so enhance Andersen’s fairy tale The Snow Queen the story starts with a
Snow Queen the story starts with a
Snow Queen the story starts with a mirror that’s magic and when you look
mirror that’s magic and when you look
mirror that’s magic and when you look into it you can only see the ugly boring
into it you can only see the ugly boring
into it you can only see the ugly boring and cruel things in the world it was
and cruel things in the world it was
and cruel things in the world it was made by the evilest demon in the whole
made by the evilest demon in the whole
made by the evilest demon in the whole of history and he thought it was
of history and he thought it was
of history and he thought it was hilarious when you looked into it if you
hilarious when you looked into it if you
hilarious when you looked into it if you had a little pimple on your chin
had a little pimple on your chin
had a little pimple on your chin you’d see reflected a horrible
you’d see reflected a horrible
you’d see reflected a horrible disfiguring posture if you looked into
disfiguring posture if you looked into
disfiguring posture if you looked into it at reflection of children playing
it at reflection of children playing
it at reflection of children playing you’d see only how cruel they were being
you’d see only how cruel they were being
you’d see only how cruel they were being to each other
to each other
to each other and the demon showed this mirror to
and the demon showed this mirror to
and the demon showed this mirror to people but it wasn’t enough for him he
people but it wasn’t enough for him he
people but it wasn’t enough for him he decided to take it up to heaven to show
decided to take it up to heaven to show
decided to take it up to heaven to show God and his angels and so he started to
God and his angels and so he started to
God and his angels and so he started to fly upwards and as he did he noticed the
fly upwards and as he did he noticed the
fly upwards and as he did he noticed the mirror began to tremble and then it
mirror began to tremble and then it
mirror began to tremble and then it exploded into a hundred thousand tiny
exploded into a hundred thousand tiny
exploded into a hundred thousand tiny pieces and this was the worst thing that
pieces and this was the worst thing that
pieces and this was the worst thing that could have possibly happened because the
could have possibly happened because the
could have possibly happened because the pieces rained down on the earth and
pieces rained down on the earth and
pieces rained down on the earth and sometimes someone would get a piece of
sometimes someone would get a piece of
sometimes someone would get a piece of that mirror in their eye and then they
that mirror in their eye and then they
that mirror in their eye and then they could only see the ugly boring and cruel
could only see the ugly boring and cruel
could only see the ugly boring and cruel things in the world and sometimes
things in the world and sometimes
things in the world and sometimes someone would get a piece of that mirror
someone would get a piece of that mirror
someone would get a piece of that mirror in their hearts and then their heart
in their hearts and then their heart
in their hearts and then their heart would freeze into a block of ice so I
would freeze into a block of ice so I
would freeze into a block of ice so I love that story it might be my favorite
love that story it might be my favorite
love that story it might be my favorite because I feel that all of us have at
because I feel that all of us have at
because I feel that all of us have at some time felt like we’ve got a bit of
some time felt like we’ve got a bit of
some time felt like we’ve got a bit of that horrible
that horrible
that horrible mirror in our eye so I’m a professional
mirror in our eye so I’m a professional
mirror in our eye so I’m a professional storyteller and I draw my repertoire
storyteller and I draw my repertoire
storyteller and I draw my repertoire from folktales myths and legends from
from folktales myths and legends from
from folktales myths and legends from all around the world all different
all around the world all different
all around the world all different cultures and traditions and I thought
cultures and traditions and I thought
cultures and traditions and I thought when I was getting ready for this talk
when I was getting ready for this talk
when I was getting ready for this talk if I looked at all the different stories
if I looked at all the different stories
if I looked at all the different stories from all the different traditions for
from all the different traditions for
from all the different traditions for popular ones the ones have been told and
popular ones the ones have been told and
popular ones the ones have been told and retold and see what they have in common
retold and see what they have in common
retold and see what they have in common I might find out something about what we
I might find out something about what we
I might find out something about what we as human beings have in common and so
as human beings have in common and so
as human beings have in common and so had a look and I found that from Jack
had a look and I found that from Jack
had a look and I found that from Jack and the Beanstalk to the aboriginal
and the Beanstalk to the aboriginal
and the Beanstalk to the aboriginal Dreamtime stories from the Greek gods to
Dreamtime stories from the Greek gods to
Dreamtime stories from the Greek gods to Harry Potter stories that we tell and
Harry Potter stories that we tell and
Harry Potter stories that we tell and love are underpinned with magic and so
love are underpinned with magic and so
love are underpinned with magic and so this talk is about magic so I don’t mean
