Ossiri and the Bala Mengro

Richard O’Neill was born and brought up in a large traditional Romani family in the North of England. He is an award-winning storyteller and writer who tells his original stories in schools, museums, libraries and theatres across the UK.A sixth-generation storyteller, he grew up in a vigorous oral storytelling tradition, learning his skills from some of the best Travelling storytellers in England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales. Richard is the author of six children’s books published with Child’s Play, and his stories and plays have been broadcast on BBC Radio to be heard across the world.In 2024, he was awarded an MBE in the New Years Honours List and in 2013, he was the recipient of the National Literacy Hero award.