SCOTTISH INTERNATIONAL STORYTELLING FESTIVAL 2020
17–31 OCTOBER
TICKETS 0131 556 9579 SISF.ORG.UK WELCOME Stories and songs are vital for human survival… they carry our emotions, memories and values, they bind us together as families, communities and nations, especially through tough times. The Scottish International Storytelling Festival continues to channel Geeta Ramanujam that flow this year. Photo by Kathalaya Our festival plans, and our ability to deliver them, took a severe knock in March this year. We have held our nerve, adjusted our world view, talked with incredible storytellers and worked through some difficult times to present a festival programme, which we hope will do justice to the spirit and inspiration of our usual festival activity. This year we welcome our international performers online in the same ceilidh tradition as always, alongside some of the best Scottish storytellers. Our festival commissions in the Year of Coasts and Waters 2020 explore Scotland Donna Washington as a nation shaped by the sea through the Voyage series, Photo by Jonathan Van Ark whilst our Open Hearth and Guid Crack sessions offer participation in unique storytelling ceilidhs. Our popular Community & Family Programme offers opportunities for families, schools and community groups to engage with the wonder of storytelling and the Global Lab workshops offer a platform for development and discussion. As ever, we round up the festival with the Feast of Samhuinn, in accordance with Celtic tradition. Human connections will continue to exist through stories, regardless of where we are in the world. Please come with us on this journey. David Francis The Festival Team Photo by Allan McMillan
The Scottish International Storytelling Festival is organised by TRACS (Traditional Arts & Culture Scotland), which brings together the Traditional Music Forum, Scottish Storytelling Forum and Traditional Dance Forum of Scotland, from its base at the Scottish Storytelling Centre. TRACS showcases Scotland’s traditional arts in a contemporary world, making them more accessible to all. Supported through Scottish Government’s Festivals Expo Fund, the PLACE Programme supported by the Scottish Government and City of Edinburgh Council, Creative Scotland, City of Edinburgh Council, Festivals Edinburgh, Year of Coasts and Waters 2020, Caledonian MacBrayne and Colmcille 1500.
02 Box office: 0131 556 9579 ABOUT THE PROGRAMME The festival programme is a blended approach of online opportunities and in-person live events. Our event categories ensure your storytelling experience is exactly what you are looking for, be it in the comfort of your own home, in outdoor locations or in one of the festival venues. All our live plans are subject to Scottish Government guidance in the autumn period.
All in-person HOW EVENT TYPES events will be Online | Pre-recorded subject to Scottish TO BOOK Traditional storytelling performances Government Tickets for events at the health and safety filmed at the Scottish Storytelling Centre guidelines in Scottish Storytelling Centre or on site-specific locations in Scotland. October. (including online events: Voyage, Open Hearth, Guid Online | Live Broadcast Crack and Global Lab), and Traditional storytelling sessions broadcast live online. St Columba’s by the Castle can be booked by phone, Online | Open-mic online or in person through Traditional storytelling sessions broadcast live online, the Centre’s Box Office. with open floor contributions. +44 (0) 131 556 9579 Online | Live Webinar sisf.org.uk Online workshops and presentations broadcast live from the Scottish Storytelling Centre, with audience participation. Other partner venues and regional events have their own In-person | Indoor booking outlets, as listed. Small-scale live storytelling events in festival venues. ACCESS INFO… In-person | Indoor Open-mic A full Access Statement Small-scale live storytelling events in festival venues, is available on our website with open floor contributions. or on request. A full list of live captioned events will In-person | Outdoor be available at sisf.org.uk. Small-scale live storytelling events in outdoor locations.
