Extraordinary storyteller and Fat Cat Productions performanc artist creates powerful memories that last long after her tales are told.
by Eliza Chapman Bailey, Photographs by Laura Melfi
The art of storytelling is rooted in oral traditions centered around themes of family, community, folklore, and the supernatural. It has been used for centuries to explain the human condition and pass knowledge, culture, and traditions from generation to generation in a meaningful, impactful way. Local performing artist Veronica Gaillard is a retired educator and captivating storyteller; currently the storyteller at Boone Hall Plantation in Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina, Gaillard spent a lifetime cultivating, crafting, and sharing the traditions of her Gullah roots through performance, song, playwriting, and theatre. Her work has been showcased in schools, libraries, festivals, and events throughout the area.
Gaillard grew up in the epicenter of Charleston’s commerce. Her childhood home was on Calhoun Street, where the Charleston County Public Library now stands. Despite the dominance of segregation laws during this time, she explains that the neighborhood was an eclectic mix of families from diverse backgrounds. They supported, connected, and entertained each other with stories to teach valuable lessons, inspire change, and share a common existence. Whether she was about town, walking to Buist Elementary School, or heading to St. Stephen’s Church, the city’s vibrant culture surrounded her. The street vendors’ soulful songs accompanied her journeys, and the Mosquito Fleet silhouetted the sky when she fished, crabbed, and caught shrimp in the harbor. This understanding of the people and community is the essence of her storytelling gift.
Using memories, colloquial dialect, vernacular language, idiomatic expressions, and slang, Gaillard conveys an authentic sense of place that mesmerizes listeners. With wit, humor, and intellect, she seamlessly diffuses the tension by highlighting the resilience of the Southern African American experience to deliver poignant messages that shine a light on the rich tapestry of her childhood. Her performance celebrates distinctive Charleston and Gullah culture, history, folly, and foibles, often incorporating folklore, magic, ghosts, and supernatural beings to create a warm-hearted sense of mystery and wonder.
As an adult, she and her husband, who was in the military, spent many years traveling. During this sojourn, she recognized that people everywhere satisfied the need for human connectivity through storytelling. Although culturally specific, these stories’ messages, themes, and threads were no different from those she heard growing up. Regardless of culture, Gailard emphasizes, “Story and storytelling are food for the soul. It is a universal language that binds us all.”
Passionate about her work, Gaillard’s performances have the advantage of perspective. They resonate with cultural identity from the one who experienced it, and they are a true representation of the spirit. They are intuitively adjusted and suited for all ages. Her focus is to entertain and preserve the Gullah traditions through performance art that connects us to our past and inspires us for the future. Her twinkling eyes, keen sense of timing, pacing, and delivery will evoke laughter, tears, and inspiration, leaving a lasting impression on all fortunate to hear her stories. AM
She is available for events and can tailor her performances for all ages and specific audience needs. Please contact Fat Cat Productions at http://www.fatcatproductions.com/veronica-gaillard.html for more information or visit Boone Hall Plantation on Monday and Wednesday to experience a genuine cultural tale from a wonderfully wise storyteller.
