One of a Kind brings vivid storytelling to Granville Island at Vancouver International Children’s Festival, to June 2
The Flame show created and directed by Deborah Williams sees performers share their personal stories in a kid-friendly format
One of a Kind storytellers at the Vancouver International Children’s Festival in 2022.
Vancouver International Children’s Festival and The Flame present One of a Kind at The NEST on Granville Island to June 2
WHEN THEATRE ARTIST Deborah Williams co-founded the storytelling forum The Flame alongside Bruce Kennedy and Joel Wirkkunen, it all started off in her and Kennedy’s East Van living room.
It was 2009, and 20 people came together to tell their stories in the pair’s cozy home over a spread of wine and cheese. Though many were professional performers, most were nervous to speak—but as the evening drew on, a sense of comfort and community settled in.
From there, the concept expanded exponentially. Monthly live storytelling performances took place at the now-closed Cottage Bistro on Main Street for over a decade, and when the pandemic hit, artistic producer Williams began teaching her methodology at organizations around the Lower Mainland and beyond. The Flame has collaborated with the likes of Belfry Theatre in Victoria, ArtSpring on Salt Spring Island, Vancouver Fringe Festival, Zee Zee Theatre, Chutzpah! Festival, and more.
In 2022, the event’s rich backstory led the Vancouver International Children’s Festival to commission One of a Kind, which invites new storytellers to the festival each year to share their unique childhood tales in a show created and directed by Williams. Performers infuse their sharings with truth, cultural perspective, and family heritage, all delivered in a kid-friendly format with physical theatre, puppetry, music, and movement.
This year’s diverse group of performers will hone in on their connections to their family languages, which span English, Spanish, Portuguese, Swahili, Chinese, and Hungarian. Williams worked closely with each of the artists to develop their personal stories into a fresh show for festival audiences.
Performances of One of a Kind will take place at various times over the next week, including a special 6:30 pm Pyjama Night showing on May 28—kids (and adults) are encouraged to come dressed in their favourite jammies for an evening of bedtime stories. 
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