HOW TO Scottish Storytelling Centre | 43-45 High Street | EH1 1SR GET HERE EAST MARKET STREETCRANSTON STREET
The Scottish Storytelling JEFFREY STREET Centre’s award-winning NORTH BRIDGE building is the hub of the The Scottish Festival, located halfway Storytelling CANONGATE Centre down Edinburgh’s Royal Mile, Edinburgh Holyrood Palace within easy walking distance Castle HIGH STREET of Princes Street and Waverley BLACKFRIARS STREET train station. There is no parking directly outside the SOUTH BRIDGE Centre, but the Lothian bus number 35 stops outside with a taxi rank close by. Opening hours subject to Scottish COWGATE Government guidelines. sisf.org.uk 03 FESTIVAL EXHIBITION
SAT 17 OCT – SAT 7 NOV The Gruagach Solais by Claire Hewitt Scottish Storytelling Centre Mon - Sun: 10am - 6pm | Free Highland Perthshire is a land rich in story and ancient lore deeply connected to its natural environment. The lifeblood that flows through this land are the waters that create the River Tay, without which the trees, birds, wild beings of earth, water and air would not survive. Claire Hewitt’s images are a response to the abundant natural and mythological landscape around her. From magical salmon to wild faerie cattle women, each image holds, like water, a memory of the most ancient of stories and the spirit of the place. The Gruagach Solais was a wise spirit of the blacksmith’s fire, a spark of inspiration and wisdom taken from a Gaelic poem in Highland Perthshire. COMMUNITY & FAMILY PROGRAMME
The SISF Community & Family Programme is taking place Mon 12 Oct – Mon 30 Nov pairing local storytellers with schools and community groups in digital and small-scale live settings – keeping things safe and slow with a varied and enjoyable programme for all.
Community groups and schools can take part in The Big Scottish Story Ripple by holding a storytelling event led by a storyteller from the SSF storytelling Directory. Groups can apply for a subsidy that will cover the cost of their storyteller’s fees. In return, successful applicants must offer a good deed back to their local community on or before St Andrew’s Day. For more information contact [email protected] Michael Kerins
04 Box office: 0131 556 9579 GET CREATIVE
SAT 17 – FRI 30 OCT SISF Art Challenge: Waterlines Love drawing? Join the first SISF online art challenge and engage with the festival community, with the chance to win a book of Scottish folktales. Mythical prompts will be released to inspire your imagination, taking you on an adventurous sea voyage.
Check our Instagram @ScotStoryFest for updates and follow the hashtags #SISFArtChallenge #SISFWaterlines. Image by Annalisa Salis
MON 19 & SAT 31 OCT Scotland’s Greatest Ghost Stories What is your favourite ghost story attached to your community?
As part of SISF 2020, we’re casting a net across the nation to catch ghost stories haunting each local area and to celebrate these tales with an online discussion, a workshop and a ghost story event on the last day of the festival… Saturday 31 October, Halloween!
Do you know of a White Lady spectre that haunts a derelict castle, a local railway line haunted by a ghost train or a tales of Photo by Colin Hattersley local witches and warlocks? Then take part!
How to get involved: • Research ghosts stories linked to your local area • Mon 19 Oct: take part in an online social media discussion #SISFsaysBoo • Mon 19 Oct, 6.30pm (1hr): attend a ‘How to Tell a Good Ghost Story’ workshop • Sat 31 Oct, 4pm (2hrs): share and listen to all the ghostly tales during an online event on Halloween
For more information contact [email protected] Tickets available via the Box Office
sisf.org.uk 05 VOYAGE: A NATION SHAPED BY THE SEA
Andy Cannon Photo by Brian Hartley
06 Box office: 0131 556 9579 Over centuries, real and imaginary voyages have connected Scotland VOYAGE: to other coastal countries, near and far. Some of the story treasures that arrived and departed with them are now presented in this special series of traditional storytelling events, celebrating Scotland as a nation A NATION shaped by the sea. Specially developed for SISF 2020 by Scottish-based storytellers and musicians, the performances are presented as live from the Netherbow Theatre, at the Scottish Storytelling Centre or on location SHAPED where the stories are set. Experience some of Scotland’s best storytellers BY THE and musicians in the flow as they shape these incredible tales. SEA SAT 17 OCT SUN 18 OCT Tales of a The Stone Stories Grandson: The by Mandy Haggith Maid of Norway Online | Pre-recorded by Andy Cannon 6.30pm By donation (ticketed) Online | Pre-recorded Author Mandy Haggith Mandy Haggith 6.30pm