With Angela Knowles and Karen Berger

 Acclaimed performers, Angela Knowles and Karen Berger have provocatively brought together The Wild Swans by Hans Christian Andersen and The Book of Job from the Old Testament with sung poems from The Republic of Conscience, published by Amnesty International to explore universal themes of suffering and redemption.

As in many great fairy tales, in The Wild Swans  the cast out princess must wander, work and wait with patience till she achieves her moment of resolution. Job gets angry, demanding to be told why the world is so unjust. And in the end, he is answered and surrenders to a profound spiritual transformation.

The sung poems from The Republic of Conscience are powerful evocations of contemporary experiences of suffering from around the world. They also speak of the hope that can appear in the midst of despair.

Embracing Shadows crosses boundaries between storytelling, theatre and music – a poignant weaving of humour, passion and insight from two performers who bring nearly 50 years combined performance experience.


THE BOOK OF JOB
‘Why do bad things happen to good people?’ is the burning question asked in The Book of Job. Job’s ardent quest to understand a seemingly unjust world is what makes the story so gripping. At the end, exhausted, he asks ‘If only God would hear me…’ and God does answer him, speaking with extraordinarily evocative imagery from out of the whirlwind. Perhaps originally a drama, Karen’s intimate and intense performances have inspired strong positive responses among varied audiences in theatres, colleges, churches and synagogue since 2006.
‘Karen brings the story to life in such a way that gives maximum impact. Her performance gets to the poetry but also the drama and the theological turmoil. The audience was clearly gripped by the performance. Job was no longer an archaic symbol but a palpable character with whom each person could identify…one of the most successful experience we have ever staged.’ Michael Fagenblat lecturer, Australian Centre for Jewish Studies

THE WILD SWANS
Visiting Denmark as a young child, Angela became fascinated with the stories of Hans Christian Anderson.  In 2008, with Scottish Arts Council support, she devised a performance of The Wild Swans, a beautiful and soulful tale of a young girl and her journey to find her lost brothers. Based on a Danish folktale, it is one of Anderson’s finest and portrays the struggle and suffering of one person for the release of others.

'Angela displays a deep understanding and sympathy for the storytelling art. She brings the stories of Hans Christian Andersen vividly to life by connecting our dreaming hearts and souls with his and her own'.  
Dr Donald Smith, Director, The Scottish Storytelling Centre

‘I have been an admirer of Angela's storytelling for many years, but was totally captivated by her performance of The Wild Swans. A tour de force of storytelling - faithful to the text as written, but delivered in true oral traditional style.  Angela sat on a chair, spoke to her audience for an hour and mesmerised them. Bea Ferguson, Storyteller, Scottish Storytelling Festival.

Karen Berger (Australia)
Karen Berger has had a long and richly varied career in the performing arts. She has studied and performed in Europe, Australia and Africa. A graduate in music and theatre, she is particularly interested in performance in traditional societies that has a transformational effect on the spectators. She has taken educative theatre to children in remote parts of Namibia and Australia; joyful pantomime to refugee camps in Slovenia; and devised challenging music theatre for the Edinburgh and Melbourne International Festivals.

Angela Knowles (Scotland/Norway)
Angela Knowles has performed and taught as a storyteller, singer and clown in Europe, Africa, USA, Australia and Asia.  She has dedicated over 20 years to educational, healing and reconciliation projects through story and the Holy Fool, an archetype who lives fully in the present. Trained in improvised physical theatre, clown, and voice, she was highly influenced by master storyteller Duncan Williamson. As Creative Director of a UK initiative, aiming to ‘let heaven and earth touch through story‘, she was keynote speaker for the Network of Biblical Storytellers in the USA and Australia.  

Performance Staging Requirements
Performances can be staged in theatres with raised seating or in a semi-circle with audience & storytellers on the same level. Radio mikes are only needed only for large audiences otherwise no amplification is required.

Possible venues:  Theatres, places of worship, church halls, community halls.
90 hours with interval.

 
Discussion - Workshop
Post performance discussions and workshops offering opportunities for others to explore the theme are also available.

Booking
There is a sliding scale of costs for professional and non-professional venues.

