Reflection – STORYTELLING

Challenge and Selection

Stories have the power to change our beliefs and behaviors, and they are one of the greatest  tools we have for engaging audiences around complex issues. We see stories everywhere. We  listen to stories, we tell stories. They are one of humanity’s universals across cultures.

Well, I am a part of The Stage Play society of my college and Storytelling is all we, Theatre  artists do. It is a very crucial part of theatre to deliver the plot, the message and concept of the  play to the audience and that could only be achieved by the way we tell the story of that play.  This is about the on-stage importance of it but Storytelling is as important off-stage as it is on- stage.

Application

Let me tell you a little story about myself. Two years ago, when I went to college for the first  time I wanted to join an extra-curricular activity club or society. I auditioned for The Fashion  society, got rejected. Then I auditioned for The Dance society, backed out in the 2nd round as I  got demotivated by watching everyone else performing better than me. At last, a friend of mine  enforced me to join The Stage Play society with her. As there were no auditions for that, I  joined and became a part of that society. To be honest, I had no prior interest in theatre or  acting but I just wanted to be a part of something. So, in the beginning, I never went for any  workshop or practice session as that place was not of my interest. I never even cared about that  place. I just wanted to visit different food corners, cafes, party places, etc around my college. As  a result, my seniors did not include me as a part of the Annual Play. In the next semester, I was  told by the President of that society that it is mandatory for me to come for practice sessions  now as I signed a contract in the beginning to remain a part of that place for at least 1 year and  be regular and if I want to leave the society I will have to pay a certain amount.

I swear I wanted to leave that place right away and never wanted to go back as I felt left alone  there always, but I couldn’t. So, I started attending the practice sessions and helped during the  performances as a backstage member. Later on, there was a concert I always wanted to go to  and it was on the date when none of my friends were free. As I talked to my friends about it,  The President of the society I was a part of heard from somewhere about it and asked me  whether I wanted to attend that particular concert with her. I was not comfortable about it, but  out of respect I said yes. When we went for that concert, she sat down with me told me about

how that society changed her, how from a nerd she became a post holder of something. We  talked for at least 3 hours, enjoyed the concert and went home.

Insight & Approach

Her story was so inspiring and motivating that it I thought about it for days. It had such impact  on my mind that when I was asked whether I want to continue that society in the next year, I  said yes, surprisingly. I did not even think about it much. And from that day, my graph of growth  started going up & up and hasn’t come down since, touchwood. I even bagged the best actor  award for my performance at a very big university, UVA, India.

This is how storytelling helped me grow and made me a better person.

If you still wonder why storytelling is such an important as a tool, think about Joey’s  “Backpacking story” advice to Ross in F.R.I.E.N.D.S. Could that example be anymore perfect?


Reflection – STORYTELLING Challenge and Selection Stories have the power to change our beliefs and behaviors , and they are one of the greatest tools we have for engaging audiences around complex issues . We see stories everywhere . We listen to stories , we tell stories . They are one of humanity ’s universals across cultures . Well , I am a part of The Stage Play society of my college and Storytelling is all we , Theatre artists do . It is a very crucial part of theatre to deliver the plot , the message and concept of the play to the audience and that could only be achieved by the way we tell the story of that play . This is about the on - stage importance of it but Storytelling is as important off - stage as it is on- stage . Application Let me tell you a little story about myself . Two years ago , when I went to college for the first time I wanted to join an extra - curricular activity club or society . I auditioned for The Fashion society , got rejected . Then I auditioned for The Dance society , backed out in the 2nd round as I got demotivated by watching everyone else performing better than me . At last , a friend of mine enforced me to join The Stage Play society with her . As there were no auditions for that , I joined and became a part of that society . To be honest , I had no prior interest in theatre or acting but I just wanted to be a part of something . So , in the beginning , I never went for any workshop or practice session as that place was not of my interest . I never even cared about that place . I just wanted to visit different food corners , cafes , party places , etc around my college . As a result , my seniors did not include me as a part of the Annual Play . In the next semester , I was told by the President of that society that it is mandatory for me to come for practice sessions now as I signed a contract in the beginning to remain a part of that place for at least 1 year and be regular and if I want to leave the society I will have to pay a certain amount . I swear I wanted to leave that place right away and never wanted to go back as I felt left alone there always , but I could n’t . So , I started attending the practice sessions and helped during the performances as a backstage member . Later on , there was a concert I always wanted to go to and it was on the date when none of my friends were free . As I talked to my friends about it , The President of the society I was a part of heard from somewhere about it and asked me whether I wanted to attend that particular concert with her . I was not comfortable about it , but out of respect I said yes . When we went for that concert , she sat down with me told me about how that society changed her , how from a nerd she became a post holder of something . We talked for at least 3 hours , enjoyed the concert and went home . Insight & Approach Her story was so inspiring and motivating that it I thought about it for days . It had such impact on my mind that when I was asked whether I want to continue that society in the next year , I said yes , surprisingly . I did not even think about it much . And from that day , my graph of growth started going up & up and has n’t come down since , touchwood . I even bagged the best actor award for my performance at a very big university , UVA , India . This is how storytelling helped me grow and made me a better person . If you still wonder why storytelling is such an important as a tool , think about Joey ’s “ Backpacking story ” advice to Ross in F.R.I.E.N.D.S. Could that example be anymore perfect ?