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Storytellers help break Guinness world record

Alice Cunningham
BBC News, Suffolk
Noel Sweeney Justine de Mierra is pictured speaking into a microphone. She has long red hair and wears a green and red top with red sleeves as well as a blue scarf.Noel Sweeney
Justine de Mierre from Woodbridge did several storytelling stints during the festival as part of the world record attempt

Two women were left overjoyed after being part of an 80-hour long storytelling that has broken a world record.

Justine de Mierre from Woodbridge, Suffolk, and Veronica Chambers from Ipswich attended the Marrakech International Storytelling Festival in Morocco, last month.

Along with dozens of other storytellers from 33 countries they aimed to break a Guinness World Record for the longest continuous storytelling session.

In total, the team's total was confirmed by Guinness at 80 hours, 32 minutes and 58 seconds, which Ms de Mierre called "amazing".

"I couldn't stay to find out if we had [got the world record] or not so I found out online," Ms de Mierre said.

"I thought, 'Oh my God, I'm a world record holder'. It's just amazing and such a huge achievement.

"It feels really weird to think I am part of a Guinness World Record."

Noel Sweeney Veronica Chambers smiles at the camera. She wears a black hat with some flowers on it and the shoulders/lapels of her black jacket have orange and blue embroidery on them.Noel Sweeney
Veronica Chambers, who used to run the PJ McGinty's pub in Ipswich town centre, encouraged people to come along to the East Anglian Storytelling Festival in Stowmarket, 30 May-1 June

Rules of the world record attempt included that each performance be attended by at least 10 people with storytellers only allowed to stop speaking for a maximum of a minute.

It took place in Jemaa El-Fnaa Square in the heart of Marrakech.

This was the second time both women had attended the festival which was organised by Mike Wood, from Hertfordshire, who owns the World Storytelling Cafe in the Moroccan city.

Jeff Overs/BBC A general early evening view of Jamaa el Fnna in Marrakech. Orange lights glow from across the square and people can be seen walking throughout market stalls. Jeff Overs/BBC
Jemaa El-Fnaa Square is a UNESCO World Heritage Site

Ms Chambers played a vital role when she stepped in to help administer the event.

"I'm jumped in very last minute because we had issues trying to get the record off the ground," she explained.

"It wasn't just me... there were so many people who went, 'Yes, we're going to get this record'."

She added that it became tough during the night sessions when temperatures dropped to 3C, but both women praised the crowds for their joy and support.

Mr Wood said the festival team was "delighted" with the world record and praised the storytellers who also completed workshops in local schools.

Curator at the World Storytelling Cafe and artistic director of the festival, John Row, added that the event had been "the greatest honour of my life".

Row has been a well-known storyteller in and around Suffolk for decades.

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