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Daru Mcaleece

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Contact: darustoryteller@gmail.com
Local authority: Scottish Borders
Languages: English
Daru Mcaleece's headshot

Daru is a storyteller, performer, artist and Forest School Leader registered with the Scottish Storytelling Forum's Directory. His storytelling is fuelled by a love of myths and nature. His mythic 'earth-tales' come from the Druid/Celtic traditions of Britain, Ireland and the world, often with a magical transformation at their heart.

Daru performs and runs workshops across the UK at many settings including woodlands, festivals, nurseries, on stage, open-mic sessions, even campfires and yurts. He delivers also in many social care settings delivering events for adults, children and young people with autism, learning disabilities, mental health problems, alcoholism and dementia - as well as men's weekends.

His workshops use storytelling as a therapeutic tool with groups and individuals, exploring inspiration and creativity, and how storytelling can assist the discovery of new personal and collective narratives. His work is interactive, using art, puppets and percussion to involve audiences, often outdoors in eco-therapy settings, combining storytelling with environmental activities designed to connect communities to one another and to the amazing world around them. Whilst telling, he embodies his stories, using characters and his compelling physical presence, communicates both subtle emotions and drama all guided by his passion for inspiring creativity.

Local authorities can visit

Aberdeen City; Dumfries and Galloway; Dundee; East Lothian; Edinburgh City; Fife; Glasgow City; Highland; Midlothian; Moray; Na h-Eileanan Siar (Western Isles); Perth and Kinross; Scottish Borders; Stirling; West Lothian

Events can deliver

Mentoring; Panel event; Performance; Talk; Workshop; Professional development, CLPL or CPD

Audience can work with

Adult learners; Care-experienced people; Carers; Outdoor learning; Adults with additional support needs; People experiencing mental health problems; People living with dementia; Prisoners & young offenders; Vulnerable young people (under 18); Vulnerable adults; Vulnerable older people; Young people in the community (e.g. Youth clubs, Guides, Scouts); Young people with additional support needs (under 18) (ASN/SEN)

Topics of work

Activism & protest; Adolescence; Adventure; Ageing; Animals; Care experience; Childhood; Class & society; Coasts, seas & oceans; Comedy, humour & funny books; Contemporary fiction; Death, grief & bereavement; Discrimination & prejudice; Drug addiction, alcoholism & substance abuse; Environment & climate; Fairy tales, folklore & mythology; Family; Fantasy; Food; Friendship; Gender equality; Health including mental health & wellbeing; History; Horror; LGBTQIA+ characters; Loneliness & isolation; Love & romance; Music; Mystery & thriller; Nature; Politics; Religion & beliefs; Science fiction

Age groups published for

Children; Teens; Adults

Age groups can work with

0-2; 3-5; 6-8; 9-11; 12-14; 15-18; 18+

Audience size

0-10; 11-30; 31-100; 100-500