presents her trilogy of novels photo by Bill Ritchie By donation (ticketed) set in the Iron Age, inspired Once upon a time - or 724 by the true story of Pytheas years, 5 months and 1 day of Massalia, who made an MON 19 OCT ago, to be precise - Andy incredible journey in 320 BC the messenger sets off from from the Mediterranean and Strathspey Edinburgh Castle bound for back again via Britain, the Norway on a royal errand to Arctic and the Baltic Sea. Stories collect and escort the new Explore who he would have by David Francis & Queen of Scotland back to met along the coastline of Hamish Napier her new home in her new what is now northern Scotland land. Join Andy on his journey and how the Celtic culture Online | Pre-recorded across the sea as he rehearses he encountered would have 8pm how best to tell little Princess differed from that of the By donation (ticketed) Margaret of Norway the tragic Greek Empire he came from events that have led to her and returned to. Carefully ‘The Haughs of Cromdale’, becoming the first ruling researched, the novels were ‘Tullochgorum’, The White Queen of Scots. Filmed at the written mostly while sailing Horse of Spey, the Muime Scottish Storytelling Centre. the routes that Pytheas and the Old Man of Dunshee, Suitable for all the family. travelled and address issues ‘The Spey in Spate’ - Hamish that are deeply relevant today, Napier and David Francis including greed, slavery and explore coasts and waters sexual power. Come and enjoy with stories and music a glimpse behind the scenes from Strathspey, plus an with a prize-winning historical atmospheric telling of Stanley novelist. Filmed on location Robertson’s ‘Jack and the in Clachtoll. Dancing Trees’. Filmed on location in Strathspey and at the Scottish Storytelling Centre.
sisf.org.uk 07 Queen Anne of Denmark, TUE 20 OCT bittersweet memories are unearthed for the royal The Voyage couple. They recall a perilous voyage across the waters of St Brendan between Scotland and by Marion Kenny & Denmark. The play stirs up John Kenny a well of grief, opening the deepest of heart wounds in Online | Pre-recorded the king himself. Join English 8pm storyteller Alice Fernbank and By donation (ticketed) Danish storyteller Svend- Erik Engh as they tell a tale Join sibling duo Marion and they have conjured from John Kenny as they explore the growing evidence of the legendary voyage of St parallels between the story of Brendan and his monks into Hamlet and the life of James the unknown. Volcanoes, VI/I. Filmed at the Scottish icebergs, sea monsters, Storytelling Centre. strange beings, courage and spirituality all play a part in this ancient adventure story of St. Brendan. Known as THU 22 OCT ‘The Navigator’ he is widely believed to have sailed from Nanny of Ireland to America hundreds Mara Menzies of years before the Vikings the Maroons and thousands of years before by Mara Menzies & Columbus. Words and music Apphia Campbell will be woven together in a FRI 23 OCT magical blend, featuring harps Online | Pre-recorded and the ancient Celtic Iron 8pm Tour to the Age horns of the Deskford By donation (ticketed) Carnyx from Scotland and As the ships carried provisions Hebrides the Loughnashade horn from from the ice-cold waters of by Andy Cannon, Christopher Ireland. Filmed at the Scottish Scotland to the coastline of Craig & Donald Smith Storytelling Centre. Africa, a woman, packaged as Online | Pre-recorded human cargo, was led on to a vessel. She crossed oceans 6.30pm WED 21 OCT heading to the land of sugar By donation (ticketed) and opportunity. Chained and All aboard with Sam and Orphan James imprisoned, her fury built with Bozzie - alias storytellers Andy the pounding of the waves Cannon and Christopher Craig and the Prince and upon her arrival, she - for Boswell and Johnson’s of Denmark slipped away like water in the infamous trip across Scotland sand. Filled with the force of to Iona. It’s English bulldog by Alice Fernbank & the rivers, tides, storms and versus Scots terrier, and they Svend-Erik Engh the power to deflect bullets, are both writing their version. Online | Pre-recorded she returned to vent her rage And why won’t someone and fulfil her destiny. Her set up a reliable system of 6.30pm name was Nanny, Queen of ferries? The intrepid duo hit By donation (ticketed) the Maroons. Story and songs all the highs and plumb the As The King’s Men perform by Mara Menzies and Apphia lows of travelling in the same Shakespeare’s Hamlet at the Campbell. Filmed at the boat. Devised by Donald court of James VI/I and Scottish Storytelling Centre. Smith. Filmed at the Scottish Storytelling Centre and on location in the Hebrides.
