Oral storyteller Christine Butot has been entertaining diverse audiences in France with her repertoire of folktales and legends for decades. I first met her through, a Annie Sauvat, a winemaker and oenotourism promoter who has frequently partnered with Butot for various events in Boudes, a gorgeous village situated in Auvergne’s “Tuscany”. When Butot excitedly mentioned Les Petits Contes — her storytelling company — I knew that I had to learn more.
In the following interview, Butot speaks to me about the value of local storytelling and describes how she’s worked to promote it in Boudes, Issoire, and the wider Auvergne region.
When did you decide you wanted to become a storyteller?
In 2001, I wrote a story about the life of a small plastic bottle, which was warmly received by the local audience. The way I told it led people to say, “You tell stories like a storyteller.” I was completely unfamiliar with this artistic discipline, so I explored it and fell into the enchanting world of storytelling. By 2003, I had created my first show.
When and why did you start your storytelling business?
I went through various stages: starting in 2003 with a Guso contract, then in 2009, I set up as a self-employed entrepreneur. But working alone felt lonely! In 2016, I joined Appuy Culture, the cultural branch of Appuy Créateur, to manage my activity like a business, with invaluable human support and tools. In 2021, when I moved to Boudes, I created the association Les Petits Contes, which had been my stage name since 2002. This allowed me to engage differently with the Issoire region and open my work to the people of Boudes. Since then, I’ve focused my art on local structures to foster connections among everyone.
What do you love most about storytelling, and why do you think it’s important?
Storytelling is a universal art that has existed since the dawn of time. Being inhabited by a story and sharing it with an audience is exquisitely profound. Through orality, closeness with the audience, and the power of tales, we touch on the intimate, the societal, and, through what might seem like a simple story, we connect with humanity.
Living or being possessed by a story before telling it allows us to explore humanity, nature, history, societal issues — everything that shapes the past, present, and future. Crafting a story to share with an audience requires constant research, whether about a plant, a stone, an event, or an emotion. It’s an entry into the beauty — and sometimes the horror — of the world in all its forms.
Today’s society pushes us to move ever faster, to skip over things, to avoid others. Storytelling counters this by offering reverie while addressing deep topics with lightness. As the great ethnolinguist Suzy Platiel, who pioneered storytelling circles, said, “Storytelling aids in the construction of the human being as both an individual and a social being.”
Whether during a performance, a storytelling walk, a circle, or by the fireside, with audiences from 5 months to 105 years, including adapted groups, adults, or children, sharing stories, songs, or riddles creates a powerful connection—a breath of hope. It’s a journey to far-off places and within oneself, without leaving your seat. Storytelling should be recognised as a public good!
What are your favourite stories or legends from Auvergne?
How to choose! Auvergne’s tales are distinctly Auvergnat in their settings or characters, but they often appear elsewhere with different names and places. Stories were carried from village to village by wanderers, seasonal workers, and travellers, each reshaping them to suit their audience. I do the same today! For example, I’ve adapted the tale of the Roc de Courlande into a legend about Tinnette de Boudes and the Pic de l’Avoiron.
Having been born in another region, I initially struggled to connect with Auvergne’s rich storytelling tradition. But now, I feel ready and legitimate to dive into it, so ask me again in a few years! Auvergne’s heritage is a world of its own, with great collectors like Henri Pourrat and Marie-Aimée Méraville, to name just two.
Can you tell us more about your upcoming festival in Boudes?
For its second edition, the L’Art’Kose Festival in Boudes will take you on a journey to the Mediterranean and India through storytelling, dance, music, and puppetry. The 2025 edition will feature oral traditions from elsewhere (North Africa and India) brought to life by artists from both local and farther afield (Clermont-Ferrand, Lyon, and Grasse/Alpes-Maritimes). Renowned artists include Marilyn Garcia, Eric LeChable, Hassen Ayeche, Malik Adda, Stéphanie Prévot, Aurore Bodin, and Skand Snekker. Two days of travel in Boudes!
Here’s the full program for the L’Art’Kose Festival:
Friday, October 3, 2025
- 6:30 PM: Navrasa Company Storytelling, live music, and Indian dance “Surya Aféfé” – all-ages version Duration: 1h–1h15
- 9:00 PM: Cheikchouka Association Hassen Ayeche, storyteller and musician Performance based on “The Epic of Gilgamesh” Duration: 1h15 – suitable for ages 12 and up
Saturday, October 4, 2025
- 10:30 AM: L’Œil du Cyclope Company “The Story of the Snake Charmer” Suitable for ages 18 months and up Duration: 25 min + artist Q&A
- 2:30 PM–4:30 PM: Storytelling Tour Volunteer storytellers in the church square and streets of Boudes
- 2:00 PM: Workshops (1h or 2h)
- Music workshop for parents/children (2h) – Eric LeChable
- “Rhythmic practice through konnakol singing” workshop (2h) – Malik Adda and Stéphanie Prévot
- Indian dance workshop for parents, children, and adults (1h or 2h) – Marilyn Garcia
- Puppetry workshop (1h) – Skand Snekker
- 3:00 PM: Workshops (1h)
- Indian dance workshop for adults and/or children (1h or 2h) – Marilyn Garcia
- Puppetry workshop (1h) – Skand Snekker
- 5:00 PM: 1h30 Concert by Duo Escales Motawosset Association with Malik Adda
- 6:00 PM: Open Storytelling Scene
- 8:00 PM: Dance and Music Battle Featuring Hassen Ayeche, Eric LeChable, Marilyn Garcia, Stéphanie Prévot and Malik Adda
- 8:30 PM: Pop and Traditional Dance Party With Malik Adda, Stéphanie Prévot, Hassen Ayeche, Eric LeChable, and Marilyn Garcia
Events will take place indoors (in halls, barns, or under marquees) if weather requires it. On-site, you’ll find wooden games, a refreshment stand, and the Aux Banquets food truck for meals. The festival is supported by a fantastic team of 15 volunteers who work year-round on various activities: barn or garden evenings, fireside gatherings, or storytelling walks in the village or vineyards during the summer, and tailored experiences for groups or families seeking a special moment. The festival concludes between 10:30 PM and 11:00 PM.
