John Byrne
Teacher-Librarian
Head of Library
Western Academy of Beijing

I certainly loved your spell-binding performance as you retold the story of The Selfish Giant with our Year 3 group. It was a captivating and emotionally rewarding roller coaster ride of interactive and beautifully enacted theater. To see the concern, delight, and surprise mirrored on the faces of the children was something very special – especially for someone who spends countless hours trying to unwrap the concepts of empathy to children who sometimes require more social-minded support. They were living the characters through you. I was in complete agreement with the comments from one of the overawed students who reflected that he “didn’t know storytelling could be so real but such fun too!” and I hope that you are able to continue offering equally magical experiences to as many children as possible. We will certainly feel fortunate if you’re able to return and treat the children to another theatrical masterclass again. Thanks again,

 

Our entire school community, students, and teachers were thoroughly enchanted and mesmerized by the storytelling wonder that is Nicky Bingham. With a mere twist of her body and an accent in her voice, she seamlessly changed from one character to another allowing a story to unfold not through fancy sets and costumes but through the true magic of storytelling. Her retelling of Roald Dahl’s classic Charlie and the Chocolate Factory kept even the antsy audience members glued to their seats. Nicky’s high-energy storytelling had the kids in stitches, the teachers fully engaged and us all wanting more. We can’t wait for the next time Nicky is in Hong Kong so she can come wow us with another tale.

Josh Blue
IBPYP Coordinator
Japanese International School, Hong Kong SAR

On behalf of my Key Stage, I would like to thank you for your performance this afternoon. What most impressed me of all about the sessions was your ability to mesmerize and engage a group of 70 children from ages 9 to 12 for over an hour with yourself.This is impressive in a digital age where children are constantly bombarded with flashing lights and special effects, but you achieved your effect with no costumes or props – nothing but the children’s imagination and your amazing acting talent. You entertained us for over an hour with nothing but yourself and a scarf. As teachers, we can learn a lot from your example. We are constantly spending time looking for ways to wow the children with presentations and software and visuals. As I watched the children while you told and acted out the story, not one child was bored for a second. To achieve this with nothing but yourself is something, as teachers, we can greatly admire.

Gary Ilines
Upper Key Stage 2 Coordinator
Shanghai Rego International School

The children really enjoyed the story-telling session. Nicky had a group of EAL children ranging from 6-9 years old and more than entertaining the students, she ‘wowed’ them for over an hour with an interactive acting extravaganza! The children were hooked and thoroughly into the entire experience from start to finish. I’d recommend her highly to any school looking to enthuse, motivate and inspire a love of drama, reading, stories, speaking and listening or literacy in general. Many thanks for a great session and much fun had by all!

Ms Alex
Literacy Co-ordinator
SRIS Shanghai.

My children absolutely loved their story and even those with a lower understanding of English were able to follow the story and enjoy it. We loved the way you took on different roles with such ease. We discussed how Miss. Nicky had used her voice to take on the different parts and how she added expression to make her story telling more exciting. The children have all agreed that they are going to try to do this when they read books and we have started to practice this already. This was a really great experience for them, thank you!

Ms Georgina-Kindergarten teacher,

SRIS, Shanghai.

Nicky spent several days with us telling a wide range of tales…fables…to Myths…to Classic Stories!

All our Primary Students had the chance to be entertained and learn from her performances. The students and teachers thoroughly enjoyed each presentation, as Nicky brought each character to life, awakening delight and wonder in the audience. 

Nicky was very expressive and used her acting skills to enhance each story, adapting it to the needs of each group. The children were hypnotized by the stories and didn’t want her to leave! We highly recommend her and would love to have her at St. Andrew’s again!

Ann Logan & Lilia Wiman

St Andrew’s Scots School (Olivos)

Primary Librarians

The children really loved it and are still talking about it now! I’ve asked the children what they particularly enjoyed and they said “Being asked questions and using a quiet voice then suddenly being loud. The funny acting and actions and the different voices for characters” It was great that you use so many facial expressions to add humour and create the story and that you involved the children so much. I have no suggestions for improvements – it really was great.

