Tell your story
If you are interested in speaking at one of our events, please send a short synopsis to truestorieslive@gmail.com. Stories need to be under ten minutes, should be true and about you. At each event we set a theme, which can be interpreted in any way that works for you.
Photo by Bert Eke
The audience is almost like being encompassed in a big hug
– RUTH KATRA
You can find out upcoming themes by visiting our events page.
Please see our Story Guidelines below to ensure your story is suitable.
‘It was great to
do something
completely new.’
– Ade Jolly
Story Guidelines
Intimate, interesting, anecdotal storytelling by non-performers
and performers in a welcoming and intimate setting.
Thank you for your interest in taking part in a True Stories Live (TSL) event. To help all of us make the most of this occasion here are some guidelines for you to bear in mind when preparing to present your story together with information about what may happen to you story once it is told and agreements about its future use:
Your story must be true and personal to you – i.e. not: 'my friend told me...'
You should be prepared to deliver it to a friendly and supportive audience preferably without notes. Some people find props helpful, including projected images and illustrations.
Each True Stories event will have a theme. The theme is for inspiration and can be interpreted in your own way.
The telling should normally take between 5 and 10 minutes. An ideal length is 7 minutes. We will expect your story to be completed within 10 minutes and will encourage you with visual prompts to wind up within that time.
If you have a story but will find it difficult to attend an event in person, you may be able to submit a filmed recording of you telling your story. Please email truestorieslive@gmail.com to discuss this with our producer and co-presenter, Lucy Farrant. We can also supply you with some hints and tips if you want to go down this route.
If your story involves other people, please think carefully about whether they will be happy with an audience hearing personal details that may identify them or show them in a bad light. If you are not sure, please discuss your story with Lucy and/or obtain the person’s consent if you can.
Please note that our evenings are curated and that we seek to offer our audiences a balance of stories and experiences. We cannot therefore guarantee a speaking slot to everyone who submits a story summary. If this happens – don’t worry – keep trying – that story or another one may be suitable on another occasion.
TSL actively promotes diversity and as a consequence no story will be selected that promotes discrimination, harassment or victimisation on grounds of age, caring responsibilities, disability, gender, nationality, race, religious belief (or no belief), sexual orientation socio-economic class or trans and whether such an identity is actual or perceived or whether this is by association with persons from any of these equality strands. We state this to be clear as these are values that we hold dear.
We will not select stories which appear to contain language or ideas we believe to be sexist, ageist, racist, homophobic, transphobic or offensive in any other way. Stories which seek only to promote a particular religious/political belief or viewpoint are unlikely to be chosen for any of our events.
Please submit a summary of your story to truestorieslive@gmail.com as soon as you can and preferably 7 days before the date of the event. (A few sentences will be sufficient). Alternatively, Lucy will be happy to have a chat with you about your story if you email truestorieslive@gmail.com and arrange a time for this. You will be told as soon as possible before the event whether your story has been chosen.
On the day of the event please try to be available a little before doors open for a sound check- usually 6.45pm. This will also give you a chance to meet the other speakers.
Performances may be recorded in any media. By entering your story and telling it you agree to any such recording taking place and to the reproduction and adaptation of it for any purpose. In particular, stories told at TSL events may be included in podcasts and broadcasts on radio. In order to comply with relevant broadcast legislation and guidelines, stories may need to be edited for this purpose. We reserve the right to not include any story in any podcast or broadcast.
You also agree to your name and likeness being used for reasonable promotional purposes including use on social media platforms.