Sara Pasco Special Guest at TRUE STORIES LIVES Birthday Special

Celebrating a year of True Stories Live from Norwich, Norwich monthly storytelling treat's first birthday features special guest Sara Pascoe and 'greatest hits' and launches a UK tour

An intimate monthly storytelling evening that has encouraged and enabled people from Norwich to talk about their own anecdotal true stories on stage is celebrating its first anniversary at Norwich Arts Centre This month

True Stories Live is has grown over the past year to become a monthly sell out success. It celebrates it's first birthday on 14 May with a 'Best of' evening, in the Arts Centre's main auditorium, featuring special guests including comedian/writer/actor Sara Pascoe and indie-folk legend Gavin Osborn, together with a selection of contributors from throughout the year.

Founder and organiser Lucy Farrant said 'The idea originally came from an American organisation called The Moth, which I heard about on a BBC Radio 4 programme. I thought that the people of Norwich and Norfolk have just as many interesting stories to tell as those over the Atlantic - and we've been proven right'.

The premise of True Stories Live is simple - ordinary people tell their own anecdotal stories to a warm and friendly audience, relating to a different theme each month. Heartwarming, revealing, funny, shocking or sad - an evening at True Stories Live will have your emotions leaping from one extreme to another as you are drawn into each storyteller's world. For some it's their first time ever on stage; others are used to performing, but what they have in common is that they are telling their own personal stories about their own experiences.

Lucy of L J Hope Productions teamed up with Norwich Arts Centre to bring in Radio 4/Sky TV writer, poet and performer Molly Naylor as compere/host and to run workshops for those interested in taking part, helping with their confidence in public speaking and giving tips on how to make the stories interesting and fun. Over the past year many local people have gained skills and boosted their confidence attending Molly's workshops.

One audience member described the evening as 'like eavesdropping into people's stories in the pub - and here I'm allowed to!' A first time performer said 'I was absolutely petrified before I went on but I feel amazing now, the audience was really receptive. I had so much fun and it also boosted my confidence... everybody should do it'.

Now Lucy and Molly are also taking True Stories Live out of Norwich for a UK tour of literary festivals. Dates are confirmed at the Edinburgh International Book Festival, Llawn Festival in Wales and Chester Literature Festival, with more to be added.

Molly Naylor added 'I'm so excited to be launching our tour and celebrating our first anniversary with a special event at our home base. Over the past year we've been thrilled that so many people have shared their stories with us and it feels great to be part of Norwich's centuries-long tradition of encouraging writers and storytellers, and pack out the Arts Centre bar on a Sunday night!'

Molly Naylor is a Norwich based scriptwriter, poet and performer. She is the co-writer and creator of Sky One sitcom After Hours. She wrote and performed the autobiographical show Whenever I Get Blown Up I Think Of You, which toured internationally and was adapted for BBC Radio 4 and recently directed her first short film, Callback.

Tue Stories Live is presented by L J Hope Productions, Norwich Arts Centre and Molly Naylor with support from Arts Council England, Norfolk County Council and Writer's Centre Norwich. www.truestorieslive.co.uk

Sunday 14 May 7.30pm £10/£8 True Stories Live - The Best Of

True Stories Live hosted by Molly Naylor with special guests Sarah Pascoe and Gavin Osborn

Real people tell their own anecdotal stories

Norwich Arts Centre, St Benedicts Street Norwich NR2 4PG www.norwichartscentre.co.uk 01603 660352