this talk is about magic so I don’t mean
this talk is about magic so I don’t mean I’m going to show you how to make a love
I’m going to show you how to make a love
I’m going to show you how to make a love potion or cut a woman in half or pick a
potion or cut a woman in half or pick a
potion or cut a woman in half or pick a card that’s not what I’m talking about
card that’s not what I’m talking about
card that’s not what I’m talking about I’m talking about that indefinable
I’m talking about that indefinable
I’m talking about that indefinable intangible sense of wonder and
intangible sense of wonder and
intangible sense of wonder and expectation which makes you feel as if
expectation which makes you feel as if
expectation which makes you feel as if you’re living in an enchanted world I
you’re living in an enchanted world I
you’re living in an enchanted world I think everybody has felt it at some time
think everybody has felt it at some time
think everybody has felt it at some time or another in their lives but for a lot
or another in their lives but for a lot
or another in their lives but for a lot of people it’s something that’s
of people it’s something that’s
of people it’s something that’s associated with childhood but stories
associated with childhood but stories
associated with childhood but stories aren’t just for children and nor is
aren’t just for children and nor is
aren’t just for children and nor is magic magic can be powerful and
magic magic can be powerful and
magic magic can be powerful and transformative and it can build bridges
transformative and it can build bridges
transformative and it can build bridges let me give you an example so back in
let me give you an example so back in
let me give you an example so back in the 1990’s
the 1990’s
the 1990’s I used to share a flat in the West End
I used to share a flat in the West End
I used to share a flat in the West End of London with a club promoter and at
of London with a club promoter and at
of London with a club promoter and at night he was always out clubbing so
night he was always out clubbing so
night he was always out clubbing so anyway it was August and it was really
anyway it was August and it was really
anyway it was August and it was really hot and I was trying to sleep and he was
hot and I was trying to sleep and he was
hot and I was trying to sleep and he was out I had all the windows open couldn’t
out I had all the windows open couldn’t
out I had all the windows open couldn’t sleep and I could hear someone outside
sleep and I could hear someone outside
sleep and I could hear someone outside on the street shouting up to him because
on the street shouting up to him because
on the street shouting up to him because our doorbell didn’t work and she’s
our doorbell didn’t work and she’s
our doorbell didn’t work and she’s making a really loud noise and I
making a really loud noise and I
making a really loud noise and I couldn’t sleep
couldn’t sleep
couldn’t sleep and I stuck my head out and I called
and I stuck my head out and I called
and I stuck my head out and I called down he’s gone out and she went oh thank
down he’s gone out and she went oh thank
down he’s gone out and she went oh thank God thank God songs here please please
God thank God songs here please please
God thank God songs here please please can I come up and just just wait for him
can I come up and just just wait for him
can I come up and just just wait for him I won’t be any trouble and I thought she
I won’t be any trouble and I thought she
I won’t be any trouble and I thought she seems alright so you can just come up
seems alright so you can just come up
seems alright so you can just come up and wait in his room he wouldn’t mind I
and wait in his room he wouldn’t mind I
and wait in his room he wouldn’t mind I know I know he wouldn’t mind so um I
know I know he wouldn’t mind so um I
know I know he wouldn’t mind so um I went down let her in she followed me up
went down let her in she followed me up
went down let her in she followed me up the stairs but instead of going into his
the stairs but instead of going into his
the stairs but instead of going into his room I’m waiting for him to came into my
room I’m waiting for him to came into my
room I’m waiting for him to came into my room and she threw herself down on my
room and she threw herself down on my
room and she threw herself down on my bed and by the lights of our room I
bed and by the lights of our room I
bed and by the lights of our room I could see that like a lot of his friends
could see that like a lot of his friends
could see that like a lot of his friends she was quite glamorous to look dyed
she was quite glamorous to look dyed
she was quite glamorous to look dyed hair false eyelashes heavy makeup and
hair false eyelashes heavy makeup and
hair false eyelashes heavy makeup and she looked funny as well and kind of
she looked funny as well and kind of
she looked funny as well and kind of strong she was wearing an Elvis Presley
strong she was wearing an Elvis Presley
strong she was wearing an Elvis Presley 1970s style jumpsuits with flares and
1970s style jumpsuits with flares and
1970s style jumpsuits with flares and flames at the side and I said I liked
flames at the side and I said I liked
flames at the side and I said I liked your jumpsuit and she said oh this yeah
your jumpsuit and she said oh this yeah
your jumpsuit and she said oh this yeah it’s a vintage and then she said thank
it’s a vintage and then she said thank
it’s a vintage and then she said thank you so much for letting me come in and
you so much for letting me come in and
you so much for letting me come in and wait I just needed to be with somebody
wait I just needed to be with somebody