Sharon Porter
Teacher Year 1, Shanghai Rego International School

I absolutely loved Nicki’s enthusiasm and interactive style of storytelling. My students immediately wanted to tell a story themselves the same way Nicki did!

Ms. Shannon, kindergarten teacher
Rainbow Bridge International School, Shanghai.

I thought she was amazing!!! The kids loved it because she was so animated. I thought she was also great with how she handled the children with her question/answer time too.

Ms. Amy, grade 3 teacher
Rainbow Bridge International School, Shanghai.

The children were enraptured by Nicky’s ability to transform into the different characters of her stories. They screamed in delight and huddled together when she became the big bad wolf! I highly recommend Nicky as a performer and storyteller and hope to have her back soon!

Ms. Adrienne, Teacher-Librarian
Rainbow Bridge International School, Shanghai.

A big thank you for coming in and sharing your story telling skills with the Year Threes at QBS. The children were enthralled and still buzzing at the end of the day. The expressions on their faces said it all! The stories were well pitched. It was great that you took time to chat to the students initially and got to know a little about them. The stories were interactive and encouraged imagination and we loved the moral to each tale. Also1 hour was a good period of time. We wondered if you might consider doing workshops for teachers who might want to improve on their story telling techniques!

Mona Abidi
Year 3 Quarry Bay School, Hong Kong.

I am always a little hesitant when I book a new artist to visit the school as the quality can not be assured, however I am so pleased we booked Nicky. She far exceeded our expectations in every way. Her performances were outstanding and energetic and her acting superb. Both students and teachers were enthralled. I would recommend her unreservedly to any school anywhere in the world.

Sarah Davies Primary Years Coordinator- The International School Bangalore

Nicky performed ‘The Selfish Giant‘ and ‘Little Red Riding Hood‘ to our students. She brings each character to life by using such vivid expression in her voice and using her body to create a visual image for her audience. The children sat in suspense as she transformed from the Big Bad Wolf to Grandmother to Little Red Riding Hood and back again. It was a true joy watching the childrens’ faces as Nicky performed. The students and teachers were completely fascinated by her performances. The best one woman show I’ve ever witnessed! Nicky took us all away on a magical carpet ride far, far away, and we are looking forward to the next one!

Laura Heatwole- Stonehill International School, Bangalore.

I watched Nicky present two stories; Goldilocks and the Three Bears and Charlie. The experience of performance stories was fantastic! Without any inhibitions or boundaries Nicky took on all the characters in the stories. Amazing voice modulation, contrast in characters and brilliant expression. She had the teachers and children watching her with awe and excitement. The whole experience has inspired me to incorporate performance stories in my classroom. Nicky made us imagine each step of the stories very clearly in our heads, as if it were real. Brilliant exposure for teachers and children!

Gayatri Bhasin – Assistant PYP Coordinator and Grade 4 Teacher

Indus International School, Bangalore

The results of Nicky´s performance were outstanding . I was sure of how well Nicky interprets and acts, so I had no doubt it would be a success, but this was a great success. At the end, when people were leaving, some of them approached me and told me “Alicia , it was excellent, Congratulations !!!” or “How did you get her?”

Alicia Ghiorzi-Director of Studies – ITESL –Buenos Aires

Nicky Bingham’s storytelling sessions were captivating and enthralling. The children were totally involved when her show was on. It was amazing that she did not use any sort of props and could hold the attention of Grade 1 children for a full half an hour. They were very impressed with her performance and so were we. It was a wonderful one woman show. Totally “paisa vasool” (means – value for money).

Thanks

Babitha Grade 2 teacher, TISB, Bangalore

Nicky is divine. Not only did she tell the stories to the adolescents, she stayed behind and and talked to them afterwards. In the beginning they were quite timid, but afterwards became more confident and even asked such questions as “do you have a boyfriend?”. Not only is Nicky and excellent narrator, also she is a most warm person.

