All photos by Cameron Biggs

After 5 magical years of StorySlam, it’s time for change and renewal.  I am no longer going to be at the helm of Storyslam.  Everything has a season, and it’s time for a new one!

This is both sad and exciting.  Sad, because it has been such a part of my life and purpose for these past 5 years.  Inspired by the storytelling forum in Cape Town – Southern Rights and Wrongs – founded by Alon and Eitan Stern, I  brought it to St Francis on a wing and a hope that we could create a space for sharing stories and experiences – with the main purpose of raising money for charity.

Together with the Brewery, we did that.  Right from the start, Lance and Linky were on board and have supported Storyslam in the best way possible. Together with their incredible staff, they provided the best venue for Storyslam, and what fun we all have had – and in the process, we have raised thousands for Foster, St Francis Football Club and Hospice.

Tracy O’Riain and Wade Inglis have been incredible – they have supported and co-presented Storyslam for the past 18 months and took this on despite their busy and full lives.  I am very grateful for their help.

And so, I am excited that Linky and her team at the Brewery are going to host their own story telling evening, with a new name and format – we need stories to be told and heard, so I am so grateful they are continuing with the magical art of storytelling.  Linky will share details at a later stage.

Thank you to everyone who showed up month after month, to support Storyslam and our charities.  Your presence is what makes story telling!  We cannot have stories without an audience, and you have all been a fabulous audience.  Your generosity in donating to charity so generously is testament to the ethos of this village.  Local lives have been changed for the better because of you all.

Lastly, to our storytellers…. I salute you for your bravery to stand on a stage and tell a story in 5 minutes.  It’s tough to do that. It’s nerve wracking.  But you did it anyway.  You said yes to courage and moments of shaking nerves.  Be proud.

We have cried, we have laughed, we have been inspired and we have come away changed, after listening to your stories.

You are all astonishing and remarkable.  Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

With love, Sandy Coffey