TELL! Community Gathering
MT Space is so excited to bring TELL back as a regular, monthly event!
TELL is our casual, coffeehouse style event where we gather the community together, giving folks a platform to share something. These ‘sharings’ can be performances, stories, lectures, conversations, interviews– anything that benefits from being shared with a group! We invite you to use the night’s theme or current events as inspiration for your presentation, but it’s not a must!
TELL runs most months of the year and may migrate to different venues, or shift day of the week to allow for maximum participation.
September 2024 / Shayna Jones x TELL!
This month’s TELL! features Shayna Jones
Shayna Jones, Afro-centric Folklorist, Spoken Word Artist, and Performance Storyteller invites you to dance with the “Old Stories”. We invite you to bring your folktales, fairy tales, myths and legends (and stories of what they mean to you) this upcoming TELL!. No matter their shape or size — battered, torn, brilliantly rendered or barely remembered — bring ’em. It’s how they hit your heart that counts.
Shayna Jones guides our open mic this month and shares with us her unique storytelling methods. Whether you’re a community member, practicing artist or just starting out, TELL! is a community platform to connect with others and celebrate our work, focusing this month on folklore and storytelling.
About TELL!
TELL! is MT Space’s coffeehouse open-mic style event offering the community an artistic platform to share their works in a casual setting. These sharings can be performances, stories, lectures, poetry, drag, fine art displays — any type of creation.
We know that art and food bring people together like nothing else. Join us for a potluck meal and bring a food offering* to share if you’re able to. We’ll provide plates, cutlery, and beverages (coffee, tea, and water).
*Please include an ingredients list for any dishes you bring.
Even if you don’t have anything to present now, come and share a meal with the community. Come dressed in your sweats, or as a fairy princess, this is a space to express yourself however you see fit. This is the community platform.
TELL! is a free event. Families with small children are welcome.
Perform & Share
Thinking of performing? Here’s what you need to know:
TELL! is a platform that offers you time and space to share something that you’ve created, or something you’ve been working on, like:
- an idea
- a script
- story
- song
- something else!
Use this as an opportunity to get feedback from an engaged audience of fellow artists and community members, or simply show us what you’ve got!
This event is low/no tech. Bring anything you may need for your performance/presentation, including amps for instruments. There will be music stands available.
On this special TELL! evening, we are coming together in celebration of World Theatre Day. Use this occasion as your inspiration if you need a nudge to create!
Throwback Tell! in our original studio. / Photo Credit: Unknown
About the Venue
TELL! will be hosted uptown Waterloo at First United Church (16 William St W, Waterloo, ON N2L 1J3). Enter the building through the side door connected to the parking lot marked WEEKDAY ENTRANCE (access via Caroline St and William St, around the corner from Valentina Bridal & Couture dress shop).
Parking is available for free on-site (accessible from Caroline St), and next door at the Waterloo Town Square South Parking lot (35 Alexandra Ave, Waterloo).
GRT via the iON (route 301) or by bus (routes 5, 7, 16).
Notice of Photography:
Our event might involve snapping photos, recording audio, and shooting videos. By joining us, you’re giving us the green light to share, publish, display, or make copies of these recordings. If you have any worries, just let our friendly photographer know – they’re here to help!
Health & Safety at Live Venues
**COVID19 Note: masks are not mandatory for this event, but are encouraged.**
Event Details
Tue, Sept 24, 2024
Doors Open 7:00pm EST
Starts 7:30pm EST
First United Church
16 William St W, Waterloo, ON N2L 1J3, Canada
Registration
Anyone is welcome to attend/present/perform.
What does TELL! Feel Like?
A look back at the first few TELL! Events of 2023.
April’s TELL! A beautiful & intimate evening
April’s TELL gave us a chance to share with old friends and meet new friends in our community.
We had a wonderful time with a couple of personal artistic readings and attendees spontaneously read the full script of MT Space’s relationship comedy, Body 13!
TELL! World Theatre Day
This special TELL event was in celebration of World Theatre Day and women in the arts.
We gathered in St. Jacobs at Neruda Arts bright and beautiful studio!
Lily Gyamfi-Kumanini did an incredible job hosting the event, along our Nada Abusaleh.
ValenTELL! Celebrating Friendship
This ValenTELL! was the perfect excuse to have friendship as our honored guest!
We shared stories, poems, exciting news and more in a beautiful night at the Registry Theatre.
Can you TELL!? It was such an amazing night!
This TELL! was very special for us, we had our volunteer appreciation night just before the presentation!
Together with The Registry Theatre we welcomed Throwdown Collective as part of the ‘Dance at the Registry’ Workshop Series.
As part of MT Space’s mandate for community-building, we invited a few of our associate artists to participate in this workshop with Throwdown Collective, The Dance Residency started January 3rd—the end of workshop presentation initiated this night’s TELL!.