Everybody has a Story. In these conversations Jane and Dan invite selected guests in to explore what they consider to be the origins of who they are and what they do, and how their own stories show up in their work, their creative practise or their mission.

In this conversation Karen Fisch talks about her early days as a Greenham Common activist and how playing music and singing during that time grew into her performing as George Micheal and Frank, or Frankie Sinatra and her participation of the documentary REBEL DYKES which opens as part of the BFI FLARE Festival this week.

karenfisch.co.uk @kingfrankiesina
rebeldykes1980s.com @rebeldykes
bfi.org.uk/flare/films/rebel-dykes

@housemanvoice @kingfrankisina @BFI

ORIGINAL #1: Karen Fisch | Performer | Activist | Artist | Drag King

Everybody has a Story. In these conversations Jane and Dan invite selected guests in to explore what they consider to be the origins of who they are and what they do, and how their own stories show up in their work, their creative practise or their mission.

In this conversation Olivia Hirst talks about her first play at the Edinburgh Festival that she devised knowing she carried BRCA1, a genetic mutation which increases her possibility of getting breast and ovarian cancer. She talks about the strong women in her family who also feature in the play and other productions she's since produced at The New Diorama Theatre in London. Notably The Incident Room which investigates the investigation of the Yorkshire Ripper.

ORIGINAL #2: Olivia Hirst | Playwright & Actor... sometimes...

Narativ directors Dan Milne and Jane Nash contributed to a book that came out in April called "Using Image & Narrative in Therapy for Trauma, Addiction & Recovery" - edited by James D West. 

Narativ founder Murray Nossel also wrote a chapter where he talks about the work he did with the Brooklyn AIDS Program at the height of the epidemic in 1994.
Here's a link to that very first iteration of Narativ's storytelling methodology for people with HIV and AIDS
https://vimeo.com/78002542 

Other contributors to the book include
James West (editor) Charles Brown; Tom Barber & Sandra Westland; Tony Gammidge; Emma Hollamby; Anthea Hendry; Carlotta Raby; Dominic T Plant; Nili Sigal; Dominik Havsteen-FranklinRichard Kidgell & Janice Lobhan; Gillian Solomon; Sheila Butler; Martin Weegman; Tania Korsak Najma, Tania Kaczynski & Jon Martyn & Sarah Deco.

Available now on AMAZON
https://amzn.to/32yNw9v

Using Image & Narrative in Therapy for Trauma, Addiction & Recovery

Sam Adams is an actress, storyteller and drama therapist. She teaches at The University of Roehampton, Central School of Speech and Drama and works with Unicorn Theatre, National Theatre, Primary Shakespeare Company and The National Theatre.

She talks to Dan and Jane about plays she's devised that link her to her past. 

"I’m trying to heal myself and meet with my ancestors and allow them to come into the space, to meet these other people that don’t know or understand about the trauma of blackness…" Sam Adams

ORIGINAL #3: Sam Adams | Storyteller | Drama Therapist

How do you react when someone tells you the end of the film or whodunnit in your favourite binged TV show? 
Dan and Jane went to the cinema for the first time in 18 months. They chose to see SOUND OF METAL (Dir Darius Marder) at the BFI. 

#SpoilerAlert! They give away parts of the story in the second half of the podcast, but begin by discussing what knowing the end of a story does to the telling of it and how our listening is shaped by what we anticipate the ending might be.

SPOILERS

Renowned dance photographer, Chris Nash, talks to Dan and Jane about how he met the very first dancer he photographed. A moment that changed is life and career path to become one of the dance world's most sought after stills photographers. 

Through his touring exhibitions he has built an international reputation and has been described by The Guardian as "Our most imaginative interpreter of Dance." 

www.chrisnashphoto.com

ORIGINAL #4: Chris Nash | Dance Photographer

Sandra Boom is a London-based genderqueer performer, experimental artist and model. Her pronouns are they/them, she/her and she is from the Carnival capital of Greece: Patras.

