Performer Name: Deborah Winter, Storyteller

Show Name: Otherworld

Show Description

Otherworld Captivating storytelling from Deborah Winter, woven with enchanting music from Jess Ward (harp, voice, fiddle). There's a border you can't see, only feel. Some tremulous change in the air; an echo of music from the Otherworld. Slip through that mysterious portal, shrouded in mist, into story-worlds full of magic, beauty and strangeness. In the world that shadows ours, mysterious beings dwell, governed by different rules. The ‘fair folk’, sometimes benign and playful, sometimes darkly mischievous, dance so nimbly between the two worlds that we only glimpse their heels as they vanish. Jess Ward's playing is delicate and powerful; gritty and enchanting; ethereal yet earthy; rooted in Celtic tradition but bursting free with innovative technique that astounds. This is music to soothe the heart, lament loss, haunt the soul, whispering of other worlds. Skilled wordsmith Deborah Winter conjures up such vivid images that audiences follow her to places they didn’t believe in before. 'Mesmerising', 'hypnotic’ are words listeners use about her storytelling. LINKS: http://www.jesswardmusic.co.uk http://www.jessward.bandcamp.com http://www.deborahwinter.co.uk

Image for show
We need sufficient lighting for Jess to see her harp strings. We would need to liaise with the venue about this.
Enough room for 2 people, a drum, harp, two violins. We don't need a stage but a slightly raised podium is good. But not essential by any means.
Yes, photos, event description, links etc. Can create posters for the Promoter where needed
Storyteller Deb Winter has won the hearts of audiences across Wales & beyond with her powerful and heartfelt shows: a diverse range, from her powerful tale of addiction in ‘The Red Shoes’ and her passionate ‘green’ stories through to her quirky, humorous ‘Refried Fairy Tales’ (Grimm’s classic stories re-imagined for the modern princess). She tells beautifully-crafted, compelling stories, often working with intuitive, improvising musicians. (Films at: http://www.deborahwinter.co.uk/storytelling.html ). In 2021 Deb won the Gwobr Esyllt Harker Award for Women Storytellers in Wales, jointly with musician/storyteller Ailsa Mair Hughes. With the prize came a commission for a new Storytelling show, performed at Beyond the Border International Storytelling Festival in 2023 to a standing ovation. Deb has been described as having ‘a winning mixture of warmth, high energy, irrepressible humour'. Despite leaning towards laughter, she’s not afraid to sound the depths of human nature and she tells the stories of our human frailties and tragedies with compassion and empathy. Deb was launched into professional storytelling by winning the 'Yarn-spinner' award at Bristol Story Slam in 2015 (large audience-vote event). Deb then took four new shows to the festival in 2016 -19 (reviews at http://www.deborahwinter.co.uk/storytelling.html) . Since then Deb has been busy performing locally & nationally (eg. Aberystwyth Storytelling Festival, Swansea Fringe, Cheltenham Science Festival, Fishguard Folk & Tenby Arts Festivals, Unearthed Festival, Llangwm Litfest, On Land's Edge Festival, Llangollen Fringe, End of the Road Festival, Swansea Fringe, Theatr Gwaun, Pembrokeshire Coast, Pembrokeshire Library service, Span Arts, Queens Hall Narberth).