How To Build A Story

Name: How To Build A Story
Start: 2026-09-12T07:00:00.000Z
End: 2026-09-19T14:00:00.000Z
Location: Skyros

Description

Discover a creative retreat experience designed to spark expression, movement, and connection. Across the program, guests can explore a playful mix of music and singing, radiant energy yoga, the joy of salsa, working with dreams, collage, kayaking, and comedy improvisation. Each element is intended to open space for inspiration while inviting participants to step outside routine and into a more imaginative flow.

This gathering brings together both active and reflective practices, offering a balanced rhythm of physical movement, creative exploration, and mindful self-discovery. Whether you are drawn to the energy of yoga and dance, the quiet insight of dream work, or the spontaneity of improvisation and collage, the experience encourages curiosity and personal expression in a supportive setting.

With time on the water, moments of laughter, and opportunities to create and share, attendees can expect an uplifting atmosphere that blends wellness, creativity, and play. It is a chance to reconnect with inspiration, meet like-minded people, and enjoy a program that celebrates storytelling in many forms.

Teachers

Diane Connell

BiographyDiane Connell was born and educated in New Zealand. She started her career in a newspaper office in Tokyo, then moved into advertising as a copywriter, while also writing for the international non-profit sector.After spending many years in Paris, where she began her journey as a novelist, she later relocated to London and published her first books there. She now...

Paula Thomas

BiographyPaula has worked as a hairdresser, midwife, and musician, bringing a rich and varied background to her practice.For 30 years, she has drummed alongside and between other careers. She is also a singer-songwriter and performs with the reggae band Sequoyah. Over the years, Paula has shared her work in schools, festivals, care homes, SEN settings, recovery circles, and many other...

Marina Sossi

Biography Marina Sossi is an interdisciplinary artist and creative facilitator whose work spans international performances and collaborations with artists and academics across theatre, opera, butoh dance, and clowning. Her socially engaged practice brings people together through transformational programmes and multidisciplinary projects that explore creativity, play, and connection. Rooted in a relational and conscious approach, her work weaves together the body, spirituality,...

Anna Poulkari

BiographyWith more than 10 years of teaching experience, Anna brings a strong background in dance instruction to learners of all ages, from primary school students to adults. Her passion for movement is matched by a genuine enthusiasm for sharing the energy and joy of salsa with others. Known for creating fun, engaging classes, she focuses especially on adult learners and...

Michael Eales

BiographyMichael Eales brings 40 years of experience as a facilitator, coach, and therapist. Known for his warmth and humour, he works in a way that feels safe, supportive, and empowering, often exploring deeper layers of personal growth. Alongside this, he serves as a Leadership Consultant, supporting learning and development within large, complex organisations. His career began in the early 1980s...

Libby Esler

Biography Based in Warwickshire, Libby Esler is an artist and art facilitator whose work sits at the meeting point of creativity, sustainability, and community engagement. Drawing on a background in fashion and textiles, she creates inclusive, hands-on workshops that help people build creative confidence while enjoying the process of making together. Through her organisation ARTLABRTRY, Libby collaborates with schools, festivals, cultural organisations,...

Mark Gunston

BiographyMark has spent 30 years teaching windsurfing and holds RYA Windsurfing Trainer qualifications. He also ran a watersports center in Cornwall for six years, and in the late 1980s worked at a windsurfing club on the Sea of Galilee. Over the years, he has taught at centers in England, Greece, Sardinia, and San Francisco, making him one of the UK’s...

Kate Smurthwaite

BiographyKate Smurthwaite is a stand-up comedian, comedy writer, and teacher.She has toured solo shows across the UK and internationally, performing at comedy clubs both large and small. Her screen and radio credits include more than 1,000 appearances, from Question Time to Breaking The News, and she has written for Have I Got News For You and BBC 3’s BAFTA-winning The...