Andrea Gibbs.
Camera IconAndrea Gibbs. Credit: Supplied/Andrew Ritchie

Raw emotion on show

Sara Fitzpatrick, Guardian ExpressEastern Reporter

The trick is in knowing how to deliver it.

Since 2010, the popular humorist has led the Barefaced Storytelling series, where everyday people share personal stories with an audience.

The City of Vincent will enlist her talents next month for a workshop and event at Lazy Susan’s Comedy Den in Highgate as part of its arts program.

PerthNow Digital Edition.
Your local paper, whenever you want it.

Get in front of tomorrow's news for FREE

Journalism for the curious Australian across politics, business, culture and opinion.

READ NOW

‘When you get a glimpse into someone’s crazy life that is always so much fun ” it’s like getting to read from the pages of their diary in some cases,’ Gibbs said.

‘There was a gentleman who told a story at a show a couple of weeks ago. When he was younger his father accidently ran over a dog and then without the family knowing cooked it up and tried to pass it off as kangaroo as their dinner.

‘He then revealed afterwards that it was dog and then his mum and dad broke up.’

Gibbs said the art of storytelling included allowing space between the incident and the conveying.

‘We always inform the storytellers that it’s not therapy: you’ve got to really be over the situation to tell the story well because it’s not a great space to break down in,’ she said.

‘It can unearth a whole world of emotion.’