Sometimes, poems are inspired by a single word, and when you mine that word, you find a multi-faceted glistening diamond of a heart that holds light in its depths and throws it back out in a thousand directions. This poem was inspired by such a word and, in particular, by the contrast between its deep … Continue reading Inclusion
Author: Julie Wilkinson
The Tale of the Determined Squirrel…
Since the beginning of the pandemic last March, I’ve had far more opportunity than normal to notice the wildlife in our garden. Over this now-more-than twelvemonth span, I’ve been drawn into the dramatic arc of daily life lived by the birds, small mammals and occasional amphibians that share the space I used to think of … Continue reading The Tale of the Determined Squirrel…
A Decade of Refugee Voices
Ten years ago, I flew by the seat of my pants into a secondary school I’d never worked in before, my friend Amy, an actor, at my side. Our task – to prepare and perform a play in a week with a group of nine 11 and 12-year-olds. The subject – retelling three true stories … Continue reading A Decade of Refugee Voices
Zephaniah Tale
I’ve been working as a storyteller for an extraordinary organisation, the Zephaniah Trust, for almost 18 years. It was through them that I became a storyteller and they have provided the space for me to nurture and develop my gift ever since. Around seven years ago, I wrote a story for Zephaniah’s 20th birthday celebrations. … Continue reading Zephaniah Tale
The Cracked Bottom
Every storyteller has 'signature stories' - tales they are known for telling, the stories that live in their hearts and find their way onto every set list. This is one of mine. Inspired by a folk tale likely to be either Chinese or Indian in origin, my version was first written and performed at a … Continue reading The Cracked Bottom
Kintsugi Tale
A story inspired by sea glass and pottery shards, the holiness of the ordinary, the beauty that gilds the brokenness, and those who mend the shattered pieces back together; and by kintsugi - the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery with seams of gold, embracing the beauty of the flaws and imperfections. Shared in tribute … Continue reading Kintsugi Tale
Wednesday Words
My daughter learned About the suffragettes On BBC Bitesize. Emmeline Pankhurst Born 1858, Five years later Than these steps Were built. Stone is hard, Set. But, Over years, Many pounding feet Will wear it smooth. That is why we march. © 2020 Julie Wilkinson
When Schools Reopen…
When lockdown begins to lift, And school doors open more widely To re-embrace students and staff, May we be brave enough To turn our backs on the sprint After lost academic progress, And choose instead A time of healing and restoration. May we take the time to acknowledge The sudden fracture in our way of … Continue reading When Schools Reopen…
The Master Needs It – Palm Sunday 2020
The Master Needs It - a retelling of the Palm Sunday story, recorded April 2020
International Women’s Day 2020
My great great great grandmotherShares her nameWith a literary heroine;Eliza Bennet.In 1841,Unable to claim itIn pen and ink,She marked her marriage certificateWith an 'X'. Her daughter,Selina,My great great grandmother,Before she was twentyTravelled two hundred miles,Alone,To workBeneath Burnley’s churning chimneysAnd choking cotton clouds. Her daughter,Ida,My great grandmother,Built family,Gave care,Protected love,In the angry entrenched shadowOf a big … Continue reading International Women’s Day 2020
Julie Wilkinson, Storyteller 