True Stories First Anniversary: No Regrets
It was an absolute joy and a privilege to have been part of the True Stories Anniversary showcase; being new to the set up I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect but had really high expectations as soon as I found out that Sara Pascoe (who is my new idol after seeing her at the Playhouse a month or so again) would be one of the guest speakers who had been lined up to bare their soul on stage.
There were eight storytellers in total; each one was incredibly engaging, totally and utterly different from the next and I can honestly say that I was enthralled from start to finish with each piece. Molly Naylor hosted the night’s entertainment with such passion and enthusiasm; she made the both the audience and speakers alike feel comfortable, welcome and valued. I loved the fact that the stage was set up like a living room too; picture frames suspended from the ceiling which looked fantastic against a black background, offset by vintage lamp shades and comfy armchairs. This comfortable, cosy setting really added to the intimate and honest atmosphere created by the brave and articulate speakers.
It is impossible for me to pick a favourite from the line up as all eight absolutely nailed it in my opinion. However some highlights for me include: £350 in a brown paper bag in exchange for a gun, DIY taxidermy, racist in-laws, joining cults, the trials and tribulations of emoji flirting and a narrow escape from being trampled by wild horses. The final act performed his stories in the form of song and acoustic guitar. It was a brilliant act with which to close the show and I will be honest, I found the final song so hard hitting and relevant to my own life that it brought an actual tear to my eye!
I thoroughly enjoyed every minute and I cannot wait for the next instalment next month!
