Collaborative research project examines storytelling and adolescents

The ‘Storyknowing’ festival takes place from 22-23 April at York St John University and York Theatre Royal, and will see researchers, practitioners and adolescents come together for a festival of storytelling and theatre with young people. A series of performances, workshops and talks will explore the vital and under-explored relationship between storytelling and teenagers. 

The Storyknowing project is part of the International Centre for Arts and Narrative (ICAN), a practice-based research partnership between York St John and York Theatre Royal. It works with diverse communities to research how people use stories across various art forms.

The Centre was established in 2012 by Professor Matthew Reason (York St John) and Juliet Forster (York Theatre Royal) and has opened its doors to nearly one thousand workshop participants of all ages and backgrounds, and hosted provocative studio talks on everything from ‘Narrative and Mental Health’ to ‘Narrative and Food’.

The Storyknowing event is the Centre’s largest practice research event to date, bringing ‘Narrative and Adolescence’ under the spotlight. The event will draw on relationships developed by Cath Heinemeyer, whose PhD based in ICAN is funded by an Arts and Heritage Research Council (AHRC) collaborative doctoral award.

Cath Heinemeyer commented:

“Story is the way we make sense of the world we live in. A story does not tell us what to think, it poses questions and leaves spaces for us to interpret them together. Therefore stories – whether modern or mythical – can help adolescents to put their own challenges in context, and become critical, responsible, problem-solving adults.”

Storyknowing is part-funded by a Catalyst grant from York St John and by in-kind contributions from both partners.

Picture shows: Cath Heinemeyer working with some young Indian dancers