Please contact Angela Knowles
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it /
www.thefoolstory.com
Mob: +47 90033964



Curriculum Vitae for Karen Berger and Angela Knowles follow:
KAREN BERGER
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Mob: +61 (0) 448880241

ACTING & DEVISING

Melbourne and Northern Territory, 2005 - 2008
Book of Job, solo story telling    Vic. College Arts; Shira Synagogue; various churches; schools                         
Navigators, Dir. Richard Murphet                Melbourne International Art Festival
    cross-disciplinary collaboration between VCA, Melbourne & Dasarts, Amsterdam
Song of Longing, Dir. Anne O’Keeffe                V.C.A.
Polonius, Hamlet, Dir. Xan Coleman                    Dancing with Strangers
Commedia del’Arte & Plume D’Ange schools touring shows    Cultural Infusion    

Accra, Ghana, 2002 – 2004
Jane Pilkings, Death and the King’s Horseman (Wole Soyinka);
Janet, Through a Film Darkly (Joe De Graft)            National Theatre        
Sheila Birling, An Inspector Calls (J.B. Priestley)            University of Ghana
Film        Tenterhooks, Dir. Zack Orji; A Penance Paid, Dir. Charles Okafoe
T.V.        Educational AIDS, Dir. J. Wartemberg; Home Sweet Home, Dir. I. Apea

Melbourne, 1994 – 2000
By the Seashore (Anna Akhmatova), solo poetry adaptation    Montsalvat Poetry Festival; Boite
From the Republic of Conscience                     Victoria College Arts
dramatised poems published by Amnesty International, set to music I composed
Zaatar, Arab/Jewish performance group                Melbourne
The Aural Sex Project, sound scapes, Dir. Trefor Gare        La Mama Theatre        
Lucy, The Muck of Life, Dir. Natasha Mullings            First Hybrid Arts show, Vic.Coll.Art
New Year’s Eve Fire Show, Dir. Neil Cameron            Woodford Folk Festival    
Toured a play about the history of astronomy            CSIRO Education Unit
A-tension-span, dance, Dir. Natasha Mullings             Victoria College Arts
Environmental education puppet shows                National Parks, Victoria    

Edinburgh, 1991 - 1993
Believer, Dir. Angus Grant                        Edinburgh Fringe Festival
Winner of Fringe First Award. Runner-up The Independent Award; site specific
Juliette, Exit the King (Ionesco), Dir. Andre Turnheim         Traumland Theatre Co.    
Iona, devised                                Traverse Theatre    
Fanny, Marius (Pagnol)                        French Institute
The Cat, Dick Whittington, pantomime                St Andrews Theatre
Sarah, The Train, Dir. Adrian Harris                    Theatre Workshop
Dancer and percussionist, Beltane Fire, Celtic festival        Glasgow Performance Co.
Rumpelstiltskin, British Isles tour                    Edinburgh Puppet Co.
Clown shows                                France and Scotland

THEATRE DIRECTION

2007 - 2008    Second City (Tee O’Neill)            Geelong Courthouse Youth Theatre
        featured rock band and video art
Dapper (7 devised pieces)                Platform Youth Theatre
Short & Sweet                    Drum Theatre, Dandenong
    Winner: Best production, with Chinese & Sri-Lankan community groups
The Golem of Ruckers Hill (assistant director)    Platform Youth Theatre
        Le Petit Prince (Antoine de Saint-Exupery)        Melbourne French Theatre
            my adaptation and musical direction
Mister Om (contact juggler)                Touring
2006        The Destruction of Napata                Victoria College Arts
            my adaptation of a traditional Sudanese story
2005        The Odyssey, storytelling                Trentham Festival
Whodunnit (Jen Breach)                Short and Sweet Festival
Le Jeu de L’Amour et du Hasard (Marivaux)    Melbourne French Theatre
2004        Le Petit Prince (Antoine de Saint-Exupery)         West African tour
Voices On, new award-winning plays        Townsville
2003        Qui a Vole La Queue de Daawa?            Ghanaian tour
            my adaptation of a traditional Ghanaian story
        Tro Tro!, The Blacks (Genet), Nongogo (Fugard)    University of Ghana
2001        Feeling Yes, Feeling No                 Namibia
theatre-in-education show, radio version and music video

MUSICAL DIRECTION AND COMPOSITION

For theatre, using percussion and/or voice:

2007 - 2008    Playback Theatre                    Victoria
2005        Bremen, Dir. Michael Camilerri. Award winner    Melbourne Fringe Festival
2000        My Bed is a Crocodile , Dir. Cath Ryan        Victorian tour
        Nightflying, Dir. Sarah Cathcart            The Women's Circus
1999 - 2000    Walk on Water, Dir. Anne O'Keeffe            Melbourne City Baths
        Forest, Dir. Jillian Pearce                Horsham and Vic. College Arts
1996        Growing Down, Dir. Mahoney Kiely            Victorian College Arts
The Colour of Pulse, percussion and dance        St Kilda Town Hall
1992        Nomad X, Dir. Toby Gough                Bosnian refugee camps, Slovenia

For bands:

2005 - 2007    Teapot Ensemble of Australia        Speigeltent,Melbourne Int. Arts Fest
2003        I Climb, voice and harp-lute duo
1997 – 2000    Berger & Goodrich, voice and vibraphone duo, Hop Jump Big Band,
Wild Moves and Short Circuit African and Middle Eastern dance and drum ensembles
Shillelagh, prize-winning Celtic band, Mother Tongue, a cappella group

