What’s the Buzz in the shire?
Welcome to the website of the Cicada Story Slam…
The Cicada is dedicated to the art and craft of storytelling and our aim is to honour the personal stories of our local community while creating a canvas of Hepburn Shire Stories. Contestants have 5 minutes to win over the audience with a story. No notes, no props just you and the audience! We’re looking for contestants with a personal story to tell, connected to the Hepburn Shire…
Upcoming Story Slams for 2020
For a more detailed explanation of each theme, go here.
Please note: WE ARE NOW ONLINE!!
01
Beginnings
7pm Thursday 20 February
Back Bar Daylesford Hotel
02
Hindsight is 20/20
7pm Thursday 19 March
Back Bar Daylesford Hotel
03
It seemed impossible
7pm Thursday 16 April
Back Bar Daylesford Hotel
04
My Brilliant Career
7pm Thursday 21 May
Back Bar Daylesford Hotel
About the cicada Story Slam
The Cicada Story Slam is the brainchild of renowned Daylesford storyteller, Anne E Stewart. It is dedicated to the art and craft of storytelling and is modelled on story slams, like The Moth in New York and ABC’s Now Hear This. Our series is unique in aiming to tell the story of our community by asking tellers to share their personal stories about the Hepburn Shire.
Inspired by a visit to The Moth in Brooklyn with Rod May in 2015, the Cicada Slams will culminate in a grand finale where heat winners vie for The Rod May Storytelling Trophy.
Interested in telling your story? Head over to the FAQ page for find out what is involved.
This project was made possible by the Australian Government’s Regional Arts Fund, which supports the arts in regional and remote Australia, and proudly supported by Regional Arts Victoria.
Stories from Season 3
Click on the image to listen to the stories from Season three of The Cicada.
‘Beginnings’
Season 3, Episode 1 | Welcome to another year of Cicada story telling! Some wonderful stories on the theme ‘Beginnings’ at the slam this week. We heard stories about when it all began, the start, the seed, the moment, the first step. We heard about ideas and firsts of all kinds.
Stories from Season 2
Click on the image to listen to the stories from Season two of The Cicada.
‘Traditions’
Season 2, Episode 8 | Tonight we heard some very sentimental words from our contestents. Here is a summary of some of the stories we heard.
‘Journey’
Season 2, Episode 7 | We had a wonderful night, enthralled by local stories on the theme ‘Journey’. Here’s a brief recap of some of what we heard…
Toby Symes: Reflective love story about a girl, the Greek Islands, a long last swim, and the truth about a good man
‘Hidden Treasures’
Season 2, Episode 6 | A lively night of stories on the theme of ‘Hidden Treasures’. Highlights include –
Laurel Freeland: Photos of her grandchildren take her back to a time of sneaking off from school, barbecues in the bush. They forgot to extinguish their fire, this meant trouble. A man on a tractor puts out the fire, what a great hidden treasure to find in the bush.
‘Life’
Season 2, Episode 5 | An enthralling night of stories as part of the Words in Winter festival. As always the fire was on in the back room at the Daylesford Hotel with a full house of guests listening to local stories.
‘Courage’
Season 2, Episode 4 'Courage' Some wonderful stories on the theme 'Courage' at the slam this week. Petrus Spronk - From his book, Adventures in Korea the story of the longest night where Petrus finds himself in a flash love hotel Korea, the night evolves inhe...
‘The Longest Night / Wait’
Season 2, Episode 3 | The Longest night certainly inspired a range of stories from Don’s story of the birth of his premmie son, Kevin’s story of the Beatles tour of America in 1964 and then John Lennons death in New York 16 years later, Leticia’s performance to a muted audience in the US and Toby told a story of his sister playing tricks on him and his relationship with dogs.
Stories From Season 1
Click on the image to listen to the stories from Season One of The Cicada.
Season One finale – ‘Everything is Connected.’
Nicki Marshall is the winner of the first season of the Cicada Story Slam with her story “Everything is Connected”.
‘Local Heroes’ – Meg Ulman
Meg is the tied winner of the “Local Heroes” Story Slam.
‘Local Heroes’ Mark Dickenson
Marks Dickenson is the tied winner of the “Local Heroes” Story Slam.