I first saw Rachel Rose Reid in action at Burning Man in Nevada, in 2009 where she transported a crowd of us to imaginary worlds with her storytelling and singing. The testament to her incredible talent though, is that she's equally capable of creating other worlds in an East London basement or on stage at a festival. Dubbed 'Queen of the New Wave of storytellers' by BBC Radio 3, RRR is a regular at OneTaste, blending spokenword, storytelling and song, oral tradition and urban influence. She's collaborated with The Roundhouse Experimental Choir and the Royal Shakespeare Company, and toured her own solo shows in the UK, USA and Australia. She's a Writer in Residence for the Dickens 2012 Bicentenary and the Saison Poetry Library, and is writing a piece for Billy Bragg's tribute to Woody Guthrie later this year. 

KA: When did you decide you wanted to become a storyteller?

RRR: In 2007 I decided to take my all my work in performance and writing, and focus it into a craft that I could nurture under my own steam. It's an ongoing process of professional perseverance, curiosity, creativity and learning. I particularly love my work in collaboration with other artists, which expands my range of work and opens my mind.

KA: What were your favourite stories when you were a child? Who told them to you?

RRR: Maybe the best ones were the ones made up in playground, or the cardboard box that suddenly became a cave, or the upturned table that became a fishing boat. Children's ability to turn the most mundane, bare environment into one richly filled with playful possibility is something we could all do with retaining, and is what the best children's writers conjure in an instant. When I was small, I was told plenty of stories by my parents and grandparents, but also at the small festivals with big hearts, (always the best ones in the UK). At festivals like Sidmouth Folk Week and Festival at the Edge I met performers from across the Globe who vibrantly rejoiced in the traditions of their ancestors, and those kind of experiences had a massive impact on me when I came back to the urban sprawl.

KA: You've written a show retelling the original Hans Christian Andersen tales, which were a lot darker than the watered down, Disney versions many of us were told as children. There's been a real resurgence in the popularity of fairytales being restored to their darker origins for young adult and adult audiences- for example Snow White and The Huntsman and the forthcoming Sleeping Beauty film starring Angelina Jolie as Maleficent. Why do you think this is?

RRR: Well now, for film companies I think there is the pleasure of an un-copyrighted script source! But beyond the cynical, the industry is stripping it's skill down to its origins. Star Wars was famously inspired by Joseph Campbell's classic The Hero with a Thousand Faces, which explores the 'Hero's Journey', a recurrent and satisfying narrative arc found running through many tales and myths (and compelling true stories), in which the protagonist endures challenges and finally transcends trouble to reach a new sense of self. Perhaps now that we are fully versed in the fantastical world of film, we no longer need the characters to be just like us in order to identify with them. Maybe now we can grapple with metaphor and see that we don't need to be a princess or meet an actual witch in order to see ourselves reflected in these darkly symbolic tales.

KA: You are the Dickens 2012 Bicentenary Writer in Residence- what does this involve?

RRR: We are just getting started! The Dickens Museum has been leading the Global celebrations and is currently undergoing refurbishment. Whilst it's closed I'll be running workshops with local groups whose own interests are aligned with the social reformation and subjects that Dickens sought to highlight through his writing and campaigning. When the Museum re-opens in the Winter this work will feed into an alternative audio-guide which I'm writing to accompany the more conventional one.

KA: What do you have in store for visitors to the London Literature Festival this year?

RRR: I am only a small part of the London Literature Festival! I have been harvesting stories from users of the Saison Poetry Library, nestled near the top of the Southbank Centre and free for anyone to use. Myself and Senior Librarian Chris McCabe are hosting Live and On Loan a celebration of the Collection along with some of our favourite poets. There'll also be a special open mic with audience members reading their favourite poems from the Library shelves.

Guests at the festival include Siri Hustvedt, Will Self, Michael Morpugo, Kate Tempest and Mark Haddon. Jacob Sam-La Rose and Apples & Snakes' National project Shake the Dust comes to a grand finale.

KA: Do you own a kindle? Do you think the future of stories is dependent on the survival of books and libraries?

RRR: Yes! It's amazing! I can now carry a load of heavy books in my bag, and they all weigh less than a cup of tea. Just brilliant.

But it's important for us to remember that not all books are in e-versions, and not everyone can afford electronic equipment or new books, so we must be aware that our window on the world is dependent on access and education that is fair for all. Zadie Smith recently made my favourite corner of London quite famous, writing about this very cause.

You can read more about Rachel's projects here, including the Willesden Green Wassail. See her in action at Live and on Loan at The London Literature Festival.