A new storytelling event opening up the boundaries of interaction and communication, launching this September.

Friday 29 September, 8–10.30pm

This September, the new storytelling community What You Saying? hosts its first live event in East London. Bridging the gap between the words used in conversation, to the language we read and write on paper, the evening will move from casual anecdotes to spoken word, from flash-fiction to quick-fire round jokes.

WYS? was originally conceived by four friends while working a hectic restaurant shift, where Londoners broke away from offices and building sites to share lunchtime conversations and stories. Deciding that there were too many unheard stories in the city, WYS? was born: aiming to inspire London’s community to get out of their heads and into the lives, minds, and moments of others. From the woman who ate a whole lemon on the bus, to visiting a sibling’s grave for the first time, the stories told, witnessed and heard across the city give Londoners access to other people’s lives and dismantles the ‘me / you’ binary. In a world where today’s conversations happen across 24hr videos and group whatsapps replace going to the pub – WYS? celebrates the spoken story.

The first event in the new series will take place on Friday 29th September at the not-for-profit, upcycled events space Hive in Dalston, where London’s community will listen to new and old stories followed by a relaxed DJ-set where speakers and listeners can meet and share ideas. Storytellers already announced to speak on the evening are poet Azad Ashim Sharma, who uses the poetic form to explore the complexities of his Islamic-Hindu hybrid identity and Sean Mahoney, a writer, performer and comedian. The opportunity to speak is open to all and WYS? is taking submissions until 22nd September.

All profits made from the event go to Hive, a not-for-profit and entirely voluntary events space. Hosting cultural and political events, film screenings, exhibitions and workshops, Hive is not just a venue but it’s a social project and a solutions building. Hive is the showcase building of ReSpace Projects – an organisation set-up to facilitate the use of empty buildings and wasted resources by communities. (https://hivedalston.wordpress.com/)

Tickets are just £5 and BYOB is welcome. Tickets and further information is available here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/what-you-saying-01-tickets-37788208549

About What You Saying?

What You Saying? is made up of Samia, Rob, Ellen and Ali. We met in 2014, working the same lunchtime shift in a central London restaurant where we developed a shared interest in the human interactions we witnessed on a daily basis, and how this might become a form of art. We are all London-based and each share interests in literature – most of us having studied this subject at universities. Samia works in film animation, Ellen works for an art gallery, Ali is a set designer and Rob works in market research currently specifying in agriculture. Our collective aim is to establish a platform where the stories that our friends live or dream about are given voice, are woven into our community and are believed to be as beautiful as the stories that exist inside books.

Instagram: @whatyousayinglondon

Twitter: @wyslondon

Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/510264189328392

Eventbrite page: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/what-you-saying-01-tickets-37788208549