Once upon a time, Gareth Cashin had a decade-long odyssey sweeping across a nation famed for rich oral traditions.
Scotland is an illustrious stage for storytelling, and the current manager of Pūtangitangi Greenmeadows Centre conjured his rhetoric within the art form from 1996 to 2006 in the country’s castles, dungeons, libraries and schools.
After much domancy, Gareth will dust off his passion on 16 April for a magic performance of a children’s tale cherished in Aotearoa for five decades, Badjelly the Witch.
His storytelling event is part of Tuku 25 Whakatū, and he says the wacky Spike Milligan tale appeals to kiwis and was his go-to in Scotland.
“I was just amazed that no one had really heard of this amazing book that just reached cult status in New Zealand, so I was the first person that was sharing it with the good folk who I told stories to in Scotland,” he says.
“It always went down really well… and it’s always captured my imagination through the genius of Spike Milligan and his ability to tell really silly concepts that tickle people’s funny bone.
“The event that we’re doing is trying to link grandparents, their children and their grandchildren to come along and celebrate Badjelly the Witch and enjoy a good dose of silliness.”
Badjelly the Witch tells the story of two children’s enchanted forest encounter with a witch who is known for transforming children into sausages and boy-girl soup. It has also been recently made into a reimagined New Zealand animation series.
“You’re telling it from your subconscious so you’re able to deliver a really good picture of the setting and the characters,” he says.
“You get children who are just absolutely captivated. Little kids and older adults come up to you and thank you for your session. They might reference something from the story from one of their experiences in their life.”
Gareth’s storytelling event on 16 April takes the Pūtangitangi Greenmeadows Centre stage from 10am to 12pm. Essential registrations can be made by contacting 03 265 6519 or gca@clmnz.co.nz
