SfS

Trustees

The Society for Storytelling (SfS) is a voluntary-led, registered charitable company that is governed by a member-elected Board of Trustees who set the overall strategic direction and direct the affairs of the SfS. The Board determines policies and changes to the SfS according to its Articles of Memorandum (a formal document, required by company law, which sets out the rules by which the Charity is run.)

Meet the Board of Trustees

SfS Chair: Wendy Shearer

Wendy Shearer is a storyteller, oral historian and writer of Guyanese heritage. She regularly works with cultural institutions including schools, museums, prisons and archives across the UK. She is the author of Caribbean Folktales: Stories from the Islands and the Windrush Generation and several books for children. As Chair of the SfS, Wendy is dedicated to raising public awareness of the value and benefits of oral storytelling, ensuring it thrives as an inclusive and culturally rich practice for communities everywhere. She brings to the Board over 20 years of experience in broadcasting and digital media from holding senior roles at BBC, Media Trust and Royal Botanic Gardens Kew with a vision to build upon the 30 years’ legacy of SfS, ensuring it is a welcoming, inclusive and diverse society for everyone.

SfS Treasurer: Andy Copps

Andy Copps is a professional storyteller, author and trainer and facilitator who works in schools and organisations in the art of applied storytelling.He is a licensed storyteller by Roald Dahl HQ and has a published children’s book ‘My pug named Hugg’. He also founded The Chalking Stories Project to inspire and motivate others to imagine, create and share their story. Andy originally trained as a chartered accountant and has a 20-year career working in technology and financial services companies. He brings to the SfS board a wealth of financial, information system, regulatory, risk and controls experience.

He is an accredited CPD (continued professional development) trainer, working with professionals across all levels, in developing their public speaking and communication skills. Andy loves to help people in finding and sharing their stories and more recently has started working with secondary school and college final year students in developing their confidence and skills for their journey ahead. For more information, please visit his website andycopps.com/links

SfS Company Secretary: Sarah Jane Rose

As an actor and narrator, Sarah Jane Rose has worked on stage and behind the microphone to bring stories to life for over 30 years. Her career includes training with the Poor School, the RSC, and the School of Storytelling, as well as curating and presenting at the Author In Me Literary Festival and the Kenilworth Arts Festival. She has performed in theatre productions across London and the Midlands and created her own radio show, Read To Me, on Radio Abbey. Over the years, she has developed a deep appreciation for the power of narrative. Today, her passion lies in what she considers not just an art form, but a way of life: oral storytelling.

SfS Projects Committee Chair: Matthew Vaughan

Matthew Vaughan has been a local government professional for 36 years, currently working in public libraries with responsibility for reader development across 16 libraries in Leicester City. His experience includes policy writing, fundraising, and event planning and coordination, including residential events. He has held roles on various club and event committees. For the past 10 years, Matthew has been a storyteller, primarily as part of his library work but also as a freelancer. He currently serves as the club secretary for the Leicestershire Guild of Storytelling.

SfS Research Resources: Iris Skipworth

Iris Skipworth is a twice National Champion and Guiness World Record holding Storyteller based in Manchester. Iris attended storytelling festivals and clubs with her parents since she was a baby; she has never not known a society where storytelling plays its role. She is therefore enthused to spread the reach of storytelling, ensuring its myriad of benefits are enjoyed by as many people as possible. Her primary research with SFS will be discussing storytelling with young people, finding out what they need from SFS to engage fully, and what they can bring to the future of Storytelling.

Iris co-founded the Manchester club A Sting In the Tale which runs monthly storytelling events for adults – for further details check out their social media pages https://www.facebook.com/astinginthetaleclub

SfS Marketing and Publicity: Danyah Miller

Danyah is an award-winning, international storyteller, trainer and author, supporting people to become more curious, creative and connected. Her work is imagination-rich and often life changing. Danyah works with educators, librarians, parents and grandparents, with prisoners, homeless charities and in business. Her book ‘Seven Secrets of Spontaneous Storytelling’ is available now. She was one of the three subjects in BBC Radio 4’s ‘The Great Influencer Experiment’ series. 

As Artistic Director of DMS Productions she has co-produced, co-written and performed in 7 solo theatrical storytelling shows. She also co-produced 3 mid-scale musicals, one of which was nominated for an Olivier Award in 2012.

SfS Initiatives: Chris Balin

Chris has a working knowledge of drama, puppetry, stage magic and direction all of which he brings to his projects. He has been a storytelller for a decade and has been the regular summer storyteller at Conwy Castle for 7 years. He has published a podcast during lockdown and now runs a regular Llofft Stabal or Rambling House to encourage new and young tellers. Chris brought his wonderful family to the SfS Gathering last summer in Liverpool, where they all joined in the events, helping us to shine a spotlight and embrace young tellers!

Professional Associations. • Guild of Drama Adjudicators (GoDA) • The British Puppet and Model Theatre Guild • The North Wales Magic Circle (current President) • International Brotherhood of Magicians • Equity • Society for Storytelling • Punch and Judy Fellowship Professional Qualifications and Skills. • BA Hons Drama (Acting, Directing, Stage Management) • PGCE (Lower Primary, Welsh Medium) • LAMDA Bronze Medal Acting 2003

Be part of the Society of Storytelling

Whether you are joining or rejoining our Society, we hope you will gain a number of positives from it, not least the chance to interact with fellow Tellers and enthusiasts but also opportunities to participate on collaborations beyond the initial brief of storytelling.