Visceral storytelling – Poetry, songs and storytelling

This tool was developed as part of Cultural Cwtsh, which was an online creative wellbeing hub for the health and care workforce in Wales, created by the Arts Council of Wales in collaboration with artists across the country.

In partnership with the Arts Council of Wales, we’re excited to share this mental wellbeing tool, alongside with many other creative resources, with everyone in Wales!

I’m Eric Ngalle Charles, a Cameroonian-born, Wales-based writer, poet, and playwright. I believe in the power of storytelling and its ability to transport us to different places and experiences.

Throughout my life, for as long as I can remember, I have told stories.  My grandfather had three wives. On returning from school, I would stop at his compound and go to the kitchen of the first wife. I told stories, entertaining her children as she cooked. She fed me an extra-large portion.

I would then visit the second wife and do the same. When I got to my mother’s house, it mattered not if there was no food.

All I have been doing since living here in Wales is telling stories. I have reached an age where I must start passing the baton to the next generation of storytellers. Hence, I collaborated with young Caoimhe Lewis on this project.

Where do stories come from? To answer this question, we referenced Steven Peterson’s book Welsh Folktales.  Since the dawn of time, stories have been told in the kitchen, by the fireplace, under moonlit skies, by the river, etc.

As we were filming, we crossed the muddy waters of river Taff, and Caoimhe waddled and sang the stone crab’s song. We laughed.

Caoimhe and I implore you to listen to these stories, laugh, and visit your childhood memories.

At a time when the world seems on its knees, let us go back to the simple things to gather, listen, and tell each other stories.

Let our imagination run, and our creativity be the hope that lights our world, continuing that link between Arts, Creativity, and our mental well-being. Diolch yn fawr iawn.