wait I just needed to be with somebody so bad I’ve had the worst day of my life
so bad I’ve had the worst day of my life
so bad I’ve had the worst day of my life and I don’t even know why nothing’s even
and I don’t even know why nothing’s even
and I don’t even know why nothing’s even happened and I just liked her straight
happened and I just liked her straight
happened and I just liked her straight away and I said oh well what was it she
away and I said oh well what was it she
away and I said oh well what was it she said well normally she say
said well normally she say
said well normally she say I’m in a band but to make money I dance
I’m in a band but to make money I dance
I’m in a band but to make money I dance in the nightclub so it’s 12 hours a day
in the nightclub so it’s 12 hours a day
in the nightclub so it’s 12 hours a day you know it’s okay I don’t mind it
you know it’s okay I don’t mind it
you know it’s okay I don’t mind it normally but today she said it was so
normally but today she said it was so
normally but today she said it was so hot in there I couldn’t breathe and I
hot in there I couldn’t breathe and I
hot in there I couldn’t breathe and I started to think and my mind started
started to think and my mind started
started to think and my mind started going round and round and suddenly I
going round and round and suddenly I
going round and round and suddenly I started to feel like I’ve died and gone
started to feel like I’ve died and gone
started to feel like I’ve died and gone to hell
to hell
to hell and all the men were like demons and I
and all the men were like demons and I
and all the men were like demons and I kept telling myself when I go out it
kept telling myself when I go out it
kept telling myself when I go out it would be all right and I’d feel better
would be all right and I’d feel better
would be all right and I’d feel better but I’m out and I don’t feel any better
but I’m out and I don’t feel any better
but I’m out and I don’t feel any better and I thought I felt sorry for her and I
and I thought I felt sorry for her and I
and I thought I felt sorry for her and I so hot if I’m so hot and uncomfortable
so hot if I’m so hot and uncomfortable
so hot if I’m so hot and uncomfortable and I wanted to help her and then just
and I wanted to help her and then just
and I wanted to help her and then just suddenly it’s completely surreal public
suddenly it’s completely surreal public
suddenly it’s completely surreal public as I’ve sleep-deprived
as I’ve sleep-deprived
as I’ve sleep-deprived this totally surreal idea came into my
this totally surreal idea came into my
this totally surreal idea came into my head and I said do you like swimming
head and I said do you like swimming
head and I said do you like swimming uh-huh
uh-huh
uh-huh he said I said do you want to come
he said I said do you want to come
he said I said do you want to come swimming with me right now
swimming with me right now
swimming with me right now sure she said Oh
middle of the night we went down never
middle of the night we went down never met her before got in my car and drove
met her before got in my car and drove
met her before got in my car and drove to Hampstead Heath which is if you don’t
to Hampstead Heath which is if you don’t
to Hampstead Heath which is if you don’t know it amazingly a beautiful forest
know it amazingly a beautiful forest
know it amazingly a beautiful forest with a lake and everything in the middle
with a lake and everything in the middle
with a lake and everything in the middle of London
of London
of London so anyway we got there pitch dark of
so anyway we got there pitch dark of
so anyway we got there pitch dark of course forest no lights or anything and
course forest no lights or anything and
course forest no lights or anything and we got out of car leaving her through
we got out of car leaving her through
we got out of car leaving her through cobwebs breaking over our face sound of
cobwebs breaking over our face sound of
cobwebs breaking over our face sound of the animals birds
the animals birds
the animals birds she was giggling and then we came out to
she was giggling and then we came out to
she was giggling and then we came out to this hillside and the sky was black and
this hillside and the sky was black and
this hillside and the sky was black and the moon was white and the hill was
the moon was white and the hill was
the moon was white and the hill was totally white with long dry August grass
totally white with long dry August grass
totally white with long dry August grass it was like being in sight and negative
it was like being in sight and negative
it was like being in sight and negative and we came to all the trees where this
and we came to all the trees where this
and we came to all the trees where this this lake was and the lake had such
this lake was and the lake had such
this lake was and the lake had such presence it was like a living thing
presence it was like a living thing
presence it was like a living thing shiny and black and I said look it’s
shiny and black and I said look it’s
shiny and black and I said look it’s really cold I said and it can be deep so
really cold I said and it can be deep so
really cold I said and it can be deep so but she had just pulled off her clothes
but she had just pulled off her clothes
but she had just pulled off her clothes and dived in headfirst and then didn’t
and dived in headfirst and then didn’t
and dived in headfirst and then didn’t come up and I’ll start to get really
come up and I’ll start to get really
come up and I’ll start to get really worried before she suddenly stuck her
worried before she suddenly stuck her
worried before she suddenly stuck her head up in the middle and she shook her
head up in the middle and she shook her
