We worked with the brilliant Suki SilverTongue to run two storytelling events: Bedtime Stories for Grown-Ups. One event was held at The Hub, Mulberry Park (Bath) and the other at Keynsham Library. We partnered with Inn Crowd and Libraries Connected to put on these events.
Suki kindly answered some questions for us about storytelling and how she develops her scandalously salacious and loquacious retellings…
Where does the name Suki Silvertongue come from?
Now that’s a great question to get us started because I actually can’t remember! This happens more and more these days! I would love to be able to say that it came to me whilst sipping a glass of chilled Pinot on the balcony of a boutique Airbnb in Paris but the truth is I think I probably arrived at this name in a very gradual and sideways manner as I often do with this kind of thing. A couple of weeks of ruminating and trying different names out. Originally it was Suzi SilverTongue but then I came up with Suki and felt this name had a more slightly more sensual edge. I later realised that SilverTongue is not entirely original! I read His Dark Materials years ago but was only reminded of Lyra’s given name of Lyra SilverTongue when the BBC recently televised the books.
Do you have a favourite fairy/folk tale to retell and perform?
Hmmm…I think perhaps it is rather like children in that I couldn’t possibly have a favourite as I love them all equally! Having said that though, when it comes to telling stories I do perhaps have a preference for stories at different times depending on the occasion and what sort of mood I’m in. For example, during my recent visit to B&NES for the INN CROWD programme in December I was delighted when an audience member chose ‘Virgins, Wings and Other Things’ from my menu of stories as it’s based on the nativity and therefore has a seasonal flavour. I sometimes feel a bit nervous when I tell this as I’m never quite sure how it will land with the audience. So far though it has always gone down well. The audience at Mulberry Park Hub seemed to enjoy it. There was definitely a fair few giggles rippling away.
Who is your folk/fairytale hero/heroine?
Molly Whuppie from the English folktale of the same name is rather a favourite of mine. She outwits a giant three times (things nearly always happen in threes in folk and fairytales!) although this does involve her tricking the giant into unknowingly beating his own wife and daughters which is rather unfortunate! She did this to save herself and her sisters though so it’s perhaps we shouldn’t judge her too harshly for it!
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You mentioned Shakespeare influenced your writing and performance – how so?
I love the richness of the language and the vivid imagery but most of all it’s the timelessness of Shakespeare’s work that I find so appealing. He tells stories of the universal human condition that are still relevant and vibrant centuries after he penned them for the audiences of the day.
Do you have a favourite Shakespeare play/character?
For comedy it has to be Bottom from A Midsummer Night’s Dream. In fact I have captured something of this fine and furry fellow in one of my stories – Titania’s Bottom. In this tale Titania is initially mortified when she discovers that she has copped off with an ass but she soon softens and decides that these mortal types can be rather charming.
I also have a special place in my heart for The Tempest. Back in my early twenties I joined a theatre company and the first play I performed in with them was The Tempest. It was a joint project with the resident youth theatre and we performed in a beautiful country park in the Quantock Hills in Somerset as the sun was starting to set. It was quite an experience. Prospero’s soliloquies, which many have taken to be Shakespeare’s ‘retirement speech’, are pure magic.
If you could rework any book or story – what story might that be?
Crumbs! I’m struggling a bit with that one as there are just so many to choose from! When it comes to the stories I rework for my act I tend to find that tale will just pop into my head along with hints of what the subversive twist might be. For a long time now I’ve been thinking that I’d like to rework Little Red Riding Hood. It feels like a story that is ripe with potential. I have been greatly inspired by Clarissa Pinkola Estes’ exploration of the Wild Woman archetype in stories in her book ‘Women Who Run with Wolves’. I would love to bring some of that into a reworking of Little Red Riding Hood.
What’s your favourite non-theatre venue to perform in?
I’ve really enjoyed performing in pubs during my time on the INN CROWD programme. Pubs are a real hub of community activity and consequently the audiences tend to know each other which makes people feel more at ease and therefore more open and responsive. This makes a huge difference for a performer such as myself going in with a solo show as it all hangs on the rapport with the audience. I’ve had some interesting experiences performing my show in pubs, including a recent event in a pub in Norfolk where everyone was quite drunk and noisy and mostly ignoring me but I like a challenge!
My absolute favourite though has to be festivals. Festival audiences tend to be really open to getting involved and joining in so I can really take the performance to some interesting places.
Find out more about Suki:
Suki’s Website: https://www.sukisilvertongue.co.uk/
Inn Crowd Website: https://inncrowd.org.uk/suki-silvertongue-bedtime-stories-for-grown-ups/
This interview was conducted in 2021.