08 Box office: 0131 556 9579 SAT 24 OCT Scots in the Antarctic: A Tale with Penguins, Pipers and a Dog named Russ by Nicola Wright Online | Pre-recorded 6.30pm By donation (ticketed) Join storyteller Nicola Wright on a journey to the end of the earth to hear of the hugely successful, but now almost forgotten, Scottish National Antarctic Expedition 1902- 1904. In this entertaining John Kenny family-friendly performance Photo by Hugh Beauchamp you will meet William Speirs Bruce, a polar hero you may never have heard of. You will | learn about what explorers SUN 25 OCT Deiseal ate, how they lived and Sunwise what they wore. Are you Leaving by Ian Stephen, Christine ready to discover the story Morrison & Mike Vass of the Saltire at the South Iona Pole? Filmed at the Scottish by Heather Yule & Online | Pre-recorded Storytelling Centre. Suitable Donald Smith 8pm for all the family. In-person | Indoor By donation (ticketed) A three-stranded cord of 3pm (1hr) stories, original music and By donation (ticketed) images will take you on a St Columba’s by the Castle historic voyage off Scotland’s Scottish Episcopal Church west coast, as far as the It’s Columba’s wake. But outlying Hebridean islands where does his body belong - of Hirta and North Rona. in Donegal or Iona? And who With stories arranged and will tell the story - the monks, told by storyteller Ian Stephen the poets or the women? Join and new music from Mike storytellers Heather Yule and Vass. Images selected and Donald Smith in person on arranged by Christine this special afternoon, as they Morrison. Filmed at the follow the inner and outer Scottish Storytelling Centre. journeys of Colmcille/Columba on the 1500th anniversary of his birth.
sisf.org.uk 09 Brian Ó hEadhra and Fiona Mackenzie Photo by Róise Ní Eadhra
10 Box office: 0131 556 9579 THU 29 OCT WED 28 OCT Shetland Stories TUATH: TUATH: & Fiddle Tunes: Òrain às na Songs of the The Greenland Northlands Northlands Days and the le Brian Ó hEadhra agus by Brian Ó hEadhra and Fiona NicChoinnich Fiona Mackenzie Haaf Fishing Air loidhe | air a chlàradh Online | Pre-recorded by Maurice Henderson & roimhe Ewen Thomson 8pm Online | Pre-recorded 8f Fàilte air tìodhlaicean By donation (ticketed) (Tiogaidean) Highland-based duo, Brian 6.30pm Bidh Brian Ó hEadhra Ó hEadhra and Fiona By donation (ticketed) agus Fiona NicCoinnich Mackenzie, present an Join Maurice Henderson and a’ gabhail òrain às na intimate show featuring Ewen Thomson as they share clàraidhean as ùr aca songs from their acclaimed, stories and songs from the TÌR – Highland Life & Lore recently released albums days of sail. Many Shetlanders agus TUATH – Songs of the TÌR - Highland Life & made their living through Northlands anns a’ chonsairt Lore and TUATH - Songs Haaf fishing, using small open shònraichte seo. Tha TÌR of the Northlands. TÌR boats to sail or row out to the a’ coimhead air dòighean- explores traditional deep-water fishing grounds. beatha traidiseanta agus and contemporary life The boat handling skills of dòighean-beatha san latha and stories from the the Shetland fishermen an-diugh is a’ gabhail Highlands of Scotland. meant they were in great a-steach sgeulachdan TUATH is a musical and demand to crew aboard the às a’ Ghàidhealtachd. ‘s cultural exploration of British Arctic whaling ships. e rùrachadh ceòlmhòr is the connections between The performance is enriched cultarail a th’ ann an TUATHA the Gaels and our nearest with Shetland traditional and a tha a’ sealltainn air na Atlantic neighbours. contemporary fiddle tunes ceanglaichean eadar na The duo will provide relating to the sea, inspired Gàidheil is na nàbaidhean introductions and read by the stories and traditions aca anns a’ Chuan Siar. translations of the songs, handed down from the days Bheir an dithis seachad which are mostly in of the whaling and Haaf ro-ràdh do na h-òrain le Scottish Gaelic, but also in fishing.Filmed on location eadar-theangachaidhean, Irish Gaelic, English and in Shetland. ‘s ann anns a’ Ghàidhlig a Norwegian. A show not to tha a’ mhòr-chuid de na be missed! Filmed at the h-òrain ach tha cuideachd Scottish Storytelling Centre. òrain ann an Gaeilge, Beurla agus Nirribhis. Nach call an cothrom seo fhaicinn! Air a chlàradh ann an Ionad Sgeulachdan na h-Alba.
