Julie Kertesz stand-up, Barry compère,
2, Camden Passage, near Angel underground, London
4th December 2011
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Nova at Canal Coffee Theatre
Yesterday I told a story at the Canal Coffee theatre.
Not so bad and not extra either.
But yesterday, it was not me, it was about four people having arrived in London, from various countries and continents of the world, to which we have succeeded 'finding their voice'.
Iris, a refugee from Chile, now Director of Nova, charitable organization helping people motivated "to obtain their goals."
Iris told us of her early difficulties, with authorities and with the language and last night she even showed me an album as "the Queen could not give me the medal of honor of British Empire, because I was from Chilli, but I was invited the Prime Minister's residence, and given it by... look, by him, the son of one of the PMs. "
An old gentleman of 83, Alex, arrived from Uganda, he has full of interesting stories about his country of origin, and even the energy falling on the stage to show us how he fell, when he was a little boy and had cut the feet, using the traditional "knife" inherited from fathers to oldest son, and bleeding even thought dying.
He told me "you telling the story that first day of workshop gave me confidence" to tell mine's.
Jacinta arriving from India, told us the story of how she put two more years to her passport to be able to come and how the family she worked for in London, used her day and night to work for 16 children and even confiscated her passport. The dentist hearing it helped her (and the police) so she was finally "released" after two years! Now she is married, three children of her own and in London for around 20 years.
She told her story with such a brillance!
Tseghe, Etrusquaine d'origine, told to me her story first during the workshop task "how you got your name". She hesitated, how to tell it, and finally she did it brillantly!
Her sister was married at age 11, and she was the only child of her father to be send to school, and she told us a story how 11 year old, she fled from familly and village to a city, there was taken in by a nice but strong woman "do you know work?", met by change her father who finaly let her stay, that helped by the woman's daughter when 14 years to go to Saudi Arabia where she found a job well paid.
She also has many more stories to tell!
All, had no "voice" until Joanna Yates, producer of Spark London did not offer free the workshop of "Personal Storytelling," for Nova Portobello.
She accepted me the help since September. My own example gave them courage, but it is Joanna's work that got them to the stage finally.
Yesterday they told their stories, one of their many stories, for a public of more then 40 at the theater!
I was amazed, how well they all did, without reading, great scenes and with good movements and varied voices. It was fantastic. What a joy!
We were two storyteller to speak too, to open it was my story of changing profession when back from US to France, to close, Tony, a funny storyteller, who has decided to work for a circus, after his girlfriend left him.
But the real heroes were them, to whom Joanna has given voice by her True Tales Workshop at Nova.
PS Excuses for all those storytellers whom story I resumed shortly and only as I remembered. There would be so much more to tell! The most important is: they were wonderful and they are great people that I was happy to meet.
Not so bad and not extra either.
But yesterday, it was not me, it was about four people having arrived in London, from various countries and continents of the world, to which we have succeeded 'finding their voice'.
Iris, a refugee from Chile, now Director of Nova, charitable organization helping people motivated "to obtain their goals."
Iris told us of her early difficulties, with authorities and with the language and last night she even showed me an album as "the Queen could not give me the medal of honor of British Empire, because I was from Chilli, but I was invited the Prime Minister's residence, and given it by... look, by him, the son of one of the PMs. "
An old gentleman of 83, Alex, arrived from Uganda, he has full of interesting stories about his country of origin, and even the energy falling on the stage to show us how he fell, when he was a little boy and had cut the feet, using the traditional "knife" inherited from fathers to oldest son, and bleeding even thought dying.
He told me "you telling the story that first day of workshop gave me confidence" to tell mine's.
Jacinta arriving from India, told us the story of how she put two more years to her passport to be able to come and how the family she worked for in London, used her day and night to work for 16 children and even confiscated her passport. The dentist hearing it helped her (and the police) so she was finally "released" after two years! Now she is married, three children of her own and in London for around 20 years.
She told her story with such a brillance!
Tseghe, Etrusquaine d'origine, told to me her story first during the workshop task "how you got your name". She hesitated, how to tell it, and finally she did it brillantly!