TEACHING

Northern Territory, 2008
Music & drama classes            Tour of remote indigenous schools for The Song Room
Melbourne, 2005 - 2008
Teaching World Music in the Classroom    Faculty of Music, University of Melbourne
‘Singing World Music’    course    s        CAE, University of Melbourne Student Union
Theatre voice and singing teacher        Departments of Music & Theatre Arts, NMIT
Performance Workshops for Musicians    Department of Music, NMIT
Commedia del’Arte Workshop for Children    National Theatre
Music workshops for handicapped children Playback Theatre
Townsville, 2004 & 2005
Guest Director                Department of Theatre Arts, James Cook University
Accra, 2002 – 2004
Acting tutor                    Department of Theatre Arts, University of Ghana
Namibia, 2000 – 2001
Coordinator                    Childline Schools Programme, Lifeline/Childline
Melbourne, 1994 – 2000
Singing and Percussion trainer                The Women’s Circus
Voice workshops                        Melbourne University Student Union
Music tutor                            V.C.A.
Edinburgh 1991-1993
Singing, dance and drama workshops for disabled adults, women and children.
QUALIFICATIONS

2006        Grad. Dip. Animateuring, Victorian College of the Arts
1997        B. Music Performance (Improvisation) majoring in voice, V.C.A.
1988        B. Sc. (Hons I), Monash University

TRAINING

Melbourne, 2006 – 2008
Butoh Bodyweather                                    Tess de Quincy
Ta Ke Ti Na Percussion                                Reinhard Flatischler
Bodyvoice Workshop                                John Howard, Helen Sharp
SITI Training: Suzuki Method, Viewpoints, Composition                SITI Actors, Full Tilt
Voices of the Archetypes                                Frankie Armstrong
The Unfolding Character in Chekhov                        Robert Draffin
Storytelling                                        John Bolton

Brisbane, 2006
Stomping Ground: Viewpoints, Suzuki Method                    Zen Zen Zo

Melbourne, 2005
Performance Making                                    Barry Laing
Alchemy Improvised dance, Skinner Releasing technique                Anne O’Keeffe

Paris, 2004
Annual 6 week professional choreographic theatre and voice workshop        Pantheatre

Accra 2001 – 2004
Traditional dance and percussion            University of Ghana

Namibia 2000 - 2001
‘The Artists’ Way’ Creativity Workshop        Pathways Consulting
Drama and Art Therapy                Legal Assistance Centre
Traditional Music in a Contemporary Context     Pape Dieye, Emmanuelle Olivier

Melbourne 1994 – 2000
Butoh and Suzuki method                Greg Dyson, David Pledger
Choreographic Theatre and Voice            Enrique Pardo
Improvised theatre and singing            Al Wunder, Bronwen Barton
Text                             Anna McRossin-Owen, David Myles
Alexander and Feldenkreis techniques         David Moore, Julia Scoglio
Clown and Bouffon                    Christine Grace, Kate Kantor
Jo Estill voice method                 Ros Barnes
Percussion                          Chris Lesser, Epizo Bangoura, Anne Harkin
Classical, jazz, tap and various ethnic dance styles

Britain 1991 - 1993
Extended voice techniques                Harriet Buchan, Claire Steele
Polish physical theatre                Gardzienice
Physical theatre                    Theatre de Complicite
Method acting                        Oxford Drama School
Archetypes and voice                    John Wright, Frankie Armstrong
Fooling and clown                    Jonathon Kay, John Lee
Forum Theatre                    Al McIllop

France 1990 - 1991
Physical Theatre                    L'Ecole Jacques Lecoq
Clown and Street Theatre                L’Ecole Phillipe Gaulier, Theatre de L'Ombre