Headmistress, Ciudad Jardin, Buenos Aires

So incredibly captivating, children were enthralled. Nicky switches roles with unbelievable ease, whether aping a 10yr old or an 80yr old, her expressions and voice intonation vary richly. Children appeared greatly in awe of her as they couldn’t figure out what kind of mood she would switch to, or which emotion she would portray next. By the end of it, everyone was clamoring for her autograph. As a teacher, I was completely delighted and fascinated by her performance, sheer freedom of spirit and lack of any inhibition…

Mohua Dutt – Grade 5 teacher, Indus International, Bangalore

Way better than the movie! The best part for me was the fascination on the children’s faces. As a teacher I spent most of the following day’s English classeswatching children transform in to “little Nicky’s” Absolutely captivating for both the children and the adults – We would love to have you with us more often.

Nancy Vidyasgar Grade 3 Teacher, TISB, Bangalore

A riveting, thrilling surprising and brilliant performance – The story telling sessions were fantastic. It took me to a new world of fantasy.. You had us all mesmerized! Thank you for a wonderful experience.

Rakshita Grade 5 Teacher, Bangalore

It was a great learning experience for both teachers and children. We felt the characters were alive! It was not just listening but like actually watching the story.

Kiran Grade 2 Teacher Indus International, Bangalore

The children were enthralled from the beginning to the end of the story. It was so interactive and definitely sparked the imagination.

Carla Swineheart Grade 1Teacher. TISB

The next couple of days after the storytelling many of the children tried their skills at expression and acting following in the footsteps of the storyteller.

Marie Martin Grade 1 teacher

Top class actress! Nicky understands the needs of a young audience. Every school should have one!

Lower School English Co-ordinator

Newton College, Lima, Peru

The storyteller held us all captive and transported us in to the world of fantasy. With the twirl of her magic wand the story of Charlie was brought to life, where each character was throbbing and pulsating with life!

Namita Grade 5 Teacher, TISB

Nicky’s story telling session was amazing. All the children thoroughly enjoyed it. We all were spellbound! It was a good exposure for them and we look forward to more such sessions.

Prep 1 Team, Indus International School, Bangalore

To be honest we have to say that we have not read Charlie and the Chocolate Factory but now we are eager to read it. We also ask our 5th form students about the story and they would like to read it too. In our opinion the story-teller did wonderful job since all of us, teachers and students enjoyed the show enormously! Thank You Nicky!

Mrs. Gabriela Mage- St Matthew’s Belgrano, Buenos Aires

This year we had, once again, the visit of a wonderful British actress, Nicola Bingham. After her impeccable performance in “Romans Go Home”, a hilarious play brought to school by ONATTI last year, Nicky came to do some story telling and share a wonderful morning in our school. She captivated her audience with “The three little pigs” and “Jack and the Beanstalk”. Our pupils were absolutely delighted and had a lot of fun with her acting. We are looking forward to having her again. Nicky is undoubtedly an excellent actress, someone to recommend.

Miriam Durán, Headmistress, St.Michaels College, Buenos Aires

Hi! I just wanted to let you know that I loved the storytelling sessions by Nicky! She is really great. Of course it is always nice to listen to a native speaker with such a clear diction and pronunciation. But it is not only that with her… I loved the voices that she makes and how she interacts with the audience.

M.F. Igartúa.Florida Day School, Buenos Aires

As regards Nicky, she is absolutely fantastic. What a wonderful performance. Her storytelling session was more than what one would expect! She is great. On Saturday, the whole session was very demanding on her and she managed to get through telling three stories after performing for most of the morning! Good for her!!! Way to go!

Heyday British Institute, Buenos Aires

We invited Nicky Bingham to our school to tell stories to all the children in forms 1 – 6. The sessions were great fun for all of us. All the stories were superbly narrated and the boys were delighted not only at the stories themselves, some of which had important moral lessons, but also at the voices and faces Nicky made!! It certainly was an afternoon to remember!!

Silvia Laurencena – Headmistress

Cardinal Newman College, Buenos Aires