sisf.org.uk 11 Maurice Henderson and Ewen Thomson Photo by Maurice Henderson
12 Box office: 0131 556 9579 Fiona Herbert Photo by Sandy McGhie
FRI 30 OCT SAT 31 OCT The Birlinn Corryvreckan: by Ailean Domhnullach/ Inspiralled Tales Allan MacDonald by Fiona Herbert, Online | Pre-recorded with Emma Durkan 6.30pm Online | Pre-recorded By donation (ticketed) 6.30pm Are we heading for peace By donation (ticketed) or war? Renowned piper Explore Scotland’s mythical and Gaelic tradition bearer, heritage as storyteller Ailean Domhnullach/Allan Fiona Herbert tells the tales MacDonald premieres his surrounding the Corryvreckan musical evocation of sailing, whirlpool through the eyes sharing the majestic voyage of the much maligned and of The Galley of Clanranald. misunderstood Cailleach, The featured Gaelic text of the ancient Gaelic creation Birlinn Chlann Raghnaill is goddess. In doing so, she dives by Alasdair Mac Mhaistear beneath the lies to celebrate Alasdair, Jacobite Bard of female power, the true value Clan Ranald, alongside a of old age and the wisdom new translation by Alan of the wild. With harp, fiddle Riach. Filmed at the and song from Emma Durkan. Scottish Storytelling Centre. Supported by the National Lottery through Creative Scotland. Filmed at the Scottish Storytelling Centre. sisf.org.uk 13 OPEN HEARTH SESSIONS
Online | Live Broadcast SAT 17, SUN 18, WED 21, SAT 24, TUE 27, THU 29, SAT 31 OCT
8pm (2hrs) | By donation (ticketed) THU 22 & SUN 25 OCT
1pm (2hrs) | By donation (ticketed)
The Festival’s famous Open Hearth sessions move online in a ceilidh of cultures. Join us for a specially curated lineup at each session featuring some of the finest traditional storytellers from around the world, hosted by a Scottish storyteller in the ceilidh tradition. The perfect way to end – or start – your day! Guests include Baba the Storyteller, Jan Blake, Peter Chand, Giovanna Conforto, Wangari Grace, Sue Hollingsworth, Usifu Jalloh, Dawne McFarlane, Niall Moorjani, John Titi Namai, Carolina Quiroga-Stultz, Kamini Ramachandran, Raphael Rodan, Sahand Sahebdivani, Donna Washington and Liz Weir. Full listings are available online.
Peter Chand Photo by Katja Lange
14 Box office: 0131 556 9579 GUID CRACK SESSIONS
Online | Open-mic FRI 23 & FRI 30 OCT
8pm (2hrs) | By donation (ticketed) Join us for two special sessions of Edinburgh’s long-running storytelling night, with a special guest storyteller each time and the usual open-floor opportunity to share a tale of your own.