head up in the middle and she shook her head and all the droplets fell off and
head and all the droplets fell off and
head and all the droplets fell off and she looks like a mermaid and I got in
she looks like a mermaid and I got in
she looks like a mermaid and I got in the pond as well way spinning around and
the pond as well way spinning around and
the pond as well way spinning around and she was telling me about her childhood
she was telling me about her childhood
she was telling me about her childhood in Canada riding horses bareback and
in Canada riding horses bareback and
in Canada riding horses bareback and swimming in the rivers she was so
swimming in the rivers she was so
swimming in the rivers she was so different and after that I was different
different and after that I was different
different and after that I was different I didn’t stay in touch with her I hear
I didn’t stay in touch with her I hear
I didn’t stay in touch with her I hear she remembered it obviously I remembered
she remembered it obviously I remembered
she remembered it obviously I remembered it telling you about it it was like
it telling you about it it was like
it telling you about it it was like having a piece of that awful mirror
having a piece of that awful mirror
having a piece of that awful mirror washed out of my eye and it changed the
washed out of my eye and it changed the
washed out of my eye and it changed the way forever
way forever
way forever that I relate to the city and I relate
that I relate to the city and I relate
that I relate to the city and I relate to strangers and so I thought I’d end
to strangers and so I thought I’d end
to strangers and so I thought I’d end this little talk with some ideas about
this little talk with some ideas about
this little talk with some ideas about how you can bring magic into your own
how you can bring magic into your own
how you can bring magic into your own life if you feel inspired to so I do
life if you feel inspired to so I do
life if you feel inspired to so I do storytelling events for adults and I was
storytelling events for adults and I was
storytelling events for adults and I was trying making a magical and these are
trying making a magical and these are
trying making a magical and these are things that work for me but you’ll have
things that work for me but you’ll have
things that work for me but you’ll have to find things that work for you really
to find things that work for you really
to find things that work for you really the thing the first thing is place so
the thing the first thing is place so
the thing the first thing is place so like a magical forest in the middle of
like a magical forest in the middle of
like a magical forest in the middle of London’s really good but anyway that’s
London’s really good but anyway that’s
London’s really good but anyway that’s beautiful and got lot of history and is
beautiful and got lot of history and is
beautiful and got lot of history and is deserted so if there’s snow whenever a
deserted so if there’s snow whenever a
deserted so if there’s snow whenever a few came here really late at night
and then there’s time of day so middle
and then there’s time of day so middle of the night which we did with brilliant
of the night which we did with brilliant
of the night which we did with brilliant or dawn when the day’s just been born
or dawn when the day’s just been born
or dawn when the day’s just been born even if it’s gray or when the Sun has
even if it’s gray or when the Sun has
even if it’s gray or when the Sun has gone down but the sky is still light
gone down but the sky is still light
gone down but the sky is still light cinematographers call that Magic Hour
cinematographers call that Magic Hour
cinematographers call that Magic Hour great time and then the other one is who
great time and then the other one is who
great time and then the other one is who you’re with
you’re with
you’re with so don’t want to be too prescriptive but
so don’t want to be too prescriptive but
so don’t want to be too prescriptive but if there’s a person who you know who
if there’s a person who you know who
if there’s a person who you know who keeps following you around talking about
keeps following you around talking about
keeps following you around talking about house prices and school places maybe not
house prices and school places maybe not
house prices and school places maybe not bring them maybe go by yourself and see
bring them maybe go by yourself and see
bring them maybe go by yourself and see who you believe meeting people is all
who you believe meeting people is all
who you believe meeting people is all part of it so that’s just some tips for
part of it so that’s just some tips for
part of it so that’s just some tips for you anyway but you’ll find your own way
you anyway but you’ll find your own way
you anyway but you’ll find your own way I’m sure there’s only one thing that I
I’m sure there’s only one thing that I
I’m sure there’s only one thing that I think is really important
think is really important
think is really important please believe because it is real we do
please believe because it is real we do
please believe because it is real we do live in an utterly boring and cruel
live in an utterly boring and cruel
live in an utterly boring and cruel world but it’s bursting with Wonder and
world but it’s bursting with Wonder and
world but it’s bursting with Wonder and beauty and as roald dahl wrote those who
beauty and as roald dahl wrote those who
beauty and as roald dahl wrote those who do not believe in magic will never find
do not believe in magic will never find
do not believe in magic will never find it thank you very much
it thank you very much
it thank you very much [Applause]
”
Be First to Comment