Storytelling Afternoon with Master Storytellers

On Saturday afternoon, 7 November, Van Cappellenhuis hosts a storytelling programme in collaboration with Verhalencompagnie, featuring three professional storytellers: Caja van der Poel, Michael Driebeek van der Ven and Gerda Hoogendijk.

The programme consists of three stories: "The Six Swans" (a fairy tale), "Cailleach" (a Celtic myth) and "The Shepherd and the Snake" (a Georgian folk tale). The stories are aimed at adults; children from age 8 are also welcome.

The programme runs twice: from 13:30 to 14:30 and from 15:00 to 16:00. Both sessions include all three stories. Book a ticket for the session you wish to attend - 13:30 or 15:00. For children's tickets, no specific time slot needs to be selected.

The Storytellers and Their Stories

"The Six Swans" - Caja van der Poel
A princess watches her six brothers being enchanted into swans by their stepmother. To save them, she must remain silent for six years and sew shirts from nettles. Caja studied at the Acteer Studio Den Haag, the Amsterdam Theater Academy and The International School of Storytelling, where she regularly returns to learn new techniques and genres.

"Cailleach" - Michael Driebeek van der Ven
The Celtic goddess Cailleach - also known as the Veiled One or the Queen of Winter - determined the severity of winter and when spring would begin. She lived in Scotland, Ireland and on the Isle of Man. Michael graduated from the Acteer Studio in Den Haag and completed his master's degree at the International School of Storytelling (UK).

"The Shepherd and the Snake" - Gerda Hoogendijk
A shepherd understands everything he hears: the rustling of leaves, the murmur of water, what animals tell each other. But he must tell no one - not even his wife - about this gift. Until one day his wife begins to suspect. Gerda founded Stichting de Verhalencompagnie and has been organising storytelling events for 15 years.