Everyone is a storyteller, whether you realise it or not. Shaggy Dog Storytellers exist to encourage and support anyone interested in this ancient art form. Come along to the Stubbing Wharf on the last Friday of every month. It could be your opportunity to perform on stage as part of "Tales from the Wharf".

The storytellers listed here are just some of the regulars at the Shaggy Dog Storytelling Club.

Christine McMahon is a qualified dramatherapist, storyteller and a lecturer in drama and psychology. Christine is the Restorative Justice Coordinator at the Calderdale Youth Offending Team. Stories are central to her work with children (and adults!).
Christine has an international reputation, having appeared at the Beyond the Border Storytelling Festival, the Cape Clear Island International Festival and in Australia, New Zealand and Singapore. In 2008 she will be appearing at Festival at the Edge in England as well as in Costa Rica and Tasmania.

Rod Dimbleby started storytelling in 2001 through his work with Age Concern. At that time a beginners’ course, led by Alan and Christine, introduced him to using stories as an aid to reminiscence work. He was hooked, and has been telling stories at Age Concern Day Care Centres ever since. He also works with his mother-in-law, providing entertainment for various groups, by telling stories between her songs. Add to that the various other sundry venues and occasions, he has now told over 100 stories at over 20 locations throughout Calderdale.

Robert Johnston began storytelling after training as a public speaker and has built up a repertoire of talks/lectures on historical subjects which he delivers to societies and clubs. He is also in demand as an after dinner speaker. Robert conducts training sessions on public speaking and making presentations. He is an occasional lecturer at the University of Bradford.
As a storyteller, Robert likes to tell stories by Mark Twain, Leo Tolstoy, Anton Chekov and Robert Louis Stevenson plus Scottish and Russian tales – in fact from any source that takes his fancy. Robert, like any other performer, appreciates an enthusiastic audience.

Paul Degnan has been an active member and performer with Shaggy Dog Storytellers Club since 1995. His interests include the study and retelling of British myths and folktales and linked with his professional social work role, promoting storytelling in the community. He has been involved in various ‘shaggy dog’ projects within the local community including the collecting and performance of local Hebden Bridge stories in 1998 and he participated in the Telling Lives BBC Digital Storytelling Workshop in Bradford in 2003 with his personal story “The Saddle”. Paul is club “Chairperson” and Editor of the club newsletter.

Richard Hemingway is a comparative newcomer to the club, his involvement began in 2005. He describes himself as a fledgling storyteller.

Richard is responsible for this website and if you email postmaster@shaggydogstorytellers.com it will be Richard who answers.