Tea ‘n’ Tales 2023
September 8:
It's the last performance of Tea 'n' Tales for the summer of 2023.
And what a wonderful way to end the season:
First, the wonderful, inspiring music of violinist Bridget Walsh,
followed by Guelph's own tellers, Adwoa Badoe and Sya VanGeest.
So, for the last time this summer, come out for a wonderful Friday morning:
**Arrive early to enjoy Bridget from 10:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
**Bring your own lawn chair.
**Bring a mug for your free Planet Bean coffee.
**Bring an appropriate donation
September 1:
Say, "Hello to September" by joining us at the Guelph Enabling Garden on Friday, Sept 1st. The performance gets underway at 10am, with the storytelling commencing at 10:30.
This is our second-last chance to enjoy the magic of storytelling in the equally magical Guelph Enabling Garden.
Two talented, powerful tellers will be preceded by another new talented artist, Preetam.
Prelude performer, Preetam Sengupta, is a storytelling singer-songwriter from Sarnia, but has called Guelph home for many years. His 2017 album “Patience” earned him a Folk Music Ontario Award.
August 25 - 26: Tea 'n' Tales and Under the Magic Ash weekend:
What a weekend!
Friday was a wet morning, but that did not dampen the cheerful audience, who gathered under the green-roofed shelter to hear Brampton's Judy and Paul Caulfield and Toronto's Susan Ida Boucaud spin their tales and songs.
Paul Caulfield charmed us with his gentle stories and music from 10 to 10:30.
This event, after a wonderful previous weekend of storytelling when at Friday's Tea 'n' Tales, 82 braved the cold, the wind and the rain to hear Ruth Danziger, Beve and Elizabeth Matson, along with the
Royal City Ambassadors ( 25
th).
August 26:
Saturday 26
th, over
one thousand people poured into the Garden to enjoy a special children's program: (with Robert's permission), a puppet play that brought his story,
The Paper Bag Princess, alive - created by Ellen Webb, with Linda Smith, Andy Timmerman and Sya VanGeest, folowed by beloved storytelling by Robert Munsch, in addition to gifted children's tellers Ruth and Elizabeth and musical prelude with Larry Gibbs.
What a weekend! Now, we are excited to have another great Friday in store September 1st.
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Earlier this month, on CBC Radio, Sunday morning, August 6th Beve, and Elizabeth were interviewed on "Fresh Air."
We came to Tea 'n' Tales in Guelph's Enabling Garden on Friday morning, August 18 and heard them in person at 10:30.
SPECIAL FAMILY DAY: "UNDER THE MAGIC ASH" : AUGUST 19
SEE POSTER FOR AUGUST 19 TH. CLICK HERE
August 19 was an exciting morning!
At 10 am Larry Gibbs entertained for our third Under the Magic Tree family friendly summer 2023 event - - - singing, including singalongs.
At 10:30 the program opened with a puppet presentation of Robert Munsch's The Paper Bag Princess.
Thank you Robert for giving permission.
The story was narrated by Sya VanGeest with puppeteers Ellen Webb, Linda Smith and Andy Timmerman. Four mobile backdrops, created by Ellen enhanced the storytelling.
Ellen Webb was given her first puppet at 8 years old from her brother for a birthday present. Now with an International collection of nearly 500 puppets of every type, Ellen has taken part in every puppeteering experience she can.
Linda Smith first toured with a puppet troupe in 1980 called Kids on the Block. She is now a member of Puppets Elora. The years in between were filled with acting in community theatre.
Andy Timmerman, this was her first formal puppet performance, thanks Ellen for the invitation and encouragement after working with her on a school play. Andy's is thrilled to be taking part in this experience.
Robert will delighted us with two sets of storytelling! The joyous Munsch memories of growing up with his fun stories can be seen in the smiles of listeners.
Elizabeth Matson and Ruth Danzinger, each much beloved children's storytellers, added to the charm.
After the program, options for the children:
Lemonade prepared and served by the Enabling Garden volunteers, book signing and photo opportunties with that personal meeting with Robert, hand painting of trees, puppets meeting children, "Tree of Life" charm necklaces (suggestion $5.00, or as able - proceeds shared by the Enabling Garden and Guild of Storytellers).
SPECIAL FAMILY DAY: "UNDER THE MAGIC ASH" : AUGUST 5
August 5 - A perfect morning!
