Specialty: Drut’syla (storyteller) from Yiddish oral tradition
A Drut’syla (storyteller) and tradition-bearer from the Yiddish oral tradition, Shonaleigh has been telling stories within the secular world for almost 30 years across Europe, North America and New Zealand. She was shortlisted for the Arts Foundation Award in 2009 and was UK deputy National Storytelling Laureate 2010-12. She performs from the Barbican to Burngreave Village Hall, from the Albert Hall to Albert Park in Unstone, from the National Storytelling Festival in Jonesborough to the local Netherthorpe Library, and all the points in between. Her commissioned pieces include “The Tower of Bagel,” “The Fool of the Warsaw Ghetto” (now available as CDs), and “The Golem of Prague,” among other works. She has also completed commissions for the British Library, the British Museum, Festival at the Edge, and Hay-on-Wye Literature Festival, and is a regular contributor to BBC arts programs. She is currently Artistic Director at House of the West Wind.