Storyteller
It’s Time to Festival 
Yarn Storytelling Festival 2026
My schedule:
11.11. at 8pm Fireside Tales with Francis McCarron & me at Glenmalure Lodge
12.11. at 8pm Evening of Storytelling (solo) Bridge Street Books
13.11. at 8pm The Power of Three: Colin Urwin, Fidaa Atay & me at Mermaid Arts Centre
14.11. at 2pm Killruddery Fanily Tales at @killrudderyhouse
Check the program: YARN Storytelling Festival
See you around!
Date: November 5, 2026
Time: 14:00 – 17:00
Format: Hybrid (Online participation is possible via Teams)
Venue: The Theatre Academy Helsinki (Auditorium 1), Haapaniemenkatu 6 00530
Organisers: TIAN, Catalysti, Think Africa, Globe Art Point
Registration Form: – Fill in form
EVENT DESCRIPTION
In a democratic society that values freedom of expression, artists continue to navigate visible and invisible barriers affecting what can be created, funded, exhibited, and discussed.
This event explores the realities of artistic freedom through discussions on censorship, self-censorship, funding structures, institutional influence, public pressure, and cultural sensitivities.
The event aims to bring together artists, cultural workers, policymakers, researchers, curators, journalists, and the wider public for an honest conversation about the future of creative expression.
TOPIC QUESTIONS
The Art of Storytelling – Tarinoiden taikaa – Open Workshops
Kulttuuritila Merirasti, Jaluspolku 3, Helsinki
Limited spots available – register early!
Registration: https://forms.gle/ndASdtfvhLsQZZB57
We explore the world of stories. Small or big, everyday or special. The workshop teaches us to create and tell stories in many playful, funny ways.
During four monthly workshops we try improv, play games, do stage poetry, train presence and of course have fun! You can join for one or come to all workshops and all are free of charge.
The leaders are from the renowned and talented Story Sharing Universum -group that have members from all over the world working with storytelling for more than 10 years. Some of the workshops will be facilitated by invited guest artists.
Sat 17.10. at 11-15
Storytelling – First Steps – Structure and images
Workshop leaders: Markus Luukkonen and a Story Sharing member.
Language: English and Finnish
Saturday 14.11. at 11-15
Stage Poetry – Spoken Word
Workshopleaders Tania Nathan and a Story Sharing Universum member.
Languages: English and Finnish
Come alone or bring a friend!
WELCOME!
EVERY SECOND FRIDAY at 19:00
7.8. / 21.7. / 4.9. / 18.9. / 2.10. / 16.10. / 30.10. / 13.11. / 27.11. / 11.12.
Kulttuuritila Merirasti, Jaluspolku 3, Helsinki
East Helsinki should be an independent country. Where people stand for things. Empathy, compassion, gratitude and everything good and left. Where everyone would make a lot of sense, love and tell so many stories. This evening is about the story part. The stories of sandwiches, liberty, chai, fishing, relocation, resistance, and whatever. Come and listen to some of them with us, have a cup of tea or soup of the day.
If you want to tell a story or perform then send us a request at saraab.helsinki@gmail.com
We will also have some stories from the hat, so come-check the vibe and put your name in the hat if you feel like telling one.
Red card to racists, queerphobes/islamophobes, climate change denialists. We also have a lifetime entry ban for Putin, Erdogan, Netanyahu and Donald Trump.
If you are going through a lot, we are on your side. Meri-Rastila for life, because east is a tribe, a vibe.
Free entry – Refreshments available for purchase at the store nearby
Doors open / Hangout: 19:00
Program: 20:00 – 22:00
22:00 – 23:00 Hangout
P.s. Straight white middle-aged people can also join
saraab.helsinki@gmail.com
Walking around. What would, what could a artist residency for storytellers be? What kind of creative conditions I would like to organise for myself and for others? How to shape something that would not be result-orientated, but open to exploration. What kind of set up, frame work, what kind of network could be meaningful, innovative, open and fruitful. Would it be possible and how?
Maybe, maybe.. Let’s think about it.
Office of the Day -Teatro Auditorio El Pósito
Two weeks artist residency at Spain (Sigüenza) Working progress towards Maraton de los Cuentos @ Guadalajara. See you!
Helgøya Fortellerfestival 2025
From the Woods – 25.7.
Vindmantel – Ilman viitta 26.7.
Read more: https://www.helgoyafortellerfestival.no
@ Kulttuuritila Merirasti
EVERY SECOND FRIDAY at 19:00
10.1. / 24.1. / 7.2. / 21.2. / 7.3. / 21.3. / 4.4. / 18.4. / 2.5. / 16.5. / 30.5. / 13.6.
East Helsinki should be an independent country. Where people stand for things. Empathy, compassion, gratitude and everything good and left. Where everyone would make a lot of sense, love and tell so many stories. This evening is about the story part. The stories of sandwiches, liberty, chai, fishing, relocation, resistance, and whatever. Come and listen to some of them with us, have a cup of tea or soup of the day.
WELCOME!
6th Sept * Content Verhalen, Duffel, Belgium
7th Sept * Mezrab, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
8th Sept * Op De Wolken, Ghent, Belgium
3rd Nov * The Cube, Crick Crack Club, Bristol UK
4th Nov * The Earthouse, Crick Crack Club, Cranborne, UK
ROOTS By 3Troubadours: Markus Luukkonen, Tom Van Outryve, Torgrim Mellum Stene
We stand on the shoulders of giants. Each and every one of our ancestors has left a trace in us. To understand who we are and where we are going, we need to understand where we’ve come from. To dive into the lake, to climb the tree, to enter the cave. To look for the ROOTS of it all.
3Troubadours have dug far back into their individual family histories, the legends of their cultures and even their own DNA to find tales and memories of who we are and what we carry. With their signature humour, energetic performance and deep sense of wonder, the three performers will take you to places and times you’ve never been before.
ROOTS was developed throughout 2018 in a string of European residencies supported by Federation for European Storytelling / The Creative Europe Programme of the EU and The Nordic-Baltic Mobility Programme. The performance premiered the 24th of October that year at the Warsaw International Storytelling Festival. ROOTS lasts for 75 minutes without break.
ABOUT THE ARTISTS:
3Troubadours is a trilateral trio of performance storytellers consisting of Markus Luukkonen (FI), Tom van Outryve (BE) and Torgrim Mellum Stene (NO). The group was officially formed in Ghent in Belgium in May 2015.
They toured Europe and the UK with their first show, Mobile Dreams, performing it at almost 40 venues from 2015 – 2018. ROOTS is their second show. ROOTS has been performed at storytelling festivals in Warsaw (PL), Zwolle (NL), Skelleftea and Ljungby (SE) and as stand alone shows in Oslo (NO) and Helsinki (FI).
Photo by Aleksandra Rózga.
