Vijai Nathan, a member of Story District, a D.C.-based storytelling group, will be performing June 23 at the Torpedo Factory. AlexanderMorozov.com
“Every culture on Earth has a storytelling tradition or oral history tradition.” — Alyssa Ross, Office of the Arts
A new type of art and entertainment is coming to the Torpedo Factory Art Center on Friday, June 23. The Torpedo Factory Art Center is hosting Story District, a D.C.-based storytelling group, for the group’s first Virginia event.
According to Alyssa Ross, the Office of the Arts public information specialist, this new art form is being brought to the Torpedo Factory Art Center in an effort to introduce different forms of art to the venue that are not already represented.
“It’s just another form of art and if you think of storytelling, it is one of the oldest art forms there is. Every culture on Earth has a storytelling tradition or oral history tradition,” said Ross. “People still appreciate a good story.”
The Torpedo Factory is home to different kinds of visual art including fabric art and art made using camera technology. By bringing in the storytelling group, the Torpedo Factory Art Center hopes to engage different parts of the community that would be interested in more of an audio type of art.
“Right here in Alexandria, there are groups of artists. Letting people know this is a stage for them, a spotlight for them,” said Guzman. “I asked myself: Are we providing a stage for those who didn’t have that opportunity, or a voice for the voiceless?”
Story District is a group of storytellers who tell true stories to a live audience. These stories can be happy or sad, but are mostly humorous. The goal is to get the audience to connect with the storyteller in a way that stand up comedy does not allow.
“You are getting a laugh at times, but also a human connection and that is very unique about storytelling,” Vijai Nathan said.
Nathan, a storyteller with Story District, has been doing stand up comedy for about 20 years now. For Nathan, the difference between stand up comedy and storytelling is the way storytelling allows you to share a range of emotions and experiences. She said stand up comedy is more about you and storytelling is more about connecting with the audience.
“There is that room for having kind of a revealing moment and admitting to something that is hard to potentially talk about or own up to within the context of telling a story,” said Nathan. “People like storytelling because you are connecting to the audience in a way like saying ‘I see you in myself’.”
Story District is different from other storytelling groups, according to Amy Saidman, artistic executive director, because the storytellers spend time collaborating with one another. The storytellers are required to attend multiple rehearsals, which help the storytellers bond and create a community.
“By the time you get to the show, you have this little family and you are all rooting for each other to do well at the show. You’re part of something larger than just you and your own story,” Saidman said.
Joani Peacock, a co-producer for Story District and an Episcopal priest, said she got into storytelling because a parishioner encouraged her to take her storytelling talents outside of the church. For Peacock, storytelling is something she does every day.
“It’s stigma busting. It’s community building. It’s truth telling. It’s relationship building. It’s cathartic. It’s joyful. It’s spiritual,” Peacock said.
Storytelling is a different experience for everyone. The audience connects to each storyteller in a different way based on how the story connects with them.
“It’s a mix of what you will come away with,” said Peacock. “It’s amazing the places people will take you in their stories.”
The Torpedo Factory Art Center will present Story District Favorites June 23 at 8 p.m. The 8 p.m. show has already sold out and they have added a late show June 23 at 10 p.m.