Interpretation – tips and reflections

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I have been asked why I thought the English language needed a new word, especially a rather clunky portmanteau word like interpretelling. I do not have deeply serious or illuminating answer. As with many stories there are different versions, or maybe more accurately – the one-liner, the short story and the novel. The one liner […]

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Stories matter to me. I believe the difference between history and heritage is the way we tell the story and that, oddly, there is more story in ‘heritage’ than in ‘history’. I have recently found these two short but big quotes from  men far wiser than I.  They pack more thought into 20 words than […]

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Why do these flags fly at WWT Caerlaverock? What are they? Is that the flag of Norway? What’s going on? I am pretty sure that’s exactly why these flags are flying – to puzzle visitors, to set us thinking. Specifically to encourage us to ponder about places far away and how they connect with this […]

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I was delighted that my last post picked up a reader in Slovenia.  But when I re-read it in the light of that international audience, I saw  just how steep a learning curve I am on in terms of international communication. It was that humour thing that tripped me up.  Again.  I should know it’s dangerous stuff […]

How to balance humour and honour in telling your heritage story

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Last week I posted about a stop-me-in-my-tracks question on the use of humour in interpreting tales of bloodshed. You may need to read about that before this makes any sense – click here. Several people have got in touch (many thanks for that, it’s always very encouraging to hear from someone who’s read this blog […]

Bosworth Battlefield: a victory for interpretive storytelling

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Over the Bank Holiday weekend I went to Bosworth battlefield and found a new addition to my (imaginary, but not that long) list of really well interpreted places in the UK. It was   a really ‘good day out’,  and a demonstration of how careful interpretation planning  makes that good day look effortless and obvious. […]

So why do you think cartoons are okay here?

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I like the questions that stop me in my tracks.  Especially when I am training. Picture this. I am in full flow in a workshop about how to make panels interesting, relevant etc. I have got to the bit about words and tone. I really like this, so I am surfing the wave here.  I […]

Five tips for telling other people’s stories

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Too little inspiration can be as bad as too much. I am often asked what to do when the ‘thing’ you have to interpret is too hard, too boring, or both. I have written elsewhere on this blog, like here, and here, about the possible pitfalls of being too excited about the stuff you have […]

Memories of MAIA – one object, layers of stories

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A grey Buxton February day really benefits from a bit of Oz-ness. And when that comes wrapped in a big gold ribbon with a pink heart post-it with my name on it, it’s even better. Perth seems long ago and far away.  But there is no doubt that echoes of Australia still resonate in my […]

Objects and stories from your ‘home culture’ – whatever that means

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I have just spent an excellent morning considering the connections between objects, culture, identity, ownership and meaning with a lively and stimulating group of students from the Masters course in Museum Studies at the School of Museum Studies, University of Leicester. I was a student there on the equivalent course just over thirty years ago […]