FRI 23 OCT with Michael Kerins FRI 30 OCT with Fran Flett Hollinrake
Fran Flett Hollinrake Photo by Mark Woodsford-Dean
sisf.org.uk 15 FESTIVAL DIARY | EDINBURGH GO LOCAL SCOTLAND PAGES 26-29
TIME EVENT EVENT TYPE LOC. PAGE
SAT 17 OCTOBER 11am/12.30pm Edinburgh Old Town Family Day In-person | Outdoor SSC 23 4pm Storytelling Café In-person | Indoor Open-mic SSC 23 6.30pm Voyage: Tales of a Grandson Online | Pre-recorded Online 7 8pm Open Hearth Online | Live Broadcast Online 14
SUN 18 OCTOBER 11am Scotland’s Democracy Trail In-person | Outdoor SSC 24 4pm Storytelling Café In-person | Indoor Open-mic SSC 23 4pm/6pm Scuttlebutt Stories! In-person | Indoor PER 23 6.30pm Voyage: The Stone Stories Online | Pre-recorded Online 7 8pm Open Hearth Online | Live Broadcast Online 14
MON 19 OCTOBER 11am Enlightened Eccentrics! In-person | Outdoor SSC 24 1.30pm Global Lab: Deep Healing and Ecology Online | Live Webinar Online 19 3pm Spirit of the Mountains Online | Live Broadcast Online(NLS) 23 4pm Storytelling Café In-person | Indoor Open-mic SSC 23 6.30pm How to Tell a Good Ghost Story Online | Live Broadcast Online 5 8pm Voyage: Strathspey Stories Online | Pre-recorded Online 7
TUE 20 OCTOBER 11am Enlightened Eccentrics! In-person | Outdoor SSC 24 3pm Tales and Traditions from Orkney Online | Live Broadcast Online(NLS) 23 4pm Storytelling Café In-person | Indoor Open-mic SSC 23 8pm Voyage: The Voyage of St Brendan Online | Pre-recorded Online 8
WED 21 OCTOBER 11am By Leaves We Live: Patrick Geddes In-person | Outdoor SSC 24 Story Tour of the Old Town 1pm/3pm Enchanted Garden: Paths of Stories In-person | Outdoor RBGE 25 1.30pm Global Lab: Journey to the Online | Live Webinar Online 19 Mountain Source 4pm Storytelling Café In-person | Indoor Open-mic SSC 23 6.30pm Voyage: Orphan James and the Online | Pre-recorded Online 8 Prince of Denmark 8pm Open Hearth Online | Live Broadcast Online 14
THU 22 OCTOBER 1pm Open Hearth Online | Live Broadcast Online 14 4pm Storytelling Café In-person | Indoor Open-mic SSC 23 8pm Voyage: Nanny of the Maroons Online | Pre-recorded Online 8
FRI 23 OCTOBER 11am Scotland’s Democracy Trail In-person | Outdoor SSC 24 1.30pm Global Lab: At Sea with the Selkies Online | Live Webinar Online 19 4pm Storytelling Café In-person | Indoor Open-mic SSC 23 6.30pm Voyage: Tour to the Hebrides Online | Pre-recorded Online 8 8pm Guid Crack Online | Open-mic Online 15
16 Box office: 0131 556 9579 Venue Key All start NLS National Library of Scotland SCBTC St Columba’s by the Castle times are PER Padlox Escape Rooms SSC Scottish Storytelling Centre Scottish RBGE Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh Time
TIME EVENT EVENT TYPE LOC. PAGE
SAT 24 OCTOBER 11am/1pm Caddie Capers In-person | Outdoor SSC 24 1pm/3pm Enchanted Garden: Paths of Stories In-person | Outdoor RBGE 25 1.30pm Global Lab: Native America and Scotland Online | Live Webinar Online 19 4pm Storytelling Café In-person | Indoor Open-mic SSC 23 6.30pm Voyage: Scots in the Antarctic Online | Pre-recorded Online 9 8pm Open Hearth Online | Live Broadcast Online 14
SUN 25 OCTOBER 11am Black History Walking Tour of Edinburgh In-person | Outdoor SSC 25 1pm Open Hearth Online | Live Broadcast Online 14 3pm Voyage: Leaving Iona In-person | Indoors SCBTC 9 4pm Storytelling Café In-person | Indoor Open-mic SSC 23 8pm Voyage: Deiseal | Sunwise Online | Pre-recorded Online 9
MON 26 OCTOBER 1.30pm Global Lab: Myths of The Corryvreckan Whirlpool Online | Live Webinar Online 20 4pm Storytelling Café In-person | Indoor Open-mic SSC 23
TUE 27 OCTOBER 11am The Witches Walk In-person | Outdoor SSC 25 1.30pm Global Lab: Living for the Sea Online | Live Webinar Online 20 4pm Storytelling Café In-person | Indoor Open-mic SSC 23 8pm Open Hearth Online | Live Broadcast Online 14
WED 28 OCTOBER 11am By Leaves We Live: Patrick Geddes In-person | Outdoor SSC 24 Story Tour of the Old Town 1pm/3pm Enchanted Garden: Paths of Stories In-person | Outdoor RBGE 25 1.30pm Global Lab: Tobar an Dualchais | Well of Stories Online | Live Webinar Online 20 4pm Storytelling Café In-person | Indoor Open-mic SSC 23 8pm Voyage: TUATH Online | Pre-recorded Online 11
