Lynda wants to tell you a story to ease life in lockdown

A Fife storytelling business has gone online to keep people entertained during lockdown.

Matrix Storytelling has created a Facebook video gallery to tell and share stories for people of all ages - from traditional tales such as Rumplestiltskin to Scottish stories.

Lynda Dargie, storyteller, started recording the videos after feeling that kids and adults may need a break from the stresses of life in lockdown.

She said: “I have been sharing stories on Facebook to try to reach the wider community, and have also been in touch with groups and organisations directly, including some care homes, to see if they would be able to use them to provide a wee respite from the current situation.

“Stories have the ability to transport us to other places and times as we lose ourselves in the tale and experience challenges, joy and wonder through the characters. The idea is to provide a form of escape or indeed, respite for parents, who could put the video on and hopefully have time for a cup of tea.

“Children can watch the stories and enjoy them relatively independently, and more generally just for people to reconnect with the wonder of story in a slightly different way.

“In these current times we are all having to work slightly differently and a bit more creatively than we perhaps normally would. It's lovely to be able to help even in a small way.”

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Lynda, who is also a supply teacher, started recording the stories originally for her youngsters at her school as a way to remain connected. Each Wednesday she shared classic traditional Ladybird books, and added picture books for young children.

She added: “I have been in touch with lots of organisations like Womens Aid, Fife Gingerbread, elderly groups, rural groups and care homes to see if anyone who uses these services would benefit from my stories.”

“Everyone can have fun with stories. You can escape in them.

“I have elderly parents and I also have an aunt who lives in a care home, so I thought why don’t I include stories for adults as well.

“I have been recording stories with lots of different themes - Greek mythology, traveller, and traditional Scottish stories to name a few. They never go out of fashion.

“I have been receiving wonderful feedback from people. If I can give someone five minutes of peace and a little bit of respite during these tough times I’ll be happy.”

If you would like to watch Lynda’s storytelling videos visit: https://www.facebook.com/pg/matrixstorytelling/videos/

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