Story Storks
Free Entry
Story Storks is a local theatre company on a mission to bring fairytales and local legends to the kids of Kingston through interactive storytelling workshops and theatre shows. So far Story Storks has discovered that Kingston had it's own Christmas elf, a crocodile, a whole bunch of kings and that Dick Whittington stayed the night here on his way to London. We thoroughly research our stories through Kingston Museum and Kingston History Centre before turning them into theatre for kids. They also upload their work onto our website complete with family friendly, educational resources and a full write up of the research for the local history buffs.
Story Stalks regularly work with Kingston Heritage Service to research their stories. Bringing collection items and local tales to life for young families. Story Stalks also do occaisional take over sessions in Kingston Museum and Kingston History Centre for local audiences.
King Athelstan - 2014
Story Stalks researched the life of King Athelstan at Kingston History Centre thanks to an award from the Heritage Lottery Fund. They then created an interactive storytelling workshop full of vikings, fierce auntys and a big dollop of Kingston. When delivered at the Museum, children also got to enjoy an Anglo-Saxon handling workshop delivered by the team. A trail was jointly created for groups to follow from Kingston Museum to All Saints church, taking in Athelstan related spots on the way.
The Forgotten Christmas Elf - 2016
Story Stalks used Kingston History Centre to research Jimminy Jingle - Kingston's very own Christmas elf. During the 1950s, Bentalls held a Christmas parade which ran from the now Hawker Centre to Bentalls. Father Christmas and his trusty elf Jimminy Jingle had the best float of all. Jimminy and Father Christmas would then host the kids in the Bentalls grotto through November and December. Jimminy was played by local actor, Jerry Joyce, who also worked in the Bentalls depository. Inspired by his story, we created Cracker Chimes, a Christmas Elf who lived at Kingston Children's library.
The Christmas Crocodile – 2018
One of the items on display at Kingston Museum is a small wooden crocodile reffered to as Snappity. When the guns of WW1 fell silent, the workers in the Sopwith Aviation Factories started to use their new-found skills to make and sell wooden goods to keep the factory afloat. A group of munitionettes made a toy crocodile, a pull along toy, which was then sold in Bentalls that Christmas. Story Sorks worked with Kingston Museum, Kingston History Centre and Kingston Aviation Project archive to research the story. Supported by the Rose Theatre, we then created a children's Christmas show based on the story (although our crocodile was 3m long and came to life!)
Dick Whittington – 2020
When Dick Whittington made his famous journey to London he didn't go via Highgate Hill, he walked to Maidenhead, stopping off overnight in Kingston. Story Storks worked with the History Centre team to research and determine the exact route that Dick Whittington took and have turned this into an online theatre show. We also installed a plaque (Nov 2020) in Canbury Playground with a QR code link to our extensive online resources for kids, casual history fans and full-on history buffs.
As part of the Christmas Crocodile project, Kingston college students were invited to a handling workshop hosted by Kingston Museum’s Curator.Students got to handle the 100 year old toy Crocodile and used an app to take accurate measurements. The students went off and created a replica which Story Stalks used in the show.
The original Crocodile in the collection is affectionately known as Snappity, and is the Museum’s mascot for children’s activities which Story Stalks used in the show. It has now been made child friendly and will be donated to Kingston Museum's handling collection.
Keep an eye on our website and social media. Story Stalks have volunteer opportunities during research periods. During funded projects we get to deliver our storytelling and shows for free.