Three days of storytelling

The journey of a butterfly is mesmerising. Caterpillars in their cocoon, growing and transforming into butterflies with colourful wings in all shapes and patterns. There are all sorts of children’s stories about butterflies sharing messages about transformation and this is exactly the theme of an upcoming three-day storytelling festival Chrysallis: Stories in the Cocoon.

The chrysallis is the pupal stage of an insect, while the caterpillar is in its silky cocoon, awaiting its transformation. It is this process of metamorphosis the organisers of the mini online festival, The Majestic Music Tree, want to shine a light on during a weekend that has a special significance. Happening across March 19, 20 and 21, the festival celebrates two special days – World Storytelling Day and the Spring Equinox, both on March 20.

The arts will meet online, as this is a virtual festival, to tell stories about Transformation. Narration, music, song, theatre, pantomime, dance and workshops for children and adults will carry tales of love, nature, imagination and immortality in the Cypriot dialect, Greek and Italian.

Throughout the weekend, viewers can tune in on the Majestic Music Tree’s YouTube channel to watch the pre-recorded performances and storytelling events and join Zoom events to participate in workshops and presentations. Two of these that stand out are a three-hour storytelling workshop titled I Narrate as I Feel and a presentation of Mark H Hellicar’s impressive leaf artwork.

The writing workshop for adults, which is the only event that has a participation fee of €25, will be held on March 20 by two exceptional storytellers from Greece, Angeliki Agalianou and Eleana Xatzaki. Starting at 10am, they will share secrets about the art of storytelling and will play narration games with participants. Anyone aged over 18 who loves to tell and listen to stories can join. To participate, email [email protected] with full name by Monday, March 15.

On Sunday 21, the festival will feature Mark H Hellicar’s leaf artwork, intricate miniature pieces presented on Zoom – the modern-day art exhibition. “Mark,” says lead organiser Elenitsa Georgiou “will take us on a magical journey into the forest and the microcosmos of the leaves he creates. His Scottish background, his architecture degree and a large amount of time he dedicates to explore our island’s nature, blend harmonically together to present to us the ‘storyleaves’ as I call them.”

On thin and delicate leaves, Mark carves and shapes entire scenes, landscapes and worlds, transforming nature into art in his own unique way. Joining the presentation is free and can be done through a link that will be posted at a later date on the Facebook event.

Several more events featuring song, tales and music are part of the festival and though this year they are all held in Greek, the organisers say that should an online festival take place in 2022, they will attempt to have English subtitles as well. If an in-person festival can happen next year, Elenitsa hopes to host English-speaking guests too.

Until then, the first edition is purely virtual and celebrates not only World Storytelling Day but also two friends; Dr Maria Yerosimou, a researcher of Jani Christou’s music, a performer and a music educator and Giota Themistokleous Daskalaki, a professor and storyteller. “We lost these two friends in 2020-2021,” Elenitsa said. “Both of them transformed through the years into beautiful artistic butterflies and were close collaborators and friends that were going to take part at Chrysallis festival.”

On March 19, 20 and 21 fairy tales and myths will come to life, art will meet art on the weekend that officially welcomes spring and celebrates stories. “World Storytelling Day brings people of all ages together,” added Elenitsa “and since storytelling is not a common profession in Cyprus, our festival gives the audience the chance to watch and learn more about this Ancient form of Art. Storytelling makes us travel to the past, remember our ancestors and helps as get ready for the future’s difficulties in indirect ways. It helps children become more mature and adults remember their childhood.” To stories then… from the cocoon, to life.

Chrysallis: Stories in the Cocoon

Three-day storytelling festival with concerts, performances, presentations and workshops. March 19-21. YouTube and Zoom. Organised by the Majestic Music Tree. Facebook page: @themajesticmusictree