Grimm ~ Dark Paths and Wild Wonder - Mar 22
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March 22 at 2:00pm
Arts Court Studio | 2 Daly AveThe Brothers Grimm show invites audiences to (re)discover the enduring power of the Grimm brothers’ folktales. First collected in 17th-century Europe from farmers, midwives, and other everyday storytellers, these vivid and dramatic tales have been retold, translated, and reimagined countless times across cultures and centuries. Despite modern critiques of their dated and problematic elements, the stories continue to captivate, offering wisdom, wonder, and profound insights into the human experience. This event will present a carefully chosen selection of these timeless stories, honouring their origins while revealing their raw beauty and relevance for listeners in Ottawa today.
Featuring Tellers:
Kim Kilpatrick
Mary Wiggin
Andrea Prazmowski
Johanna Kuyvenhoven
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Ticket now available for the in person and On-Demand show!
UPCOMING EVENTS
Refining the Personal Story:
Structure, Choice, and Impact - Mar 21
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Saturday, March 21
Time: 10:00am to 12:00pmHintonburg Community Centre, K1Y 2Y3
You’ve told personal stories before and know they can be powerful, but finding the right story, structure, and level of detail to hold an audience’s attention remains a challenge.
This workshop focuses on refining personal narrative storytelling. Drawing on live storytelling, performance, and coaching practice, it explores what makes a personal story work: how stories are structured, where they lose momentum, what to keep, what to cut, and how deliberate narrative choices shape audience engagement.
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Storytellers with any level of experience who want to refine their approach, and anyone interested in how story structure and audience attention intersect.
Participants will leave with a clearer framework for shaping personal stories that hold attention and land with greater impact.
Open Mic In Person - Mar 18
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Step Into the World of Storytelling at the Storytelling Open Mic!
Open Mic, formerly Swap, is warm and welcoming and offered on-line for those who want to participate from the comfort of their home and in person for those who love the live vibe.
Storytelling Open Mic is a perfect place to discover and enjoy storytelling as a teller or a listener. The supportive atmosphere is great for beginning tellers, and more experienced tellers can test out new material or share well-loved stories, both funny and poignant, including folk tales, historical pieces, fractured fairy tales, true personal stories, recitations, ballads, and original stories.
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Well-crafted stories of up to 10 minutes in length with beginnings, middles, and ends are told without notes from the heart of the teller to the hearts of the listeners.
Our in-person Storytelling Open Mic takes place monthly on a Wednesday evening at 7:00 pm at the Sunnyside OPL Branch (1049 Bank Street) in Room A. In-person Open Mic is hosted by Véronique Dupuis.
Our Story Begins
With Community
Ottawa StoryTellers is a vibrant collective of voices - professional tellers, emerging artists, and passionate listeners all brought together by a shared love of story. We celebrate the power of oral storytelling to connect, inspire, and build community across generations and cultures. From intimate performances to bold stage productions, our events invite audiences into the timeless magic of a well-told tale.
Ottawa StoryTellers brings stories to life all year long with a wide range of events and programs for every age and interest. Our professional season runs from October to June, featuring performances by some of the region’s most accomplished tellers in both classic and contemporary storytelling formats. Whether it’s an intimate evening at the Arts Court Theatre, a family-friendly performance at your local library, or a collaborative project with artists from across disciplines, our calendar is filled with opportunities to experience the power of spoken word in all its forms.
Beyond our mainstage shows, we also offer free and ticketed events, hands-on workshops, open mic nights, and community storytelling festivals that invite everyone to join in. From beginner storytelling workshops to monthly open mics where anyone can take the stage, to large-scale cultural celebrations, each event is designed to inspire connection, creativity, and a shared appreciation for the stories that shape us. Explore our upcoming events and discover what’s next in Ottawa’s vibrant storytelling scene.
We hope to see you at an upcoming show, workshop, or open mic soon. If you have any questions about our programming or need more information, please reach out to us at info@ottawastorytellers.ca.
Lifestyles of the Rich and the Shameless Artist: Tom Lips
The Women in Me Artist: Sao-Mai Nguyen
Recovering Romantic Artist: Briane Nasimok
Grimm | Dark Paths and Wild Wonder
The Strategy Of War: Aztec Mythology Artist: Mera Reyes
(un)Told: Stories That Stayed With Us
Good Masters! Sweet Ladies! Voices from a Medieval Village
Stay Connected With the Story
The stories don’t stop when the curtain falls. Follow Ottawa StoryTellers on Instagram and Facebook for behind-the-scenes moments, event announcements, and storytelling inspiration all year long. Join our growing online community and be part of the conversation.
Community Engagement:
Storytelling in Community
Storytelling brings people together by sharing experiences, histories, and perspectives that foster understanding and connection. In a community setting, it can inspire participation, strengthen relationships, and create a shared sense of identity.
LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Ottawa StoryTellers’ events and performances take place on the unceded and unsurrendered territory of the Algonquin Anishinabeg. We respectfully acknowledge that they are the original caretakers of this land. Ottawa StoryTellers is not just acknowledging land; we’re acknowledging Indigenous cultures that have been telling stories since time immemorial. We are dedicated to working with our indigenous partners to honour and learn from their traditions.