Angela Knowles
Festivals
International Storytelling Festival, Esfahan, Iran 2008
Scottish International Storytelling Festival, 1993-2008
Stories of our Faiths Festival, Glasgow, Scotland 2008
East Renfrewshire Storytelling Festival, Scotland 2008
Middle Eastern Festival of Spirituality and Peace, Edinburgh, Scotland 2004-7
Aberdeen Storytelling Festivals 2001-2004
East Renfrewshire Storytelling Festival 2004
Director, 4-day storytelling festivals, Greenbelt1998-2003
Advisor to Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2004
Glasgow Mayfest 1993
Tours
Advent Storytelling, Christmas Storytelling, England/Scotland 2006-7
Storytelling Tours 6 states, USA 2003-2006
Australia 2 states, storytelling/retreats/workshops 2005
Norway and Zimbabwe 1997
Storytelling/Workshops Turkey 1993
Performance
Storytelling, Nordstrand Steiner School, Oslo 2006
World Methodist Church Council, Seoul, South Korea 2006
Marks Gospel, epic solo telling, USA 2005
Storytelling Session for Artslink - people with disabilities, Scotland 2005
Dundee/Fife/Angus Libraries Scotland2005
Marks Gospel, ensemble theatre storytelling tour England 2004
Storyteller, Barton College, North Carolina, USA 2004
Fool in ‘Love Like Salt’, Tag Theatre, Glasgow, scotland2004
Storyteller with tellers from Jerusalem, Scotland 2004
Storytelling performances, USA 2002-4.
Environmental Storytelling for schools, Aberdeenshire 1993-1997
Storytelling for children with disabilities 1993-1997
Storytelling and Workshops, schools/community/churches 1989-90
Clown-storytelling performances 1989-1992
Work in schools with Master Storyteller, Duncan Williamson 1991-1993
Projects
Children’s Art Exhibition Project, Scottish Storytelling Centre 2008
Storytelling for Hillhead Schools cluster, Glasgow 2008
Stories and Cooking for Children Project, Scottish Schools 2004/2008
Celtic Saints Storytelling Tours, Scotland 2002-2007
King of Hearts Children’s Storytelling and Art Project 2007
Golden Rule Schools Storytelling Project 2007
Story Interfaith Project 2004
Multi-media Christmas storytelling for pre-schools, 1994-2004
Schools, libraries, festivals, 1993-1997
Bursaries
Scottish Arts Council bursary Hans Christian Anderson Research2008
Scottish Arts Council bursary King of Hearts performance Art Project2007
Scottish Arts Council bursary Multi-faith Storytelling Research 2004
Conferences
Storytelling Faith to Faith Conference 2007
Looking for Peace Storytelling Conference 2007
Sacred Heart International Conference 2006
Network of Biblical Storytellers Australia 2005
Queensland Teachers, Australia 2005
Network of Biblical Storytelling, USA 2003.
Residencies
Storyteller-in-Residence, Netherlee School, East Renfrewshire, Scotland 2008
Storyteller-in-residence, Carberry Festival, Edinburgh 2004
Storyteller in Residence, Carberry Arts Festival 1994
Teaching
Holy Fool Workshop, Edinburgh, Ireland 2008
Authentic Teacher Courses, Dundee Education Authority, Scotland 2008
Summer Fool Residentail Course, England 2008
Cornwall Methodist Churches, England2008
Holy Fool, Quaker Groups  Gloucester/Birmingham, England 2007
Hereford Cathedral Storytelling Training, England 2007
Christ and the Clown Residential Course, England 2006/7
1 Year Training post, The Village Storytelling Centre, Glasgow 2006-7
Storytelling in Reconciliation and Peace Workshop, Suffolk 2007
Holy Fool workshop, Norway, England, Scotland, USA 2006
Holy Fool Courses, England, Scotland, USA, Australia 2005
Storyteller/trainer, preschools North Lanarkshire Education Authority 2005
Storyteller Trainer for Bristol Dicosesan Conference 2005
Storyteller and Clown, 13 week fulltime course Emerson College, England 2005
Creative Director, National storytelling Initiative, England 1998-2004
Trainer, Institute of Biblical Translation, Moscow. 15 nationalities  2002.
Trainer, residential courses in storytelling skills  1998-2003
Holy Fool Workshops England, USA 1998-2003.
Adult Community Education in Performing Arts, Scotland 1993-1997
Workshops in song, traditional storytelling skills 1989-1992
Writing, Directing and Retreats
Golden Rule Schools Storytelling Teachers’ Resource Pack 2007
Storytelling and Healing retreats 2005
Director, Performance Project for Young People with Down’s Syndrome 1994-1997
Storytelling Retreats, Iona Abbey, 1989-1992

Education/Other Work
Certification in The Work of Byron Katie, (psychology) Europe/USA ongoing
The Artists Way Sabbatical, (art/Holy Fool) USA 2003
Northumbria Community , (monastic living/people/spirituality) England 1998-2004
Duncan Williamson (storytelling/ballads) Scotland 1990-2007
Johnathan Kay (fool) England/Scotland 1993-4
Philippe Gaulier, (clown) England 1992
John Lee, (clown) England/Scotland 1990
Ida Kelarova (voice) Wales/Denmark 1991
Fooltime Centre for Performing Arts (circus/devising/impro/clown) England 1987-8
Goblins Catering Business (self-employment/food /decor/business) England 1986-7
Manpower Services Course, England (business) 1985
Restaurants, Italy  (food/people) 1980-84
Link Student Theatre, England (impro) 1974-8