The inaugural Women’s Storytelling Festival, hosted by Better Said Than Done, will take place March 13-14, 2020, in Fairfax, Virginia. Though storytelling festivals have been a popular event in the US for over 40 years, this will be the first ever storytelling festival with a lineup composed exclusively of women. For time, location, other details, and tickets, visit bettersaidthandone.com/womens-festival/
Megan DuBois, the Cultural Arts Manager for the City of Fairfax, says, “The City of Fairfax is so excited to host the Women’s Storytelling Festival this spring. Through the sharing of stories, we learn more about ourselves, our differences and similarities. Through sharing these stories, we build community, which is what making art in Fairfax is all about!”
The Women’s Storytelling Festival kicks off Friday, March 13, 2020, with a showcase of local, woman storytellers at The Auld Shebeen, 3971 Chain Bridge Road, Fairfax, Virginia 22030. On Saturday, March 14, 2020, featured storytellers Sheila Arnold, Megan Hicks, Vijai Nathan, Jessica Robinson, Donna Washington, and Kim Weitkamp will perform a range of true, folk, and historical stories throughout the day at Old Town Hall, 3999 University Drive, Fairfax, Virginia 22030. In addition, there will be a story swap at Old Town Hall, as well as two show-producer showcase performances at The Auld Shebeen, featuring producers from The Moth, The Stoop, and Story Collider, and more.
Megan Hicks, one of the featured storytellers in the festival, explained her excitement about the new festival. “Explicitly creating a Women’s Festival is a tacit indication that a slice of demographic pie that has been historically marginalized is going to be in the spotlight this time — that ‘dominant male culture’ is not the default setting for this event. The more I ponder this fact, the more excited I get about participating.”
“Though women have a very distinct way of looking at culture, almost everything that is projected about life, ideas, right and wrong, is brought to our culture through the male gaze,” adds Donna Washington, another featured performer. “If we continue to see everything through the eyes of only one gender, nothing that needs correcting, fixing, or addressing will ever be addressed, fixed or corrected. Women’s voices are different because women see different things. Our voices matter. Our stories matter. It is time to set them free.”
“In April of 2017, Better Said Than Done produced the first of many storytelling shows under the theme of Roar: True Tales of Women Warriors, featuring a lineup exclusively of women,” says Jessica Robinson, Founder of Better Said Than Done. “Rather than fill the void of stories by women and for women, Roar started a snowball effect, of more and more people coming forward and saying, ‘Thank you for sharing your stories. We want more.’ And the best way I could think to open storytelling up to even more women was to host a festival celebrating their voices.”
Gayle Turner, President of VASA (Virginia Storytelling Alliance), one of the festival’s sponsors, had this to say about the importance of this festival at this time, “Representing more than half the world’s population, women’s voices are still underrepresented in the public dialog. Providing a forum where women can see themselves on the stage and hear stories that matter to them may encourage others to step up, speak out, and exercise their influence. At the least, it’s a step in the right direction.” He added, “VASA is privileged to throw our support behind this groundbreaking event. Our culture is richer when everyone’s voice is heard.”
The festival brings together 19 storytellers from all over the country, and from many different storytelling backgrounds. Vijai Nathan describes her style of storytelling as “Hilarious, true, personal narrative? Comedy storytelling?” Donna Washington is “primarily a traditionalist who specializes in folklore and literary narrative.” Megan Hicks claims to “have made peace with the fact that I have no storytelling niche. The stories I tell are stories that have bit me on the butt and won’t let go or that have grabbed my heart and demanded I give them voice. Personal narrative, historical fiction, second-hand personal narrative, folklore, parody, literary stories. This is what they all have in common: they are stories I have crafted for spoken word performance.” Festival attendees will find a range of stories and storytelling styles featuring diverse experiences and cultures.
Festival tickets are on sale now at bettersaidthandone.com/womens-festival/. The stories are intended for a mature audience; people of all gender identities are welcome to attend.
“I love stories about women. I love stories about strong women,” says Donna Washington. “I love the idea of being part of a festival that celebrates both. I hope the audience comes away with a love for stories, and perhaps a different way of thinking about some of the things they take for granted. Mostly, I hope they love the tales and want to hear more.”
