Emily Hennessey is known for her bold and dynamic performance as a storyteller who tells myths, legends, epics, folktales, fairy tales and fables from around the world. She has over 15 years of experience working with businesses and organisations, with the expertise of training for storytelling skills, leadership, and narrative intelligence skills.
“When I was young my favourite storyteller was Roald Dahl and was really inspired by him also loved his wicked sense of humour and that was one of the things that inspired me to tell stories”, says, Emily.
Emily recently performed at the Royal Opera House, Shakespeare's Globe, and Beyond the Border Storytelling Festival. She has also performed at festivals and at venues across the UK, Sweden, Denmark, and Italy.
Emily, explains, “I’m half Swedish so I became more interested in my Scandinavian heritage and that's how I got passionate about Norse mythology about gods, goddess, and Loki (Scandalous god) it's very different compared to Hindu mythology”.
Her work and travels in India have also infused a great love of Hindu myth and epic in her. “Indian audiences are wonderful to perform for and are very warm and also interested in the stories and respond fantastically”, adds, Emily.
Emily’s work is often described as intelligently composed and beautifully performed, while her storytelling style is said to be physical, powerful and often funny, captivating audiences of all ages.
Emily has worked at the extraordinary Kattaikkuttu School in Tamil Nadu, learning from the children who perform stories from the Mahabharata through music, dance, and song from the age of 4. “It is an amazing school which has got a whole group of fantastic students. I was really inspired by the children and I personally learned so much the students were also an amazing storytellers and was an inspiration for me”, says, Emily.
She has learned a beautiful way of life steeped in Tibetan Buddhist folktales in Ladakh (and becoming an expert in yak-herding).
Emily Hennessey will be conducting a workshop on storytelling and also gives a performance on October 18 in the city.
