Springboard Tales(SBT): A Journey of Stories, Collaboration and Community
SBT Member Speaks....
"Springboard Tales emerged from the shared vision of a small group of passionate storytellers in Chennai. One afternoon in 2016, at the invitation of a young storyteller, Alvin, we gathered at a café with curiosity and open minds. We were honoured by the presence of esteemed storyteller, Jeeva Raghunath (Akka), whose guidance would later become central to our journey.
In that informal setting, ideas were exchanged with warmth and enthusiasm, gradually shaping into a collective dream. Like any new beginning, this vision was accompanied by uncertainty and self-doubt. However, with Jeeva Akka’s encouragement and practical direction, we found the confidence to move forward. Thus, Springboard Tales was born.
Our collective, fondly known as SBTians, brings together storytellers with diverse styles and strengths. From musical storytelling and theatrical narration to science-based stories, multilingual sessions, and interactive performances, each member contributes uniquely to our shared purpose of engaging and educating audiences through stories.
We began our journey with themed storytelling sessions, documented through videos that received an encouraging response. This led to our first live showcase, Tales Day, at the historic Madras Literary Society in Chennai. The event’s success opened further opportunities, including collaborations with The Hindu - a leading newspaper, for storytelling programmes across the city.
Over time, we expanded our work to include performances for adult audiences and presentations across varied platforms, including educational institutions and cultural events. Our journey has been enriched by continuous learning, experimentation, and collaboration.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, we adapted to digital platforms, conducting online storytelling sessions and remaining actively engaged with many similar initiatives. We have consistently participated in the Chennai Storytelling Festival and celebrate World Storytelling Day each year through thematic performances.
Our growth has been deeply supported by FEAST (Federation of Asian Storytellers) and the mentorship of Jeeva Akka. Through FEAST initiatives, including workshops and festivals, members have explored diverse storytelling formats and gained exposure to international storytelling practices.
Today, under the guidance of experienced mentors and collaborators, we continue to evolve as storytellers.
We are now motivated to take our SBT a few steps ahead and hence we are organising a storytelling conference in partnership with FEAST in Chennai this September.
Springboard Tales stands as a testament to the power of storytelling to connect, inspire, and build community. We look forward to continuing this journey of shared stories, learning, and collaboration.
Reach us @
https://tinyurl.com/springboardtales
https://www.instagram.com/springboardtales/
https://www.facebook.com/springboardtales
Email: springboardtales@gmail.com