“A master craftsman, telling old tales with new resonance.”

Martin Maudsley is a professional storyteller based in Dorset and working across the South West of England. He tells stories in theatres, festivals, schools, village halls, pubs and outdoors. His repertoire of stories consists of fresh re-tellings of traditional tales from local legends and traditional folk-tales to magical myths and epic sagas. He uses poetry, music and song alongside stories, and often collaborates with musicians other performers.

Martin regularly works with local and national organisations providing storytelling performances, tailored projects and creative workshops. Recent clients for storytelling projects include: the BBC, Bristol Festival of Nature, Bristol, Paignton and Chester Zoos, Cheltenham Festival of Science, Dorset AONB, the Eden Project, English Heritage, the Environment Agency, the National Trust, River Cottage HQ, the Soil Association, as well as several regional Wildlife Trusts.

Martin established Bristol Storytelling Festival and was its Artistic Director for 7 years, and also co-founded Folk Tales – a long-running storytelling and music night in Bristol. He is storyteller-in-residence for Dorset-based environmental arts charity Common Ground and in this capacity was featured on Radio 6music for Apple Day. His first book Telling the Seasons was published in 2023 – a month-by-month treasury of stories and traditions that bring to life the changing seasons and celebrate the turning year.