and crafts and so provides a creative and interesting backdrop to the varied and fascinating storytellers.
Says Nancy Richards, Founder of Woman Zone “‘Co-hosting with The Story Club, Woman Zone looks forward to opening up a new window, not just on stories themselves, but on the art of storytelling”
The Story Club Cape Town is a monthly gathering for storytellers and those who like listening to stories. The format includes an open mic session and an hour long performance by a professional storyteller. Originally a small group of people, passionate about the power of story to touch and enrich everyone’s lives, the aim of the club was to create a space dedicated to the rich and magical tradition of oral storytelling. With the domination of technology that links yet paradoxically disconnects us, the basic human yearning for deeper personal meaning and connection is stronger than ever, as can be seen by the resurgent interest in storytelling the world over.
Says Philippa Kabali-Kagwa, co-founder of TSCCT “Stories help us make sense of our experience and give structure and order to our everyday lives. They can show what is important and what is not, and give ways to connect individual experiences to those of others. They also inspire courageous journeys to our true selves. We are delighted to collaborate with Woman Zone.”
Even for those who believe they have no story, the truth is we are all filled with an endless supply of personal and universal themes, and by engaging our inner storyteller we awaken aspects of ourselves that might normally be hidden or inaccessible.
And last, but certainly not least, storytelling can be cracking good fun, so come and join us now on the First Thursday when Cape Town buzzes as galleries and restaurants open their doors to all things creative.
WHAT, WHEN & WHERE: Woman Zone and TSCCT Storysharing : Thursday March 3 at Mogalakwena Gallery, 3 Church St, Cape Town: 6:30 to 8pm – free entry.
INFO: E info@womanzonect.co.za or facebook or visit
TSCCT is held on the last Wednesday of each month at the Undercroft, St Marks Church, District Six from 7 – 9pm Cost : R60. INFO: E thestoryclub.ct@gmail.com or facebook
