Lesley has always been interested in people and stories. An early interest in other countries and cultures led her to spend time living and working in Italy and Germany and to a modern languages degree from King's College Cambridge where she studied the literature of modern and medieval Europe.
Later she studied and practised law and undertook a six year training in integrative psychotherapy in London. All of this stimulated her to think about how people communicate what matters to them and how they experience their lives. She has worked as a trainer, has been a group worker within the health service and has taught counselling skills to adults.
Part way through her psychotherapy training, she heard a gifted therapist and storyteller tell the story of Oedipus and with this her own journey towards storytelling began. She now works as a professional storyteller and psychotherapist.
Lesley tells stories to people of all ages and believes that the ability to tell and listen to stories is a natural one. She works in education, with children and professionals, with older people in residential care and within play services, telling a wide range of stories using a lively and engaging style. She has also appeared on B.B.C. Radio London's "Word for Word" literature programme.
She believes that the relationship between teller and listener is a highly creative one and that good stories "grow" with each telling. This happens whether the story is told again by the same person or by others who find something to connect with when they hear it.
Lesley believes that as well as offering great pleasure, storytelling can link us together and build bridges between present, past and future. An audience at a storytelling performance, or a group of participants at a workshop is, however briefly, a community. Through the highly personal and direct experience of listening to and exploring stories, understanding, imagination and relationship can be deepened. In communities which already exist, whether in schools, business organisations or residential homes, the potential for positive and lasting change is even stronger.
Though she tells a wide variety of stories, which include many folk and trickster tales, her favourite sources are myths and traditional fairy tales which are equally appropriate to adults and children. Lesley believes that myths and fairytales set out to offer models for human behaviour and values, which are the source of their power. By showing how others meet great challenges and dilemmas, these skilfully crafted and enduring stories can help us think about and live our own lives more resourcefully.
In working with children or adults, Lesley is very aware of the power of story to influence perceptions of difference and is currently developing workshops which will explore this issue in a sensitive and stimulating way. Her hope is that through her performances and workshops, others will feel inspired to explore their identities and create new stories and myths as well as to discover the wealth of wisdom and humour that the stories of others can offer.
Home