The team support was.great; we had met on zoom and got to rehearse at the venue. The librarians, Lisa and Sadiah facilitated the event - mics and projectors working well. The children and their teachers were lovely!

l was glad and felt much rewarded for the effort that l had invested, working on this story.

This inspires me, to be an even better storyteller:) . It was fun!

Things I learnt from the other storytellers at the 398.2 festival so far

- The songs you make up don't have to be about the heart of the story. It can be a song to walk down to the river ("up the hill and down the hill and up the hill and down the hill, all the way home", it can be a song that has a concept you want to explain THROUGH the story (e.g. Count On Me), it can be a song just to get the kids warmed up (e.g. Incy Wincy Spider).

- How to get engagement with the audience besides asking lots of questions? If it's repeated, it can be a rhythm with which all the characters knock the door, or how the characters cross the bridge, or the door bell ("tingaling tingaling!") or door creak ("eek"). It can be a sound that an animal makes and you invite the children to join along each time.

- Introducing a story keeps all the kids in the same mood throughout. The transitions are not so strange and they can get a sense of what's going to appear next. It can be about the origin of the story (e.g. all the stories came from the same collection), it can be about the country the story came from. 

- How to do characterisation: I forgot that I could show it. I was stressed about describing it and making a really deep character but actually all you need is ONE VERY DISTINGUISHABLE trait. E.g. how a talkative character talks and talks and talks and talks, or how one is always nibbling and nibbling. And there's of course the pitch/pace of the character.

- When there's fatigue from too many children answering a question, you can ask a question that all can participate in, such as "Did they wish for lots of money?" (NO!!!!/ YES!!!), "Did they wish for lots of food?", etc. instead of "What did they wish for?"

- Show not tell is really important. I can't believe I didn't specifically think of how to show, not tell, earlier. Like I had a character who had to drink lots of milk; I could have shown how he needs to pee a lot, instead of what I did which was to make a one line joke about it.

- How to manage the kids? One way is to say "listening ears", or "can you put your listening ears on?"

Our partner , NLB also did a great job in bringing in the audience.

I hope that this festival will continue yearly for it brings so much joy to the listeners and tellers alike. And I hope to be a part of it for as long as I can.

The support , encouragement and efforts by everyone during the lead up to the festival was really motivating and inspiring.

What I appreciate is how our stories evolve and take shape with the practices and feedback from fellow story tellers who are so enthusiastic about wanting to help grow and encourage each other. Lots to learn still and it’s a commitment to the craft of storytelling .

Most of the group really live and breathe it .

I hope to one day make space for the breadth and depth that this craft requires so as to be able to share stories of healing and hope through human experiences

Despite their busy schedule, the teachers I had along the way, were so kind to make time for online and in-person practice. They advised me on how to make my story more engaging and even borrowed me their props for me to use.

Building up to the actual performance, I felt nervous and unsure that I would be able to do well. I am so glad that the storytelling community was welcoming and extremely supportive throughout the entire process, making it easier and allowing me to gain confidence when standing in front of the audience. Even during my performance, the storytelling community engaged with my story which also encouraged the audience to be more lively and also calmed my nerves.

Overall, I am so happy that I participated in this year's storytelling fest! I want to thank the community and I can't wait to tell stories again! Thank You!!

The venue was a little difficult to locate but once I got there, all went very smoothly. Wonderful support from the volunteers especially for my story- thank you Kala and Madhuri. NLB staff were very helpful handled the tech bits well (managing the headsets and powerpoint slides etc).

So happy to finally do an in-person performance after doing online sessions for the past few years.

Looking forward, I'd like to learn to tell stories with different kinds of props or special techniques (e.g: tell stories with music, singing ...). I want to be more creative and versatile.

Thank you to all the organisers, Swee for slotting Edward and I in together; Anamika for giving Edward a little more time when he almost pulled out due to conflicting commitments; to our online support team for all the pictures and for spotlighting us; to the librarians for their warm introductions; to our partner, Shalni, and to Kiran, Edward’s mentor, for their feedback on our stories.

