BBC’s Nationwide Hunt for Britain’s Most Compelling Real-Life Stories Kicks off in Newport, South Wales
Saturday 17th October is set to be a fun-packed day when the BBC’s My Story Road Show pulls in at The Riverfront Theatre, Newport, South Wales to publicise the launch of its My Story competition and nationwide hunt to find Britain’s most remarkable real-life stories.
[PressFlow.co.uk, Oct 14 2009] Saturday 17th October is set to be a fun-packed day when the BBC’s My Story Road Show pulls in at The Riverfront Theatre, Newport, South Wales to publicise the launch of its My Story competition and nationwide hunt to find Britain’s most remarkable real-life stories. Tales from fifteen finalists selected from across the nation who have extraordinary tales to tell on a broad range of subjects, from accomplishing goals against all odds to heroic acts of courage, will be featured on BBC One in 2010. The competition’s five winners will also see their experiences published as paperback books. Newport residents who have a tale to tell are invited to enter online at www.bbc.co.uk/mystory and to drop-in to watch interviews with celebrities, including actors, authors and TV presenters, sharing their own remarkable true stories.
Visitors are invited to take part in hands-on filmmaking workshops with Video Nation, pick up story-telling tips from their local BBC team and add their own story ideas and memories to the BBC’s Idea Generator and Memory Walls. Support for residents keen to create their own story will be available on the day from the BBC’s story gatherers, provided by the Open University.
No pre-booking is required and families are welcome.
Right now, the BBC is asking the public to submit their true untold real life stories in 300 – 1500 words by participating in the Roadshows and submitting their entries online.
Mark Bell, Arts Commissioner, the BBC, commented: “My Story aims to get the whole nation reading, writing and telling their most remarkable stories. The BBC believes that the arts should be accessible to all and we’re proud as a publicly funded broadcaster to be at the heart of the nation’s storytelling.”
The My Story website is packed full of videos and interactive tools to help people plan and structure their stories as well as tips on writing styles and skills. In addition, short videos presented by Nina Wadia (EastEnders) and Lenny Henry (returning to the part of Deacus) show audiences how easy it is to get started and explore simple ideas to get the creative juices flowing. There are also cameo appearances from Peter Duncan, Tara Palmer Tomkinson, Stephen K Amos and Roland Rivron.
My Story is a part of the BBC’s commitment to the arts and culture in association with Princess Productions.
The event itself opens at 10am with inspiring activities, talks and workshops. On the hour from 11am there will be five celebrity interviews with famous faces sharing their own true stories and story telling tips, including:
11am – Simon Weston OBE, inspirational and motivational Falklands veteran. Suffering massive and excruciating burns when his ship was hit, Simon Weston’s refusal to be dominated by what happened to him was never going to be easy. Simon’s story is a humbling reminder of just what matters in life.
12 noon - Kim Woodburn shot to fame in the Channel Four programmes Too Posh To Wash and How Clean Is Your House. She is author of a book about her own remarkable life, ‘Unbeaten: The Story of My Brutal Childhood’.
The afternoon sessions will include Catrin Collier, author of Hearts of Gold, filmed as a mini-series by the BBC - the first of eight novels set in her home town of Pontypridd between 1930 and 1950.
Louise Elliot - a familiar face from TV who you'll find on Radio Wales in the mornings will be the host for the main stage
More information to follow shortly.
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