One of Canada’s most epic storytellers will give a new twist to an epic story when the Tales for the Telling speakers’ series returns Friday, Nov. 27, at the McMillan Arts Centre in Parksville.
Jan Andrews, a founding member of the Storytellers of Canada, will travel from Ottawa to share her unique presentation of Two Women of the Odyssey: Penelope and Nausicaa in a performance beginning at 7:30 p.m. When the blind storyteller Homer told The Odyssey, he was telling the story to earn his food and a place to sleep for the night. People sat mesmerized as he enchanted them with stories of the struggles of Odysseus to make his way home after the Trojan War. However, those stories were told from the point of view of Odysseus. Jan retells these stories from the point of view of two women in the Odyssey — Penelope, the wife of Odysseus, and Nausicaa.
Andrews was recently recognized by Storytellers of Canada with their highest honour, the StoryKeeper Award. She was also named the StorySave teller in 2014. A large part of Jan’s work has been the telling of epic stories, such as the Iliad and the Odyssey.
Her first recording as a StorySave storyteller recognizes this important work.
Jan has performed both nationally and internationally and has received numerous awards. She is also an acclaimed author and Governor General’s Award nominee. She has spent her life dedicated to good storytelling – not only as a performer and writer, but also as a coach, mentor and organizer.
Her appearance is made possible due to a grant from the Canada Council and is a rare opportunity for the people of Oceanside to hear one Canada’s most renowned storytellers.
Storytelling evenings at the McMillan are very popular and people are encouraged to purchase their tickets in advance at the MAC, 133 McMillan Street.
The Arts Centre is open from Tuesday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tickets are $12 or $10 for Arts Centre members. Remaining tickets will be available at the door.
For more information, please contact the McMillan Arts Council at 250-248-8185 or visit www.mcmillanartscentre.com.
— Submitted by the MAC