With dramatic flair, Edward had a 38.8 degree temperature the day before the show and was literally rolling on the bed groaning instead of practising, but thankfully, he woke up with a spring in his step on the day of the show and remembered all his lines.

What we learned - always trust the process: even if you make mistakes along the way and have an awful session or two before the show, if you commit to a regular practise, your hard work will shine through. Arrange your props well before the show! we’re still looking for the bar of chocolate we purchased for the show that has mysteriously disappeared.

We feel grateful to have been included in this year’s line up and, if an online program should go ahead for next year’s festival, we have brainstormed stories already. Personally, I enjoy coaching kids and would be happy to mentor and empower kids other than my own in telling stories. Edward welcomes the improvisation and participation elements that make storytelling so different to acting.

“kindness matters “ was an apt title for our team as we were 3 Storytellers each from different parts of the world, Singapore, Malaysia, India, and a guest storyteller from Indonesia. Each of us shared such different stories and styles, which gave me fresh insights and opportunities to learn. I am grateful to the organisers, the tech support team for ensuring everything ran smoothly during the online live event. Thank you Swee Yen for engaging with my story, it really helped me overcome my nervousness. And thanks to Johleen to have shared what her 7 year old drew as I narrated my story.The preview sessions and rehearsals, were equally meaningful, I truly valued the encouragement, feedback, and sense of community, 398.2 festival created. Thanks to Sheela Wee and Anamika for helping with the preview and sharing valuable feedbacks, absolutely kind of each and everyone. Entire process was well orchestrated .

This experience has helped me grow and has inspired me to continue developing as a storyteller.

Additionally, I was grateful for my other partner storytellers for the session - Millie and Celine. Both are very encouraging and helpful and are so supportive in their own ways. I also learnt from Millie how putting in efforts to prepare props could really make a difference and I learnt from Celine how to respond fast and in an engaging manner when there are changes amongst the audience (the teacher brought out big groups of children to the toilet and I love the way she handled the waiting time).

Being able to volunteer and observe other storytellers at work also allowed me to learn more.

Moving forward, I would love to learn tips on how to handle transitions better (eg. from 1 storyteller to the next storyteller). For instance, if I am the 2nd storyteller, how can i ease the audience into my story better after the first storyteller has completed? And if i am the 3rd storyteller, how can i handle audience fatigue from sitting down too long and listening to 2 stories before my turn?

First of all, learning a new skill of transforming a picture book story to a theatre script is in itself a wonderful wonderful skill I picked up along the way, having had to amend parts of the script. I never thought I will be doing that one day so it is almost surreal that this happened.

Secondly, being able to work with a wonderful team with Karen, Jane and Swee Yean for a second year was the icing on the cake. We had a certain chemistry established and this went one notch higher in this second year of collaboration.

From Karen, I learnt the importance of considering the details of how one moves on stage, especially when partnering other storytellers and where the entire set-up can be very dynamic. It is only when details are thought through that I feel I can be organic with myself and other storytellers on stage on the actual day! This is especially useful for me as I am more used to telling stories solo. I love how she gently modelled this for me!

From Jane, I learnt how to inject playfulness into every possible moment on stage. I love the various suggestions she proposed! It comes so naturally to her and I felt by osmosis, i possibly became more playful than I naturally was after the few weeks of rehearsal. I also enjoyed learning from her how to use music and sounds to establish moods, to transit from scenes to scenes and to move audience.

From Jane and Karen, I felt the turning point in my grasp of Sunda the character was when they suggested me to move from Sunda coming from a place of defensiveness/haughtiness to him coming from a place of worries and anxieties instead. It made me realise that was how I envisage Sunda to be when I wrote the story but somehow that was lost when I move Sunda to the stage. I thank them for reminding me of his core.

