Red Phoenix, Storytelling and Productions

THE TEAM, PERFORMERS AND ASSOCIATE ARTISTS

RED PHOENIX - STORYTELLER
TERRIE HOWEY - ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

Terrie Howey, better known as storyteller Red Phoenix, has been performing and facilitating performance workshops since 1992, and has been the Artistic Director of Red Phoenix Storytelling & Productions since its founding in 2007. Terrie founded Red Phoenix Storytelling & Productions, to share her love of storytelling and make it more accessible to a wider range of audiences, whilst supporting and developing up and coming tellers. Terrie is an Arts Award Advisor for Trinity College London, an international initiative for young people 7 - 25yrs to gain qualifications and gain experience in the arts. She is the Hampshire representive for the Society for Storytelling, and a member of Surrey Storytelling Guild, Young Storyteller of the Year Committee, Equity and a Winston Churchill Fellow. She has an enhanced CRB and Public Liability.

Specialising in Dramaturgy while studying Drama and Theatre Arts at Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh, Terrie, followed a personal focused study into storytelling (taking full advantage of being just round the corner from the Scottish Storytelling Centre) for which she was awarded a First with Hons. Although Terrie confesses to having been a storyteller in the making most of her life, it was her time spent learning at the Scottish Storytelling Centre which was the real turning point. Here she was lucky enough to be inspired by Donald Smith, John Hamilton and Robert Howat to note but a few. However the learning has never stopped, and nor should it, and Terrie has continued to train with exceptional tellers such as Vayu Naidu, Janet Dowling, Shonaleigh Cumbers, Michael Harvey, Graham Langley, Jamie Crawford, Hugh Lupton and Taffy Thomas MBE.

Terrie’s career has led her to perform and lead workshops all over the world, and she creates her own original tales as well as researching and drawing from historical sources. These experiences have led to a broad repertoire of stories and projects which are being added to all the time as new challenges arise.

Currently Terrie is a resident storyteller for a Solor Care Group home for disabled adults, besides the many performances in schools, museums, historical sites, festivals and other venues and events. Terrie is a performer, educator, writer and dramaturg, offering her skills freelance besides utilising them in her own performances and workshops.

“one of England's best-known storytellers”

The Guardian Newspaper, 13th Dec 2010

BELINDA MCKENNA - ASSOCIATE STORYTELLER

Belinda McKenna has been fascinated with the world of story since the age of 13 when she dived into adventure and fantasy books to escape a world of chaos. During her Education and English Literature degree Belinda became increasingly interested in children’s development through literate and after successfully completing her 3rd year teaching block changed her degree to Education and English Literature to complete every relevant module in her chosen area of interest.

Over the last two decades Belinda worked in marketing and web in Higher Education; during this time she continued wither her personal quest to understand how stories shape our understanding of self. This journey has included postgraduate Children’s Literature modules, creative writing, hypnosis and EFT. As an NLP Master Practitioner Belinda uses story everyday to guide and shape herself and others.

Belinda leapt into the world of storytelling in 2009 and has rapidly progressed from listener to enthusiastic and energetic performer. She is interested in a wide variety of story genres, and is fearless in the face of taking on new challenges. Belinda has told stories in The Rose Theatre Café and is a regular teller at Three Heads in a Well, and performed to audiences of over 400 people. She has facilitated beginners’ storytelling coaching workshop for Janet Dowling and assisted on storytelling workshops for children with Red Phoenix. Belinda has trained with professional storytellers Janet Dowling, Roi Gal-Or, Graham Langley, Taffy Thomas MBE, Shonaleigh Cumbers, Alexander McKenzie, Vivienne Gladwell, Hugh Lupton and Giles Abbott.

“Belinda has been telling tales for many years and is a passionate storyteller, filling her tales with excitement, adventure and wonders taking her listeners to the farthest reaches of imagination and beyond.”

LUKE OATES - ASSOCIATE ACTOR & STORYTELLERS

Luke Oates was first encouraged into performance at the age of seven and under Lavinia Vaux's tuition Luke entered Godalming's 'Speaking Festival', which resulted in him winning a trophy for coming first in his age group. His early interest in performance continued and grew over the years, seeing him study Drama throughout his education through which he developed a wide repertoire of roles. He jumps at every opportunity to pursue his passion for performance and Red Phoenix Storytelling & Productions predicts good things ahead, Luke is an energetic, confident and hard working actor whose professionalism and talent is a credit to any production.

Luke has been an apprentice storyteller with Red Phoenix Storytelling & Productions since March 2011, and has pursued further training with Hugh Lupton.

In 2012 Luke has been entered into the Young Storyteller of the Year, a national competition for youth storytellers 15-25yrs. We wish him all the very best of luck and the whole of team Phoenix will be there cheering him on.

“Luke Oates is highly recommended!" "Luke brings a great enthusiasm and sense of adventure to his tales which captures the imagination wonderfully"

MISCHIEF & MAYHEM, THE HAVOC SISTERS - STORYTELLING DUO

When storytellers Belinda McKenna and Terrie Howey join forces chaos ensues mixing storytelling, clowning and imporvisation with myth and moral, laughter and legends. Alot of storytelling is usually done by just one teller, so it is double the fun... or is it double the trouble? when these two get together. Belinda and Terrie first met in 2009 at the Surrey Storytelling Guild's 'Waxing Lyrical' story coaching sessions, and immediately they hit it off, and almost as quickly built a reputation as the cheeky duo of the SSG.

BORIS & MERLIN - THE EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS

Boris and Merlin are the real driving force behind Red Phoenix Storytelling (well, keeping them in doggie treats and catnip is an expensive business). Boris always ensures performance quality by keenly watching rehearsals, hiding behind the sofa during scary bits and bouncing up and down at the exciting moments (he is also quite vocal when he thinks I've got the story wrong). Merlin is key in the administration of Red Phoenix Storytelling, making sure laps are kept warm whilst researching and that the paperwork is quite literally 'chewed' over.