A STORY

Welcome.
Welcome.
Welcome.

Are you ready to Play?
Are you happy to Play?
Then

Firstly,
Let us silence our magic Talismen
And place them thus . . .
In the Harness of Tranquility.
We will have no peace while they try to Torment us!

Many thanks.

So let us begin
and yes we have begun
with Three Welcomes!
Because (as we shall discover)
Three is a Magic Number!
And indeed,
this Welcome is divided into three parts:

An opening Salutation – to set the scene,
introducing setting, theme, characters, quest.

Secondly, the real action starts –
as characters interact, tension may rise!
Brains may boil!
Tongues will either wag wearily
or
they may dry up, like cement in the mouth!

Thirdly, last of all in our Final Act
The denouement plays out!
Each character plays out their performance
to the hesitant, nervous, waiting crowd.

This is a most important part of proceedings
And full respect and utmost attention
must be given
To those who hold the stage.

A word of caution at this point!
Hold back your judgement
Wait patiently in the wings.
Remember that we live lour lives moving forwards
But we understand ourselves looking back.
So hold judgement
And be wary.
It is Telios we seek
And Hubris we seek to avoid!

So let us begin
And welcome you to this:
the Chapel of Knowledge
And I,
your appointed priest.
I am a Seer, a Prophet, a poet and a Philosopher.
I am Michael.
In Ancient times it meant teacher or wise.

Now a welcome to you
and your crippling, agonising awkwardness which is
The Beginning.

Now,
Take a moment.
Be still.
Rest the whirling Furies trying to poison your mind.
Quell them with all your might.

Be at peace.

Breathe

And Breath (again).

Find an inner calm.

And embrace

Your fear
Your excitement
And your trepidation.

Embrace this new day
And assuage and reconcile your emotions.
As I must do mine,
So you should do yours.

So take just a little longer
another ‘moment’
Quell yourself.
Tame your emotions
To harness your actions.
As we cast off on our journey.

But what is this journey
For which you have anticipated?
What is your purpose?
What will be your tasks?

To make it easier for you to understand
I shall give it just one name
And that name is . . .
Story.

For what have we got
And what can we hope to get?
If anything at all . . .
It is the chance to tell our story.

And as you will be part of my story
(which starts right here and now)
So I will be part of yours.

And look around
At what you see
And who you see
Because (for better or for worse)
It has been ordered
By Destiny and Fate
that they also will be part of your story.

So expect to tell your stories
To make your Story.
And expect to be able to listen
and respond
to stories of Others.

Expect to reflect and think and evaluate.
Expect to be challenged.
Expect to be tested.
Expect to learn.
Expect Change.

If possible,
enter your expectations with courage and heart.
If possible, last the course,
Rise to the challenge
And leave with success, with pride
and above all,
the ability to tell a better story.

Any questions?

Once answered
Let us go to work.

Your first task
is to deposit your first task in this secret envelope
(that I will now pass around)
And if not today
then tomorrow.
But be warned – do not baulk this Task.
It is the first step in your journey
and judgement will be made!

Once done –
Gather around in groups of three
Because
Three is the Magic Number!
And get set to go to work.

(And here we are in the second Act)

The task is as follows:
Each one of the three must choose another,
But each of the three must only be chosen once.
Talk to them.
Talk to each other.
And be prepared
To tell their story.

If possible,
can it be told in verse?
If it is possible,
It is possible that you may have
the strength of Zeus
and/or the wisdom of Apollo
and/or the wit of Dionysus
To tell it well,
You will need all Three –
which as we know . . .
is the . . .

If not,
And you find yourself possessed by the Wild Furies
Devouring your whole being.
Then lay quiet and nothing will be expected of you . . .
Yet!

So go!
Children of Men
and set to work
You have 15 minutes to complete your task!

Any questions?

So be it!
The Sands of Cronos mark time
And in 15 minutes the final Act will begin
Our journey to the end!

Good luck!