Brian Holstein wrote,
"700. 700 people were at the Guelph Enabling Garden this morning to hear Robert Munsch's several stories, along with Sarah Abu-Sharar Susan McBride and Adwoa BadoeHosted by Sya VanGeest the line up and the sunshine brought them out in their literal hundreds.Hannah, a doctoral student from the University of Texas, had the opportunity to briefly explain her visit to Guelph.I met people from Windsor, Chatham, Sault St Marie, Woodstock, Durham who had come to Guelph to take in the Friday and Saturday performances."
Started at 10am with folk singer Larry Gibbs- - stories started at 10:30.Children and their families gathered "Under the Magic Ash." Robert Munsch thrilled children and adults alike. Robert bookended the show, with Susan McBride, Adwao Badoe, and Sarah Abusarar engaging listeners in a variety of tales in between.
After the show: Lemonade and mingling. Close to 100 Munsch fans brought one of his books and lined up for an autograph and a photograph. It was all exciting!
* * * * * * * * * *
August 4: Over 100 arrived early, enjoyed music from 10 until 10:30 am, and free coffee, compliments of Planet Bean. ( - - - using their own mugs and, most, their own chair.)
Followed by an enjoyable hour of stories by Cecilia Vizcaino and Maria del Carmen Ordenzo..
SEE POSTER FOR AUG 4 TH. CLICK HERE
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July 15 was wonderful - - the first of three summer Saturday morning events!
It featured renowned children's author/storyteller ROBERT MUNSCH, plus experienced children's tellers, KAIT TAYLOR and SYA VANGEEST.
Most of the close to 200 listeners arrived early with their blankets and chairs to get a spot and be entertained by the music of LARRY GIBBS.
The program was followed by free lemonade and Robert meeting over eighty children and their families, who lined up with their books for an autograph and photo with Robert.
At times not sure who was more excited, the parents with their fond memories of growing up with Robert or the children as new fans.
It was a fun and interactive event for the whole family.
Next "under the Magic Ash": Saturday August 5th - 10am music, 10:30 stories with Robert, Sarah and Sya, 11:30 lemonade and Robert book autographing.
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SPECIAL CANADA DAY PERFORMANCE - It was remarkable. More than 600 spread along the river in the Enabling Garden Saturday morning July 1 at 10:30 am in the Guelph Enabling Garden
The stellar line-up: Robert Munsch, James Gordon, singer/songwriter/activist, Larry Gibbs, Globe and Mail Short Story winner, Beve Matson, our Hall-of-Fame recipient, each entertained the audience. Gathering music: 30 minutes of music by The Shepherd's Knot, began at 10:00 a.m.
Many arrived early with a mug and lawn chair and set out for an early celebration of Canada Day in Riverside Park.
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Click here for a schedule of 2023 Tellers
Guelph Guild of Storytellers (GGS) and the Enabling Garden are proud to announce the 2023 Tea 'n' Tales, a free summer-long Friday morning storytelling series of performances, held in the idyllic setting on the Speed River, The Guelph Enabling Garden in Riverside Park. There's a proud 16-year history, with a demure beginning, but currently grown in popularity, with regular audiences of 100, and exceeding 200 with Robert Munch in 2023.
We have an excellent sound system, (thanks to free-will donations and a grant) so that even listeners in a stopped car had their windows down and listened.
1. 13 Friday mornings from June 16 to Sept 8 from 10:30-11:30 - - Our listeners come early: get their favourite spot, meet friends and neighbours, be welcomed by music, enjoy a complimentary coffee/ (compliments of Planet Bean), and iced tea - (bring your own mug, - - and your own chair. ) - Always a lovely buzz of anticipation. . . . ..
2. THREE FAMILY-FRIENDLY EVENTS: 2:00 PM Saturday afternoons
They promise to be a fun and interactive event for the whole family. They are followed by free lemonade.
July 15, August 5, and 19.
"The Enabling Garden is a unique venue for gathering and sharing songs and stories. The natural amphitheater is inviting.
~ J&P C June 2022
Tea 'n' Tales June 23, 2023
Tellers:
Brian, Norm, Donna, Bruce, Robert, Sya
July 28: Returning from Toronto, professioanl storteller, Lynn Torrie along with renowed Gueph's own, Brad Woods Click here for a schedule of 2023 Tellers
The Guelph Guild of Storytellers (GGS) was founded in 1984 by a small group of Guelph authors and tellers. Now, decades later, it continues to champion storytelling with the same spirit of love for the spoken word and desire to share stories to entertain, engage, inspire wonder, curiosity, and appreciation, to spark imagination, and to inform. From the beginning, the search was for adult audiences to share and nurture the ancient art and to encourage tellers of all levels. For years, members regularly got together to build and polish stories, often around a theme, to 
