Joe Brennan
- County
- Wexford
- Genre
- Dramatist, Storyteller
- Sessions
- Creative Writing Workshop, Storytelling Session, Storytelling Workshop
- Age Group
- 5 - 6, 7 - 10, 11-15, 16 - 18
- Level
- Primary, Post Primary
- Languages
- Works in English ONLY
- Availability
- Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday
Mornings, Afternoons - Travel
- Yes
Publications/Repertoire/Productions & Background Experience
Joe is a storyteller, writer, theatre maker and facilitator. He will take you on a journey of magic and wonder through the highways and byways of Ireland, from his native Wexford to his home in Donegal. He will bring you over the seas to exotic and mysterious lands that lie beyond the horizon of our imaginations. His repertoire of folktales, myths, legends and original stories reflect the wide gamut of human experiences and emotions.
Joe has shared his stories with audiences of all ages throughout Ireland. He has featured in many festivals including Ghosts in the Glens Storytelling Festival, Kilkenny Arts Festival, Earagail Arts Festival, Donegal Bay and Bluestacks Festival, Cape Clear International Storytelling Festival; Loug Gur Storytelling Festival; Mohill Storytelling Festival; ‘Stories from the Hearth’ Festival, Wexford; Sperrins Storytelling Festival; Ulster Storytelling Festival, Cultra; Wainsfest and Bealtaine.
He has also told stories in schools, festivals and libraries in countries as diverse as Iceland, Norway, USA, India, Egypt, Romania, Austria, Belgium and England. He has also facilitated workshops in schools in these countries.
He is the author of Donegal Folk Tales, a retelling of some of the rich tales to be found in Donegal. It was selected as the book for Read DL 2015, the ‘One Book, One Community’ initiative for the county.
He is the writer of the successful children’s play The Witchin’ Well, which had two national tours and travelled to Bucharest. He is the creator/performer of Whispering Waves, a theatrical storytelling performance, and Star Boy, a theatre show for children without words. Star Boy has featured in many venues and festivals including at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC as part of the Euro Kids Festival. He is the director of Ramelton Storytelling Festival.
Session Details
Joe has vast experience of working in the schools telling stories and delivering workshops in storytelling, creative writing and drama. He combines all three when delivering residences. The goal of such sessions is to encourage the pupils to delve into the depths of their own imaginations to set their creative spark alight and to encourage the students to find, and express, their own ‘voice’. Sessions can be of a general nature or tailored to meet more specific goals or to address specific themes. For storytelling sessions Joe believes that students get the most out of a session when the numbers are kept to one class group. It allows for greater interaction and leaves lots of room to take questions. It also leaves space to explore stories and to begin the process of creating stories which can be completed In the classroom. For workshops Joe likes to work with the students sitting in a circle, with the teacher participating fully in the group. For residencies it is useful to have access to a larger space to expand the range of activities and to engage with drama.
Age Group Details
Works with all age groups across primary & post-primary schools
Availability Details
Generally available & will travel
- Telephone
- (086) 600 2928
- .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
- Website
- http://www.taletradition.com