Stories to make you laugh or cry

Stories to make you laugh or cry

Wednesday 29 February 2012

It was a night for passions at the Tabernacle on Wednesday evening. The passion for storytelling, the passion for poetry, and the passion for individuality of voice were celebrated in this very special event organised by Intelligence² in support of First Story. William Fiennes, Founding Director of First Story, kicked the event off with a very personal account of the origins of the charity and how he was blown away by the creative energy he found in an unexpected place. Salena Godden moved between the bittersweet and downright hilarious in her account of growing up black in the harsh terrain of her Northern comprehensive. Then the actor, Sam West, supplied a little RSC magic with a mesmerizing reading of Hamlet’s famous soliloquy. Lemn Sissay exposed a dark chapter in our recent history but commanded laughter along with the tears. Mark Haddon revealed how he breaks from his writing pattern to enjoy a Thames dip three times a week, but when it came to flying he was a fish out of water. The evening culminated with First Story student Mohamed Mardadi’s hypnotic performance of two of his own works, including ‘I Remember’, an account of his first years in England after moving from Africa and the hostility towards the Islamic faith he has encountered since September 11th. His extraordinary rhyming energy earned a rapturous applause. A star is born.

It was a tremendous night for First Story and we would like to thank everyone who supported the event and we hope they took away as many fond memories as we did.

First Story - Stories To Make You Laugh or Cry