The extraordinary breadth of cultures living side by side in Dunedin will be celebrated at the inaugural Dunedin International Storytelling Festival today.
The festival — subtitled ‘‘Round the World in 80 Tales’’ — will feature stories told in 15 languages.
It has been jointly organised by storyteller Kaitrin McMullan and sign language interpreter Brydee Strang, with support from Dunedin Libraries events co-ordinator Kay Mercer.
Ms McMullan said the featured languages would include Farsi, Hebrew, Arabic, Portuguese, Spanish, Icelandic, French, Dutch, Japanese, Si Lozi (Africa), Samoan, Tok Pisin (Papua New Guinea), Te Reo Maori, Sign Language, and Malayalam (India).
The family-friendly short stories, which would also be translated into English, would reflect the cultures of the storytellers, she said.
‘‘It will be wonderful to hear the musicality of the languages, and then to hear the stories retold in English,’’ she said.
‘‘We often celebrate our multiculturalism in food and music, so this will be something different and special.’’
Ms Strang said the storytellers were excited about taking part in the festival.
‘‘Stories let us see the world through others’ eyes. They are a portal to the past and to new countries,’’ she said.
The festival would also feature cultural performances, including a Chinese Lion Dance, He Waka Kotuia kapa haka group, world music from Sounds Nor’Easterly choir, Indonesian shadow puppetry and Gamelan orchestra.
The event is supported by Creative Communities Trust, Dunedin Public Libraries, and Unesco Dunedin City of Literature
★ The Dunedin Storytelling Festival, Around the World in 80 Tales, will be held this today from 11am to 3pm, at Dunedin City Library, Moray Pl. Entry is free and all are welcome.
