AFTER the success of the Autumn Fires performance at the Ffwrnes Theatre last year, storytellers Carl Gough, David Pitt and Eleanor Shaw have collaborated to create a storytelling collective called The Hearth Storytellers coming to Ammanford Miners' Theatre on March 17.

Eleanor Shaw, who also hosts Spoken Word Saturday at The Ffwrnes Theatre on the second Saturday of each month said: “The Hearth Storytellers brings to mind the image of the hearth fire that in past times served as the common area of all providing warmth, safety, companionship and sustenance as people gathered around as circles of hearts to share in its comfort. Here the first stories were heard and by firelight in the darkness the art of storytelling was born."

Storyteller Carl Gough added: “The Hearth Storytellers offers us the chance to create really dynamic and exciting storytelling performances with greater depth, variety and perspective than any of us could achieve alone.

"Come and join us in an evening of traditional storytelling and music and experience a memorable experience.”

Traditional storytelling is a growing genre in Carmarthenshire at the moment. Nick Brunger has just started Carmarthen Storytelling Club in Caffi Iechyd Da, Carmarthen and reckons "there is a real calling for a place and time for people to meet, share and listen to the spoken word". David Pitt aka 'The Crowman' is an experienced storyteller, musician and puppeteer known for his work in schools and with the Mari Lwyd folk tradition.

He said: "I am very excited at the opportunity to work together with Eleanor and Carl. Most of my work has been with children and family groups in schools and libraries, but I think that there is a real need today for traditional storytelling with audiences of all ages.

"Such tales engage the active imagination and reconnect us with that child that is within all of us and take us back the otherworld of dreams and myth that sometimes, as adults, we tend to neglect.”

Carl Gough added: "The Hearth Storytellers offers the chance to create really dynamic and exciting storytelling performances with greater depth, variety and perspective than any of us could achieve alone. Professional Storytellers are used to working alone for much of the time, but when you bring together three very different tellers such as ourselves, we bounce off each other expanding the dimensions of stories both old and new, so that audiences can really appreciate what modern storytelling is all about."

Carl Gough has a natural ability to carry listeners into rich new worlds, connecting audiences to the wonderful world of myths, legends, folklore and fables.

The Hearth Storytellers is at the Miners Theatre, Ammanford, March 17 at 7.30pm. Tickets are just £5, 14 plus age suitable. Book now at the Box office 0845 2263510 or on line theatrausirgar.co.uk

Tickets also available from Ammanford Library. You can also follow them on Facebook – The Hearth Storytellers.