Muriel Bloch has been telling stories for 32 years now. She has published numerous books and is invited regularly to storytelling conferences for her valuable inputs. Muriel keeps unearthing stories and storytellers from all over the world. She has travelled far and wide. From Morocco, Poland, India and Iran to Madagascar, Palestine, Korea and Brazil. At present, she is in India on a tour.

A frequent visitor to the country, Muriel participated in Bookaroo Children’s Literature Festival’s 2009 edition. In a chat with Eureka!, last week, she underlined the importance of storytelling and how it became a passion with her.

Q. How did you get into storytelling?

A. It was nearly 30 years ago. I was working in the Centre Georges Pompidou, a big art centre in Paris. One day, I was asked to tell stories for an exhibition of children's books.

At that time, I knew very few stories, but people enjoyed listening to me. Then the telephone started ringing. My answer always was: “I will come, for sure - to your school, your library, your exhibition, your birthday party...” That was the best way to start - for getting a repertoire - since I was not a traditional storyteller. It was long, hard, work - from the writing, making it oral and vivid, finding the best way to perform and add a personal point of view too!

Q. Which was your first performance and how do you remember it?

A. I think it was in a library in France where I retold a Grimm's Brothers’ fairy tale - the tale about the seven crows. I was trembling. It was a gathering of adults, mostly (librarians and teachers).

It was more of reading out than actually telling a story. It was very impersonal and I was very shy. I thought to myself, "Oh my god, do you really want to be a storyteller, a performer?" But the audience was nice - we rediscovered folktales and shared them.

Q. How do you research your stories?

A. I read a lot. I collect stories from anywhere in the world. I travel. I search (my office in Paris is full of books on folktales from anywhere and of any sort). I listen a lot and this is the part of the work that I probably enjoy the best.

It is all about finding the story that will stop me from sleeping, the story that has to be told. It is like love. It takes time to find the right story, to sharpen a story and keep it free. Each time, the pleasure is new. 

Q. What are the elements that make for a good storytelling performance that will grip the audience?

A. You should not only connect with the story but also connect with the audience, as well. The storyteller needs to feel the room, choose a good story for the moment. Be yourself, do not act nor should you talking in a very poetical and concrete way. Offer images. Make the audience travel with you.

Q. Which of the countries that you have visited has the richest storytelling history?

A. This is a difficult question to answer. The answer is probably India and some African countries I have had the opportunity to visit. I enjoy India because the audience is there and there is a connection with great stories that are very old.

Q. You have interacted with many Indian storytellers. What do you think is their strong point? 

A. There is a lot of storytelling in India even within the family and during feasts. The technique - for most of them – is traditional. The body language is very precise.

Q. Can adults be made to sit and listen to stories? Or, is storytelling only for children?

A. Of course not! It is the only art probably where children and adults can listen together and each takes what he needs. In this age of nuclear families, stories have to be shared together. It is important for children to be with their parents or educators.