Storyteller Jan Blake

 
We recently had the immense pleasure of welcoming UK master storyteller Jan Blake to our stage as part of her Re-Rooting Tour — an exploration of African folktales in the diaspora through storytelling, music, rhythm, and song.

And what an evening it was!

With extraordinary presence, humour, intensity, and grace, Jan carried us into worlds shaped by African and Caribbean myth and fairytale — worlds where rules are bent, taboos are broken, magic is done and undone, and the boundaries between the human, animal, ancestral, and unseen become beautifully porous. Her stories were gripping, playful, unsettling, hilarious, and deeply alive. Her Jamaican ghost story was downright freaky! Fortunately, she didn’t leave us there. 🙂

Accompanied by percussionist Reg Wilford, Jan’s storytelling became something more than spoken word. Rhythm and sound moved through the room alongside the stories, creating an experience that felt ancient and immediate at once — part performance, part remembering, part communal journey.

There is something profoundly different about being in a room with a master storyteller. No screens to hide behind. No elaborate production required. Just voice, body, rhythm, imagination — and a room full of people travelling together.

A huge shoutout to Ian MacKenzie and The Mythic Masculine for producing the Re-Rooting Tour and continuing to champion work like this. I have so much respect for people who put their energy behind important stories, courageous artists, and the kinds of cultural conversations we need more of — and it was a real honour to play a small part in bringing this one to Victoria.

We were honoured to host Jan, Reg, and the Re-Rooting Tour here in Victoria, and grateful to everyone who joined us for such a memorable night!

Learn more about Jan and her brilliance at janblakestories.co.uk

Here are a few moments from the evening: