“If you cut my hair, I shall be as weak as any other man.” 

In stories as in life, hair is accorded significance.  In traditional stories, it can symbolise strength, power, identity, spiritual connection and social status.  Its cutting can denote loss of status, punishment, change and the possibility of transformation.  Grey or white hair is seen as indicating wisdom, whilst red hair has been associated both with witchery and uniqueness. 

In this storytelling, you will meet two of our most famous characters known for their hair: Samson and Rapunzel.  However, you may not have heard these stories told quite as you will in this performance.  In these tellings we will meet all manner of human qualities, both dark and light.   

Oral storytelling has a long history.  Stories were traditionally told to pass on values, societal traditions, the history of the tribe or peoples, to encourage co-operation as well as entertain.  For Scheherazade in 1001 Arabian Nights, telling stories was her means of staying alive.  

Performance storytelling is akin to theatre.  As in a theatre performance, through body, voice and words the storyteller evokes images in the listener’s mind which make their unique impression on the individual.  In this way, the listener co-creates the story.  

Catherine Chadwick is a performance storyteller and has been telling stories for eight years.  She has told stories at libraries, an arts festival, in churches, at storytelling clubs, at a flamenco dance show and curated an event with other storytellers for a fundraiser.  She belonged to the public speaking organisation, Toastmasters for five years and is now a member of Surrey Storytellers.  She is also a therapist with a practice based in the City of London.