This month’s TELL! featuring Shayna Jones

Shayna Jones, Afro-centric Folklorist, Spoken Word Artist, and Performance Storyteller invites you to dance with the "Old Stories". We invite you to bring your folktales, fairy tales, myths and legends (and stories of what they mean to you) this upcoming TELL!. No matter their shape or size -- battered, torn, brilliantly rendered or barely remembered -- bring 'em. It's how they hit your heart that counts.

Shayna Jones guides our open mic this month and shares with us her unique storytelling methods. Whether you’re a community member, practicing artist or just starting out, TELL! is a community platform to connect with others and celebrate our work, focusing this month on folklore and storytelling.

About TELL!

TELL! is MT Space's coffeehouse open-mic style event offering the community an artistic platform to share their works in a casual setting. These sharings can be performances, stories, lectures, poetry, drag, fine art displays -- any type of creation.

We know that art and food bring people together like nothing else. Join us for a potluck meal and bring a food offering* to share if you're able to. We'll provide plates, cutlery, and beverages (coffee, tea, and water). Help us reduce waste by bringing in your own reusable cups, bottles, and mugs for water and coffee!

*Please include an ingredients list for any dishes you bring.

Doors open at 7:00pm. Event starts at 7:30pm.

TELL! is a free event. Families with small children are also welcomed.

This event is low/no tech. Bring anything you may need for your performance/presentation, including amps for instruments. There will be music stands available, mic, an acoustic guitar, an ukulele, and an electronic keyboard.

Shayna Jones, Photo by Sarah Race — A woman, Shayna Jones, sits on the floor smiling as ropes hang down from the ceiling. Photo by Sarah Race

About Shayna Jones
Shayna Jones is an award-winning actor, a multi-disciplinary spoken word artist, and an applied folklorist. She combines her passion for live, theatrical performance with the study of traditional African and Afro-Diasporic folklore and contemporary Black experience to create dynamically soulful, nuanced, and visceral performances. She has had the privilege of spending the last decade performing her work for theatre companies, festivals and schools across Canada. For this she is continually awed and deeply grateful. Learn more about Shayna and her work at: www.wearestoryfolk.com

About the Venue

TELL! will be hosted uptown Waterloo in Hilliard Hall at First United Church (16 William St W, Waterloo, ON N2L 1J3). Enter the building through the side door connected to the parking lot marked WEEKDAY ENTRANCE (access via Caroline St and William St, around the corner from Valentina Bridal & Couture dress shop).

Parking is available for free on-site (accessible from Caroline St), and next door at the Waterloo Town Square South Parking lot (35 Alexandra Ave, Waterloo).

GRT via the iON (route 301) or by bus (routes 5, 7, 16).

Accessibility information

First United Church is wheelchair accessible on the main level of the building where TELL! is taking place, along with automatic entrance doors.

Three washrooms are available onsite, including one universal accessible washroom with changing station.

Notice of Photography:

Our event might involve snapping photos, recording audio, and shooting videos. By joining us, you're giving us the green light to share, publish, display, or make copies of these recordings. If you have any worries, just let our friendly photographer know – they're here to help!

TELL! Photo by Phi Doan — Two people at TELL!, with one adjusting the mic. Photo by Phi Doan