Kel Watkins is a comedian and yarnspinner. Born in Mukinbudin in the Wheatbelt, he has been collecting folktales and other lore since the 1970s and 1980s. Kel's collected materials have been used in some of his performances and published in book and audio format.

Based in Perth, Kel's comedy and yarnspinning has taken him around the world to many audiences and diverse venues including Australia, the United States, Canada, Scotland, Germany, Holland, France, Spain and Singapore.

His achievements include winning the Australian Yarnspinning Challenge in 1996 and 1997 and winning the Folklore Project Award and Storytelling Award at the Port Fairy Folk Festival. He performed at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 1996, as part of his prize for the Australian Yarnspinning Challenge.

Kel was featured in an episode of Australian Story (26 June 1996) where he discussed his storytelling and his childhood in Mukinbudin.

Kel Watkins performing at an event. Photograph courtesy of Kel Watkins.

Kel's published works include:

Send 'er down Hughey (1985) a collection of true tales from Wheatbelt farmers around Kel's home town of Mukinbudin. Illustrated by Lynne Tracey.

Bungaree Yarns (1986) a book of stories from people connected with the Bungaree Sheep Station near Clare, South Australia. Illustrated by Colleen Rodda.

Readin' Ritin' 'Rithmetic (1986) a book of stories from people who attended bush schools in a particular area of South Australia between 1897 and 1986. Illustrated by Colleen Rodda.

String games: 16 new ways to have fun with string (1986) written with Mike and Michell Jackson and a 'how to' collection of string figures for beginners.

Live performances by Kel Watkins

This series comprises of sound recordings made of various performances by Kel Watkins from 1980 to 1986 at the Toodyay and Perth Festivals in Western Australian and various venues in Australia and the United States. These performances include tall stories, stories from personal experience, bush ballads and stories from the 1950s.

View the series record in the digital archive where you can look at the files and items relating to this series.

Radio interviews and recordings of Kel Watkins

This series consists of radio interviews with Kel Watkins in Western Australia, South Australia and various locations in the United States. A number of these recordings involve the telling of ballads and bush stories.

View the series record in the digital archive where you can look at the files and items relating to this series.

String figures

This series comprises published works and videos on string figures. The publications include String around the world by Kel Watkins and Mike & Michelle Jackson. Video recordings include demonstrations on the art of string figures by Kel Watkins.

View the series record in the digital archive where you can look at the files and items relating to this series.

Published and unpublished works on folklore and storytelling

This series consists of published and unpublished works collected or written by Kel Watkins. Some of this material was used by Kel in his performances of bush ballads and yarns.

View the series record in the digital archive where you can look at the files and items relating to this series.