In this podcast Sandra talks about growing up in a place that celebrates the history of Dionysus and the beginnings of theatre. This leads to her ORIGIN story as a performer, model and experimental artist where she recognises the permission she was given as a young child to dress up every year at carnival and become someone - or something - else.

For more about Sandra's work and some fantastic images go to her website https://sandraboom.com

And her socials
@sandralaboom

Sandra is also an astrologer and has her own podcast Boom In The Stars - check it out
@boominthestars

ORIGINAL#5: Sandra Boom | Genderqueer Performer | Experimental Artist | Model

JP Hevey has always loved dressing up. Something he inherited from his stylish parents growing up in Liverpool. He began his creative career as an actor in the West End but discovered that his day job, stylist at Miss Selfridge on Oxford Street, was his real passion. He's turned that passion into his business EffortMade.com and styles celebrities, fashion shoots and presents on TV.

In this podcast he talks to Dan and Jane about his early life and career and what he's learned about the psychology of clothing from how we present ourselves and, whether we are aware or not, the importance of clothing and fashion in all our lives. 

He has found his passion in helping people find clothes to express their true selves, and is a voice over artist, drama coach and TV presenter.

effortmade.com  
@effortmade
@thepensionista
dramaskills.com

ORIGINAL #6: JP Hevey | Stylist | Actor | Presenter | Voice Over Artist | Drama Coach

Dipti Bramhandkar thought her diary was the only place she would write until she delved into her personal stories at a Narativ Workshop. She shares that revelation and other stories in creating words that actors could perform in a play.
Since then her first play, The Accident, won Best Drama at the Frigid Festival. She was the playwright-in-residence at Guild Hall in 2019. She performed her autobiographical solo show, American Rookie at Luna Stage in New York and her play Islands of Contentment was produced at The LAByrinth Theater’s Barn Series.

She is developing a new play titled Feet in the Forest Leave No Mark with actors (and Narativ directors) Dan Milne and Jane Nash.

ORIGINAL#8: Dipti Bramhandkar | Playwright | Performer | Screenwriter

Narativ #Original Stories: Dan and Jane talk about the extraordinary artists they have spoken to, and how their personal stories show up in their work.

Find all the #ORIGINAL podcasts here on SoundCloud and everywhere you get your podcasts.

Karen Fisch - drag king and activist
www.karenfisch.co.uk

Olivia Hurst - playwright and actress
@oliviajhirst

Sam Adams - actress and drama therapist
www.soundcloud.com/narativlondon/original-3-sam-adams-storyteller-drama-therapist

Chris Nash - dance photographer
www.chrisnashphoto.com

Sandra Boom - genderqueer performer, experimental artist and model
www.sandraboom.com

JP Hevey - stylist, actor, presenter, voiceover artist and drama coach
www.effortmade.com

Dipti Bramhandkar  - playwright, performer and screenwriter
@superdiptiwrites

Have You Heard?

Filmmaker Elizabeth Yng-Wong talks to Dan and Jane about how she came to telling her stories through film and together they discover storytelling through time travel.

They discuss the importance of how our name connects to our origin and identity: Elizabeth's English grandmother called her Mei Ling and she is claiming that name again now.

Elizabeth takes us from teaching in Hawaii to Siberia to studying film at USC in Los Angeles. She learnt along the way that telling stories with film and theatre is universal - and she wanted to be part of that.

She describes growing up in America with mixed heritage, going blonde and the importance of the skills and process of the under-appreciated film editor.

@missyngpictures
www.missyng.com
www.imdb.com/name/nm2392258/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0

Elizabeth's reel
www.vimeo.com/572802312

ORIGINAL#7: Elizabeth Yng-Wong | Filmmaker | Writer | Producer | Editor

Adé talks with Dan and Jane about how his background in theatre informs his creativity as a visual artist. It teaches you to show up. 

"Serving the play, leaves your own issues at the door.  Sometimes over thinking something can get in the way. Just show up."

