Three Paper Plays with The Kamishib’ys!

What do you get when a storyteller, a musician, and a graphic artist squeeze their brains into a tiny rectangular space? You get The Kamishib’ys, of course!  

Wednesday, October 15, 2025 7–8pm | LSPU Hall – Cox & Palmer Space Tickets $10

Kamishibai (Japanese for "paper play") is a form of street theater and storytelling, where narrators set up a miniature wooden stage, revealing a series of colourful illustrations as the tales unfold.  The Newfoundland version is The Kamishib’ys: performed by storyteller Dale Jarvis and musician and percussionist Jaehong Jin, with art by printmaker Graham Blair.  Sit down in front of their portable storytelling stage as they share a three-course feast of family-friendly fables.

The Mermaid Sisters of Beachy Cove.

In a crystal cave below the sea live two sisters: one good; one bad. Find out what happens when they meet a curious fisherman. 

Open Open Green House.

Maggie has a problem - her would-be boyfriend is trapped in a haunted house by an evil witch. What’s a girl to do? 

The Legend of Bennett’s Grove. 

An old pirate returns to St. John’s to claim a hidden treasure, but only its ghostly guardians (and a psychic cat) know for sure where the gold is buried. 

The Kamishib’ys: a blend of mid-century-inspired art, traditional Newfoundland storytelling, and contemporary Korean folk music! Presented with support from ArtsNL. 

Reserve your tickets now!

https://www.showpass.com/st-johns-storytelling-festival-2025

The Kamishib’ys are:

Dale Jarvis, storyteller, author (he/him) - Clarke’s Beach and St. John’s

Graham Blair, printmaker, graphic artist (they/them) - St. John’s

Jaehong Jin, Nongak performer, percussionist, photographer (he/him) - St. John’s

Perfect health is above gold

 Perfect health is above gold; a sound body before riches. (Solomon)

What do you long for most of all?

A beautiful painting on your drawing room wall?

Exquisite jewels in a setting rare?

A graceful slender Chippendale chair?

Things of beauty are these to treasure?

Unless unkind fate may dim your pleasure,

If perfect health is not your lot

What value are these things you’ve got?

You’d exchange them all for the glow of health

You must surely agree this is greater than wealth.

Solomon, great wisdom gained with his many years,

Compounded truths in this vale of tears,

Perfect health, he said, is above gold.

And we question not this saying of old.

Down through the ages its truth is proved,

And though all our gold be from us removed

If perfect health is our companion today

This priceless gift we’ll not cast away.

A sound body is before riches, Solomon said

And though this wise man has long been dead

This truth endures, and always will

Through aches and pains may irk us still.

Accumulation of riches may give us a glow

But sound bodies are not purchased this way we know.

Bank accounts and palatial homes

Are not a cure for all aching bones.

A sound body is before riches

Ah! — how wise was he

Who passed on this wisdom, to such as we.

- Amy Eunice (Cruickshank) Jarvis, February 1952, taken from Amy - the folk poetry of Amy Cruickshank Jarvis