From Swee Yean, I learnt how we take note of every single individual in the audience. In the midst of my sweat (underneath the pangolin suit), I was left further breathless when Swee Yean bothered to remember small moments matter as she led me to a boy (likely with autism) so that he can have a special one-on-one moment with the pangolin where he can give a high-five to -- this was a boy who almost had a meltdown at the start of the session due to his anxieties. This one-on-one time with the pangolin helped reminded him that he was brave enough to offer the insect to the pangolin to be eaten up and it was such a joy to hear him affirm himself after the high-five "I was so brave!".

Most of all, this performance reminded me why I love to write/tell stories for children. When a girl with no hands and with scaly skin all over her (ironically, like Sunda the pangolin) came up, at the end of the performance, to touch my pangolin's claws and stroke my 'scaly skin' and asked to take a photo together, I teared because I knew then that during the 45min, she has allowed Karen, Jane and I to enter her world. That is when I know my story and our performance had connected with her. That is so so precious to me. :)

Moving on, i would love to:

1. Learn how to better turn and transform my picture book stories into oral telling scripts.

2. How to use music (eg. ukulele strumming patterns) to establish moods during change of scenes/transitions.

Last year, Karen, Wei Teng, and I had already told this story with great success, and I thought, “Great, let’s just repeat it!” But no—Swee Yean made sure we learned and grew from this second performance too.

With Roger’s invaluable feedback during rehearsal, the story came alive on another level. I got so excited as it became more fun, with characters showing stronger personalities and the plot carrying deeper meaning.

I deeply appreciate Wei Teng for taking the initiative to work out rehearsal dates amidst our busy schedules, and for warmly opening her home for our final rehearsal. I love how open she always is, how trusting of the process, and how much love she pours into the children. She worked hard on the script too, asking thoughtful questions to ensure smooth transitions. I also really enjoyed the beautiful story she created.

With Karen, I often feel like a child in awe, watching her artistry whenever she steps into character. Her talent, experience, and storytelling skills shine so clearly. I’ve always enjoyed working with her—this must be the 3rd or 4th time already!

And with Swee Yean, I’m always thankful for the opportunities she offers and the way she manages everything and everyone with much care and thought. Beyond that, her love for the children truly touches my heart. She is so considerate with all parties involved, and she made sure we did even better this round—even with the same story. To me, she is such a role model: meticulous in her work, yet overflowing with joy and love. I truly aspire to be like her in those ways.

During the storytelling itself, the children were so responsive to our story. They participated joyfully, and many became emotional alongside Sunda the pangolin. It was moving to witness how deeply they connected.

There was also a child with special needs at the beginning who moved quickly around and explored all my instruments. She didn’t want to let go when I told her they weren’t for exploring, and her mom seemed quite stressed and embarrassed by the situation. I felt a little bad for the mom, thinking about how difficult it truly must be for her. I felt sad too, noticing that they left before we got to say goodbye—I’m not even sure at what point, perhaps even before the show ended. I did try to make her feel welcome by including her in some of the activities, but it still made me reflect on how I can do better.

Moving forward, I’d like to be more inclusive of such profiles—by providing toys and fidget items before the show, making sure the instruments are covered and out of sight, and perhaps setting aside some sound makers that children can safely fiddle with. I hope with small adjustments, we can make the experience more welcoming for every child and parent.

This has been such a great learning experience—and working with the most amazing people has truly been the most rewarding!

Spending time to practice with each other not only helped me improve my skills but also created valuable friendship that I cherish.

Looking forward to the opportunity to tell in person.

Learned a lot from Swee Yean and also Lavanya, thank you both.

I feel that we have the flowy flow for that day and everything was just spot on.

My 7yo really loved both your stories. I had to ask him to hold on until I finish telling my story.

The review sessions with Kiran and Louisa really helped me put the story into better perspective. Thank you both.

The three rehearsal sessions we share as a team are always powerful and enriching. No matter how experienced one may be, there is something incredibly grounding about being heard by attentive and supportive listeners.

For this particular story, I was especially grateful to have Deepti and Jia Min as my teammates. Their thoughtful listening helped me rework the story — originally quite violent — into something more suitable for younger ears. Through our rehearsals, where the stories shifted and evolved each time we told them, it was both fun and fascinating to watch the final performance take shape.