@AdebayoBolaji

More info about Adé
https://www.herts.ac.uk/uhbow/whats-on/2021/spring-summer/in-pursuit-of-flow

Adé has an exhibition at the University of Hertfordshire in October
Art & Design Gallery, 
University of Hertfordshire, 
College Lane Campus, 
Hatfield, AL10 9AB
Digital exhibition available at www.uharts.co.uk

ORIGINAL#9: Adebayo Bolaji | Artist | Actor

Dan and Jane talk about personal story. Everybody has a story. What's yours?

Everybody Has A Story

Dan and Jane talk about being playful with Ground Rule 8 of the Narativ Method - We Are All Artists, Free To Live Outside Any Box.
Everyone is an artist. Being open to ideas like an artist. Exploring every possibility. The definition of creativity. Defining the difference between being an artist and being creative. The difference between art and craft might be subjective.

We Are All Artists ~ Feb 13th 2020

Dan and Jane talk about the idea of dominant stories and how it relates to the current issue of representation in our culture starting with the Oscars...

What's The Dominant Narrative? ~ Feb 27th 2020

Dan and Jane talk about the different elements of listening. How to be a good listener and what effects our ability to listen to one another.

A Conversation About Listening ~ March 5th 2020

Jane and Dan talk about the challenges of isolation and connection with others during the coronavirus pandemic.

Isolation & Connection In These Times ~ March 13th 2020

Dan and Jane explain the Narativ Method™ of Clearing Your Listening.

Join them every weekday at 9am (BST)in their Zoom meeting room to take a mindful moment to settle, connect with your body and notice what is going on in your mind. Clearing releases the obstacles and distractions that are getting in the way of being present and to set a positive intention for the day.

Zoom link ~ zoom.us/j/693365263

What is Clearing Listening? ~ April 1st 2020

Jane and Dan talk about the challenge of continuing to work as a productive team at this moment, touching on issues of communication, managing the new 'work-life' balance, boundarying meetings and finding a sense of personal leadership.

Working as a Team in a Period of Isolation ~ April 7th 2020

Dan and Jane discuss what leadership means as we all face the new circumstances of our lives. Whether in government, in the media, in expert knowledge, in our communities or in our homes, what do want and need and how can we find personal leadership for ourselves.

What Does It Mean to be a Leader? ~ April 14th 2020

As the UK extends another three weeks in lockdown, Dan and Jane talk about what lessons we might be learning during this period and finding purpose when no end to the collective story is in sight.

What are we learning during this time? ~ April 16th 2020

Jane and Dan talk about the relationship between the pandemic and the BLM protest, about advocacy and the generative power of listening in this moment to create a space where all voices are heard.

Radical Listening

Narativ Ground Rule #5 is We are responsible for listening to ourselves and one another with compassion, infinite ability and creativity.

Dan and Jane talk about having compassion for ourselves during a challenging time and hearing, for the first time, compassion expressed for a person who committed a terrible crime.

LISTEN to the BBC Radio broadcast that Jane talks about here:~
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p08z3nlc

Compassion: The Challenge of Listening with this Powerful Quality

Narativ director Jane Nash guides a meditation to help connect to the present moment and awaken your senses.

Be Here Now

Dan and Jane talk about the past year and setting and intention for the new one. If you'd like to join a Narativ Story Circle, subscribe to our newsletter for updates and invitations at Narativ.uk

Past, Present & Future

Dan Milne tells the fascinating origin story of Narativ. Twenty years ago Dan directed Paul Browde and Murray Nossel in a theatre piece called TWO MEN TALKING. The telling of their personal stories about growing up in South Africa took them to New York, London, South Africa, The Edinburgh Festival and beyond. That theatrical journey grew and gave birth to the storytelling and listening that is the Narativ Method used today. In a completion of the circle, many of the participants of Narativ workshops go on to develop their personal stories into  theatre and other creative works. 

Look also at our ORIGINAL series where we talk to theatre makers and other creatives about how they use their personal stories in their work. This short series of podcasts will talk about some of those works.

Popular tracks by Narativ London