THE COMMON

is an international storytelling organisation that fosters community by creating a space for people to share and listen to each other. In a world where people and institutions are trying to make us believe we are fundamentally different, stories at The Common bring out humanity’s “common thread” – our universal desire for love, respect, and connection – and reminds us of one salient, culture-shifting truth: we have far more in common than we may think.

OUR PROGRAMS:

THE COMMON STAGE

is a curated storytelling event that features five raconteurs sharing true 10 -12 minute stories in front of a live audience.  Crafted around universally common themes— Love Hurts, Flirting with Disaster, Narrow Escapes - the stories are sometimes harrowing, often hilarious, and always unforgettable. An evening at The Common leaves the audience more deeply connected— to one another and what it means to be human.

SHOW & TELL
@The COMMON

is a monthly live event where we host a grown up version of a childhood classic. People are invited to bring an object they hold dear and put their name in a hat for a chance to share the story behind it.

The COMMONSLAM

is a monthly, themed night of energy, community, and storytelling. People from all walks of life put their name in the hat/bag/pot for a chance to tell a five-minute story from their life. Since no one loves going first, we kick off the show with a seasoned teller—either the winner from the previous month’s slam or an invited special guest–who acts as the night’s warm up act (or sacrificial SLAM, if you will). Directly following, ten storytellers take the stage and share a true, personal story on the night’s theme. Not ready to take the stage? You can still participate. Everyone in the audience votes on each story, and the teller with the highest score wins! The night’s winner receives a cash prize, an invitation to open the next SLAM event and qualifies to share a new story in a future GrandSLAM.

The COMMON GRANDSLAM

features ten previous winners of the CommonSLAM facing off to be crowned the GrandSlam champion. The evening is shaped similarly to a CommonSLAM, but the participants are allowed an opportunity to work with a Common director to hone and polish their stories in advance of taking the stage.

The COMMON SPACE

is our workshop program where we collaborate with organizations of all shapes and sizes to create tailored workshops that bring people together to learn and practice the art and craft of storytelling. Common Space participants include students, educators, non-profit leaders, and for-profit professionals who learn essential storytelling skills to share their personal and professional journeys and more deeply connect with classmates, colleagues, or clients.