Tales of courage, grief and hope at the Opera House

When Monica Rosenfeld lost 80 per cent of her PR agency’s clients during the pandemic, she could never have imagined it would lead her to create a global storytelling movement. Yet out of that professional loss, and a deep personal loss, came Stories that Stir, a series of raw, moving live events designed to bring people together through the sharing of real-life experiences.

On October 7, the movement will reach a milestone with its Infinite Possibilities showcase at the Sydney Opera House. It will be its largest and most significant venue yet.

Rosenfeld, who co-founded the project with her husband, artist Joram van der Starre, traces the seed of the idea back to Sydney’s second COVID lockdown.

“During Sydney’s second lockdown, my husband and I walked our dog for the tenth time that day and I said to him, ‘I miss storytelling, human connection and the stage’,” Rosenfeld recalled. “He said why don’t we start our own storytelling event. I got goosebumps. We launched our first event five months later, as soon as the lockdown had been lifted.”

The first Stories that Stir took place in February 2022 in van der Starre’s gallery, under the theme of ‘Love’. Since then, more than 70 events have been held across two countries, with over 400 people taking to the stage and thousands more listening via the Stories that Stir podcast.

Each gathering features six speakers from all walks of life who share deeply personal stories linked to an emotive theme. Past events have centred on ‘courage’, ‘connection’ and ‘transformation’.

For Rosenfeld, who once spent five years on Sydney’s stand-up comedy circuit, the stage has always been a place of expression and connection.

But this Opera House showcase carries extra significance. While Rosenfeld wanted to host the event on her birthday, she never received confirmation from the venue. So, she sent some alternate dates during October, hoping that October 7 would be available, but understanding that the venue is exceptionally popular.

As it turned out, out of all the dates request, October 7 was the only one available.

“As we know, this is a very significant date for the Jewish people being the second anniversary of the horrific Hamas attack on Israel and I immediately knew the significance of putting on the event on this date,” Rosenfeld recalled. “It’s symbolic of the need for all humans to connect on a deep level and really listen to and have empathy for each other, in order achieve peace in the world.”

The showcase will feature a diverse line-up of voices, each reflecting the evening’s theme. Among them is Jewish community leader Ernie Friedlander, who will share his journey of surviving the Holocaust and later founding the Moving Forward Together project, dedicated to combating prejudice and racism.

Other storytellers include Rox Cooper Lee, who helps empower disadvantaged you through music with the Blue Guitar Project, Aboriginal Woman of the Year Dr Casey Sullivan who will speak about overcoming domestic violence, leadership coach and author Rugare Gomo, who migrated from Zimbabwe to Australia at 16 with just $300, author and grief advocate Marie Alessi, sharing her experience of rebuilding life after the sudden death of her husband, and Adam Axford, a magician and wordsmith who transformed a troubled past into a career of creative expression.

The program also features There’s a Place, a musical performance by Alice Springs duo Sally Westaway and Dan the Underdog, blending harp and rap in a unique collaboration.

For Rosenfeld, the highlights of Stories that Stir are not only in the performances themselves, but in the healing that follows.

“People report they feel they can now own a story from their past that was sitting inside of them unexpressed,” Rosenfeld explained. “One storyteller shared a story about having psychosis when she gave birth to her son who was now four years old. The next day she told us that she had spent thousands of dollars on psychiatrists and therapists but had never felt as light as she did having shared her story at a Stories that Stir event. A few months later she reported that her relationship with her son had improved in leaps and bounds since releasing her story. Other storytellers thank us for helping them find their voice and they go on to share their story further to help others.”

The audience, too, experiences transformation.

“I’ve heard from audience members that Stories that Stir events are the only three hours they aren’t tempted to reach for their phones, because they’re so engrossed in the stories and connecting with the community in the intermission,” Rosenfeld said.

Even more so, audiences can expect a roller coaster ride of emotions.

“They can expect to laugh, cry and view the world in a different light. I have been told that the stories that are shared linger in people’s minds long after they leave the event and people feel incredibly moved and inspired by listening to the stories.”

Looking ahead, Rosenfeld dreams of turning Stories that Stir into a global movement, bringing its model of storytelling and connection to major cities and regional towns alike.

“This is more than just an event. It’s an ode to humanity, a waking up of consciousness so that people can be vividly reminded of what it means to be human,” she said. “That we’re all loving, powerful, abundant souls who came here for expansion and growth.”

Stories that Stir – Infinite Possibilities is at the Sydney Opera House on Tuesday October 7. For tickets, visit sydneyoperahouse.com/talks-and-ideas/stories-stir