our story so far...
Keepin' it real since 2010
The Fred Astaire & Ginger Rogers of Australian storytelling
– Richard Fidler (ABC Radio National)
Established in 2010 by best mates Andrea Gibbs and Kerry O’Sullivan, Barefaced Stories is the OG of modern storytelling in Australia.
After studying storytelling in NYC with award-winning storyteller Margot Leitman (The Moth), Andrea arrived home to find very few storytelling opportunities in Australia. A modern type of storytelling, that was fresh, authentic, spoke to who we were right now and one that could elevate those voices that might not easily find a microphone.
Their theory was: if they gave people the belief that their stories mattered and created the right space for them to tell it, a place without fear, a place where they could really be themselves, then the audience will come. And they were right!
After a lot of late nights, and enough drinks at pub, some sausage sizzles Barefaced Stories was born.
We’ve grown a bit since 2010.
Today Barefaced is Australia’s leading homegrown live storytelling event. Our monthly live shows attract storytellers from all over Australia. WA locals, interstate visitors, and international guests; from bus drivers to accountants, TV stars to surgeons. Barefaced Stories continues to punch above its weight, harvesting a line up from an international, national and local talent pool.
Our community
With an audience and community as keen to participate as to watch, regular workshops are held for those looking to make the leap from the audience to stage. Our storytelling workshops help people find stories worth sharing, teach them how to craft it, and give them the tools to tell it themselves. We’ve toured to festivals around the world and we’ve even got a podcast, so you can listen to your fav stories again and again, or even introduce us to your Mum.
The stories
The stories that surrender to the chaos of being human, that make you weep, or laugh until you pee yourself a little. These are stories with nothing to hide. The stories that are a love song to the human condition. That’s what we love at Barefaced and that’s what we all leave behind.
The people
Armed only with their true-life tales, each storyteller takes to the stage, strips it all back and wears their bloody, beating heart on their sleeve. We celebrate those stories that surrender to the chaos of being human, that make you weep, or laugh until you pee yourself a little. These are stories with nothing to hide.
At its heart, Barefaced Stories curates and cultivates stories that are fresh, authentic, and fearless. It’s a chance to elevate voices that might not easily find a microphone. It’s a space where nothing’s sacred, but everyone’s treated with respect. And quite frankly — it’s the bomb.
Our stories are a love song to the human condition
Frank Says Yes
- Inclusivity
- Authenticity
- Frankness
- Fearlessness
- Trust
- 100% real honey
Frank Says No
- Boring stories
- Badly told stories
- Lies
- Bad thing here
- Not super cool thing here
- Another not nice thing