Storytelling School unveils Wonder Box of Narration, shadow play

Sharjah 24: Ninety carefully curated activities have been designed to bring the nation’s heritage to today’s generations in a unique way, blending the magic of storytelling, shadow play, and ancestral traditions. As part of the Sharjah Heritage Days, the International School of Storytelling presents its dedicated corner, where folklore comes to life as if emerging from a wonder box—revealing the pages of heritage, reviving its legacy, and bringing forth the treasures of its values, customs, and traditions.

Heritage library of stories

The first thing that greets visitors at the International School of Storytelling’s corner is its heritage library, crowned with the slogan: A Thousand and One Tales Await Their Storytellers. Here, folklore enthusiasts—whether poets, writers, or children themselves—are invited to immerse in the narratives. The storytelling team, composed of Reem Al-Suwaidi, Khadija Al-Mazmi, Zainab Al-Alyani, and Najma Bin Bu Ali, gathers children with love, fostering in them the values of their ancestors through the timeless art of storytelling.

Tales and traditions

The library shelves of the International Storytelling School hold an array of captivating tales, including Um Al-Subyan, Unity is Strength, Baba Zayed, The Tale of the World Book Capital, Baba Sultan, Mother’s Milk, Nawaf Al-Jallaf, and I Will Hunt My Breakfast, among other collections that seamlessly weave together folklore, proverbs, traditional tales, jewelry, cuisine, and adornment customs.

Notable storytelling sessions

One of the school’s notable storytelling sessions featured the talented reader Fatima Ali Al-Zarouni, a promising writer with several published works, including A Planet Without Ideas, A World of Peace, But!, and Faheem the Wise, But!. She took her place among the narrators of A Thousand and One Tales, enchanting young listeners with her unique storytelling style. Her engaging sessions brought to life stories such as Two Heroic Leaders: Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and Hamdan and the Palm Tree—a tale of a boy whose love for cycling eventually leads to a deep appreciation for palm trees.

Rich programme of activities

The International Storytelling School’s program extends beyond traditional narration. Visitors to the Sharjah Heritage Days will be delighted with an array of enriching experiences, including puppet and doll storytelling, an exploration of the power of voice in traditional narratives, hologram storytelling, interactive sessions, and specialized workshops that transform folktales into artistic images and expressive paintings. With a variety of engaging and joyful activities, the storytelling journey continues to captivate audiences of all ages.