Introduction to Storytelling for Public Engagement

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This workshop is a unique opportunity to develop an understanding of storytelling in an academic environment and to learn to communicate your doctoral research in an engaging way.

Led by storyteller and theatre-maker, Polly Tisdall, and writer and narrative coach, Robert Holtom, the session will provide you with the toolbox of skills needed to turn your research into a narrative.

The first half of the day will focus on how you can become a great public speaker, effectively engaging diverse audiences with your research. You will learn storytelling techniques to increase your confidence and engage your audience through voice, body language and gesture.

The second half of the day will take your learning from stage to page and focus on how you can use narrative and creative writing to enhance your written work. Focussing on public engagement and academic writing you will learn storytelling techniques to target your writing to specific readers and engage them through an understanding of character, conflict and plot. You will also explore the art of a good blog post.

Polly Tisdall is an award winning performance storyteller and theatre-maker. She has told stories at national and international festivals, theatres and story nights across the UK and directed work for national tour. She specialises in delivering public speaking training to enable participants to effectively engage with diverse audiences: www.pollytisdall.com

Robert Holtom is a prize-winning writer. His short stories have been published in various anthologies, his plays performed in theatres in London and Oxford and he is working on his first novel. He trains people in harnessing the power of story and narrative to improve how they engage and communicate with others.

For further information please contact training@humanities.ox.ac.uk   

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