“She has an engaging style that charms the audience and draws them into her story.”
~ The Age
Scheherazade:
Queen of the Storytellers
Scheherazade: Queen of the Storytellers, is the framing story of the 1001 Nights collection of tales, sometimes known as the Arabian Nights. Anne fell in love with the famed narrator when she began her storytelling journey.
The collection of stories includes Sinbad the Sailor, Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves and Aladdin and his Lamp, to name a few. Scheherazade comes into the story when she plans to captivate the Sultan Shahryar with her stories, stop his daily beheading of women. So skilled and versed in the art of storytelling that night after night, with quite dignity she commences her story – from the moment she begins, the Sultan is entranced by the beauty of her voice and the manner of her telling.
VIDEO:
Scheherazade: Queen of the Storytellers
(filmed in Iran)
Malala
Many years later, invited to tell Scheherazade’s story at the opening of the Persia: Love and Devotion Exhibition at the State Library of Victoria, Anne recalls –
“There came a moment in the afternoon’s telling – when like an electric jolt, I was in the story and I realised that storytelling was sometimes life and death. Now I can’t help but think of a 14 year old girl, Malala Yousafzai, in a head scarf, on a bus, shot because she tells stories about educating women.”
Since then, many women’s stories have been added to Anne's repertoire. Captivating and engaging, she shares stories of brave and bold women, extraordinary deeds, life at the crossroads and the shape shifting women of legend.
Anne has gone on to be invited to share stories at Women’s Events and Girls Schools throughout Australia.
Iran 2013
In February 2013, Anne was delighted to be invited to attend the '16th International Storytelling Festival', being held in Iran, along with other storytellers from Iran, Spain, Portugal, Colombia, Peru. Kenya, Canada, Japan, Singapore, Russia and Malaysia.
Iran 2013
“From Indigenous to Celtic, to World and Contemporary stories ... I pay my respects to first nation’s women – in particular, Auntie Janice Brown who is a proud Gumbaingirr woman, friend, in-law and grandmother to my niece, Aretha.
Auntie Janice encouragement to me was ... tell ALL the stories for ALL the kids!”
~ Anne E Stewart