Her sister was married at age 11, and she was the only child of her father to be send to school, and she told us a story how 11 year old, she fled from familly and village to a city, there was taken in by a nice but strong woman "do you know work?", met by change her father who finaly let her stay, that helped by the woman's daughter when 14 years to go to Saudi Arabia where she found a job well paid.
She also has many more stories to tell!
All, had no "voice" until Joanna Yates, producer of Spark London did not offer free the workshop of "Personal Storytelling," for Nova Portobello.
She accepted me the help since September. My own example gave them courage, but it is Joanna's work that got them to the stage finally.
Yesterday they told their stories, one of their many stories, for a public of more then 40 at the theater!
I was amazed, how well they all did, without reading, great scenes and with good movements and varied voices. It was fantastic. What a joy!
We were two storyteller to speak too, to open it was my story of changing profession when back from US to France, to close, Tony, a funny storyteller, who has decided to work for a circus, after his girlfriend left him.
But the real heroes were them, to whom Joanna has given voice by her True Tales Workshop at Nova.
PS Excuses for all those storytellers whom story I resumed shortly and only as I remembered. There would be so much more to tell! The most important is: they were wonderful and they are great people that I was happy to meet.
Monday, December 5, 2011
It is always nice
"If I had to choose 3 they would be the wonderfully droll and cheeky 70 something: Julie Kertesz, the fresh faced bemused Manchurian: Jimmy Mills and the bizarre quintessential Frenchman who loves the English: Pierre La Poule."
In the blog "Max your voice" and no less then written by a Voice and Speech Coach Frances Parkes!
Read the whole article of the Showcase of Toastmasters after David T Jones Stand up Comedy Workshop in Standup at the dogstar
I put here the picture that he did not put on me, on the article, this is more or less how I see myself these days.
Sunday, December 4, 2011
A squirrel passes
One has to follow as the occasion arrives, and not let go crossing the hands - or, in my case, staying home.
Yes, it is warm and quiet at home, but it will be quiet also after I die. So the time we have, let us use it!
Tonight, Stand Up at Angel and tomorrow Storytelling at Canal Cafe Theatre.
Saturday, December 3, 2011
Adam Bloom, comedian
Adam lights up as soon as he begins to speak, whether he stands on his feet or sits.
He will be performing at Comedy Store, perhaps equivalent to the Royal Opera House for a singer. "You have to be good for that not only once in a while, but all the time." he explained to us last Sunday at the Comedy School Festival.
I was not able to do any good pictures of him that time so I am happy to have found this one, taken by whom I do not know.
Hope he does not mind that I put it on flickr so I can blog it here. I will be there at the Comedy Store listening to him!
Friday, December 2, 2011
Every step is worth taking
First, there is the "compère" introducing us, here it is from yesterday, he has 15 years of experience behind him! And what a wonderful smile and presence!
Then I begun to learn the diversity of experience of comedy clubs. Not only where I performed (and made the present audience laugh, indeed) but also going to other club where a pal performed and seeing the difference between them.
Looking forward to difference experiences, it is fascinating and I now know also that I can stay awake late and come home even later.
So what? I begun to sleep one hour afternoons. I can do it! I can do it!
And at age 77 I am ready for new experiences.
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Warning, or the Red hat
When I am an old woman I shall wear purple
With a red hat which doesn't go, and doesn't suit me.
And I shall spend my pension on brandy and summer gloves
And satin sandals, and say we've no money for butter.
I just bought my red hat, at age of 77
I shall sit down on the pavement when I'm tired
And gobble up samples in shops and press alarm bells
And run my stick along the public railings
And make up for the sobriety of my youth.
I shall go out in my slippers in the rain
And pick flowers in other people's gardens
And learn to spit.
You can wear terrible shirts and grow more fat
And eat three pounds of sausages at a go
Or only bread and pickle for a week
And hoard pens and pencils and beermats and things in boxes.
But now we must have clothes that keep us dry
And pay our rent and not swear in the street
And set a good example for the children.
We must have friends to dinner and read the papers.
But maybe I ought to practice a little now?
So people who know me are not too shocked and surprised
When suddenly I am old, and start to wear purple.
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I just did buy my red hat now, at age of 77
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