Their presence and feedback made the entire process smoother and enjoyable.

The team rehearsal sessions are one of my favourite parts — they provide space for refining the story, and for meaningful time spent with each other. No matter how many stories one has told, it’s valuable to be part of a circle of honest, engaged listeners.

For this session, it was a real pleasure and great fun working with Anamika and Kausar. I appreciated their refreshing clarity — offering direct, often frank :-) feedback. This feedback helped me transform a long, meandering tale into a version that was crisp, engaging, and suitable for younger listeners. Their support helped me sharpen an important storytelling skill: editing for impact without losing heart or nuance.

I also had fun experimenting with rhyme and rhythm this time — a new element for me, and one that added another layer of play to the process.

What started off as a bit of a complicated tale turned into something much clearer and more fun to tell and we enjoyed ourselves along the way

My story, The Legend of Sister’s Island, was also an introduction to the many islands around Singapore. The audience had not heard of tat island. A few parents appreciated the story as they are new migrants and were astonished that the islands have legends attached to them.

The audience appreciated all the telling . The volunteers, thank you for the support. A memorable afternoon. Thank you. 🤩

I would like to continue to engage the community as a storyteller and make the experience fun and meaningful for them.

Over six rehearsals, supported by committed parents, the children grew in confidence, diction, and comic timing. On the day, from the youngest at seven to the oldest at twelve, they delivered a flawless, spirited performance. It was exhausting, exciting, and deeply rewarding. I was proud to see them shine and grateful to help pass on this art form to the next generation.

On the day of the performance, I was beaming with pride. Seeing David’s growth and generosity of spirit remains my favourite memory of our session.

Some remarkable highlights worth mentioning:

Excellent timing in dialogue delivery

Smooth transitions and use of props between scenes

Clear and simple narration and dialogues free from any "Tanglish"

All credit goes to the mentor, Krupa you truly deserve more applause and appreciation in future shows.

During the play, Kani and I were discussing how this story was explained to me by my grandmother( 35 yrs back ) , now travelled overseas and is being lived and relived by the next generation. A truly special moment.

Thank you Krupa and David for the practice session and feedbacks.

its festival not only the kids but also storytellers look for to. Great effort by the organising team. Well done .

I realize there is so much behind-the-scenes work to be done: constantly organizing, continuously collecting all materials, repeatedly sorting through them, and frequently sending out notifications. It’s truly a lot. Thank you very much.

I look forward to having more opportunities to show stories next year. This year, I missed a performance due to illness. I hope next year I can present the best performance in my best condition and develop more innovative story themes and performance styles. let's work hard together!

I was also deeply touched by the many volunteers working tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure the festival’s success—your efforts made a big difference.

The audience, too, was remarkable—attentive, responsive, and fully engaged with the stories. I especially loved how Gao Meng used song and music to bring the witch’s tale to life and captivate the audience. I also enjoyed watching how Swee Yean connected with the children by sharing rice cakes, which made the storytelling experience even more engaging and memorable.

I liked the community spirit that 398.2 Storytelling Festival infused into us and our libraries.

The helpful library staff aided in making storytelling enjoyable and part of learning.

Building community one story at a time!

Binding us one story at a time!

Broadening minds one story at a time!

Thank you!

With gratitude and appreciation to one and all who made it a whole!

The 398.2 Storytelling Festival gives me an opportunity to dig deep into the choice of story. It must and should resonate with the theme. A challenging and delightful project. Fellow storytellers were generous in offering pointers and sharing ideas. There is always something new to learn and the community bonding just keep on jelling.

I get to learn and grow as a storyteller.

There were 6 of us this year. Anamika, Suren, Earn Meng, Helen, Verena and myself.

To get all six busy people to come together for face to face rehearsals was difficult. But my fellow tellers were accomodating and sensitive to the needs of the others - very professional indeed. The feedback given were invaluable. They were a pleasure to work with.

Thank you all for the commitment to put on a great performance.

Till next year, keep telling.