By Jessica Ball
Her grandfather calls her a storyteller extraordinaire.
Now Leigh McArthur has been chosen to tell some of her popular stories to larger audiences than just her grandfather.
Leigh McArthur, 19, a sophomore from East Kilbride, Scotland, majoring in art education, first began telling stories at bedtime to her seven young brothers and sisters in Scotland.
“In the beginning, it was never something I would have ever considered going into professionally. It was just for fun,” McArthur said.
McArthur furthered her skills as she completed a storytelling class at BYU.
In the class, McArthur learned how to improvise stories and how to develop her characters as she presented a story each week.
McArthur said the class was a great opportunity to sharpen her storytelling skills in a creative and fun environment.
“I loved the class. It was brilliant,” McArthur said.
She was invited to perform in the Nelke Theater by her teacher. McArthur said this was her first time in front of a large audience of several hundred people.
“It was terrifying. It was my first breakthrough,” McArthur said.
Kristen Sheffield, 18, a freshman, from Littleton, Colo., who has not yet declared a major, watched McArthur perform.
“Her artistic ability is amazing. She”s entertaining, fun to listen to and she makes you laugh,” Sheffield said.
From then on, McArthur has done smaller performances.
She said her most memorable storytelling experience was when she performed for a school of eighth-graders.
McArthur said she was very nervous because children will walk out on performances if they are bored.
“I really loved performing for the children because they were very enthusiastic and supportive. They let you know if they don”t enjoy what you”re doing,” McArthur said.
McArthur said telling a story is not as easy as it may sound.
McArthur said she has learned that being enthusiastic engages the audience.
“You really need to get involved in the characters and be part of the story. If you are so excited to tell the story, the audience will be excited to hear it,” McArthur said.
Sherri Padgett, 19, a freshman from Las Vegas, majoring in communications, has also heard McArthur”s stories and explained why they are memorable.
“You can be part of the story by the way she tells the story. You are never bored during her stories,” Padgett said.
McArthur will be performing in the Provo Library on March 18 with the band Fiddlesticks.
