Richard is a storyteller, adept at weaving a tale that draws in listeners.
“I say every single person is a storyteller,” said Richard. “If you tell me something you did this weekend, that’s a story. Anything that happened in your life, the way that you tell it, that’s a story.”
For almost 20 years, she’s been sharing tales — most fictitious — with audiences on P.E.I. and beyond, even starting a storytelling circle while living in Quebec.
Now she’s hoping others will take up the craft, an art form that once was alive and vibrant on the Island — a place that has nurtured gifted narrators like David Weale, Dutch Thompson and the late Leah Maddix, the first Richard ever heard tell a tale.
Richard is teaming up with Culture Summerside to start a storytelling circle.
“A lot of people think they don’t have a story. They think it is somebody else that has an interesting or exciting life,” said Culture Summerside’s Marlene Campbell. “It is just how you tell it.”
For several years, the organization has hosted the Island Storytelling Festival where Richard has shared the art form and put on workshops.
The idea of establishing a storytelling circle had been talked about for years but it wasn’t until recently that Richard and Culture Summerside were able to collaborate.
“We are looking for new talent to carry on the Island Storytelling Festival,” added Campbell.
The goal is to bring together those interested in the art of oral storytelling and provide them with a venue to develop their skill, and learn from other Island storytellers.
And what makes a good story is as varied as the tales, said Richard.
“I only tell stories that I, myself, am in love with. I can change from one story to the next,” she added. “I love little Jack stories. Traditional Acadian stories, most of the time, they are little Jack stories.
“I like the underdog stories where they come out to be the hero in the end.”
For Richard, there is a method to her storytelling. She’s not one to make up a story on the spot, and keeps a written list of what might inspire a tale.
“I’ve always got my stories prepared ahead of time. I can improvise but I do not learn my stories by heart,” she said. “Once I am on stage I will get a new character out and it is like, ‘where the heck did he come from?’”
The first night for the Summerside storytelling circle, an event open to all ages, experience and backgrounds, is March 26. The hope is to make it a monthly event.
“There are so many stories and we tell them. We tell them on Facebook every day,” Richard said with a laugh.
“Everybody has a story to tell.”
A few facts
— Joint effort of Culture Summerside and Noella Richard
— First storytelling evening March 26, 7-9 p.m.
— Location: Lefurgey Cultural Centre, Summerside
— No charge and all backgrounds, experience and ages welcome