THU 29 OCTOBER 4pm Storytelling Café In-person | Indoor Open-mic SSC 23 6.30pm Voyage: Shetland Stories & Fiddle Tunes Online | Pre-recorded Online 11 8pm Open Hearth Online | Live Broadcast Online 14
FRI 30 OCTOBER 11am The Witches Walk In-person | Outdoor SSC 25 1.30pm Global Lab: The Earth Stories Collection Online | Live Webinar Online 21 4pm Storytelling Café In-person | Indoor Open-mic SSC 23 6.30pm Voyage: The Birlinn Online | Pre-recorded Online 13 8pm Guid Crack Online | Open-mic Online 15
SAT 31 OCTOBER 11am Black History Walking Tour of Edinburgh In-person | Outdoor SSC 25 1pm/3pm Enchanted Garden: Paths of Stories In-person | Outdoor RBGE 25 4pm Storytelling Café In-person | Indoor Open-mic SSC 23 4pm Ghost Stories Online | Open-mic Online 5 6.30pm Voyage: Corryvreckan Online | Pre-recorded Online 13 8pm Open Hearth Online | Live Broadcast Online 14 sisf.org.uk 17 GLOBAL LAB WORKSHOPS
Online | Live Webinar
1.30pm (3hrs) | £5-15 As humanity faces an ecological, social, economic and cultural storm, storytellers and communities worldwide are sourcing stories that offer healing and hope. Global Lab offers inspiring examples of creative practice in the arts, education and frontline activism, with the opportunity to share, question and discuss.
Daily Programme 1.30pm: Welcome, Introductions and Presentation 2.30pm: Break 2.45pm: Workshop Sharing and Discussion 4.30pm: End
Laura Simms Photo by Eric Maddern
18 Box office: 0131 556 9579 and administrator. She is MON 19 OCT the founder of the Kathalaya SAT 24 OCT Trust and the International GLOBAL LAB Deep Healing Academy of Storytelling, Native America which has defined and and Ecology evolved the ancient art and Scotland: with Laura Simms of storytelling through workshops and certified Atlantic WORKSHOPS Can we heal the planet courses, ensuring over 85,000 without healing ourselves and Crossings adults and 500,000 children our fractured relationships? with Julie Cajune have learnt and enjoyed the Laura Simms is an & Douglas Mackay art of storytelling. internationally acclaimed What is the significance of storyteller, writer and teacher, Native American traditions for performing worldwide since the modern world, and how 1970. She combines traditional FRI 23 OCT can we connect with them in narrative with personal Scotland? Julie Cajune is the story and has been a major At Sea with sum of many stories, with a inspiration in the healing Salish, Nex Perce and Scots- and storytelling endeavour. the Selkies Irish mother, and a Chippewa Her most recent book, Our with Janis Mackay and French father, but the Secret Territory: The Essence largest part of her identity is What does it mean to lose of Storytelling, has been called Salish. Educator and citizen of your seal skin? What can we ‘the best book ever written on the Confederated Salish and learn from the selkie stories storytelling’ (Jay O’Callahan). Kootenai Tribes, Julie served when it comes to retrieving She lives in New York City and in the public school system, lost parts of ourselves? How is part of The Constellation, transitioning to Director of can myth guide us and heal a worldwide development the CSKT Tribal Education us? Scottish storyteller Janis project, and is the artistic Department. She has Mackay has been working director of the Hans Christian produced books, films, plays with stories for over 20 Andersen Storytelling Center and curricula with a focus years. Some of her favourite in NYC. on American Indian history. traditional stories involve She has received several the physical or mental prestigious honours for her transformation of characters education and cultural work. WED 21 OCT into other beings. Janis is also an author and she wrote her Douglas Mackay is fascinated first novel,Magnus Fin and Journey to by the natural confluence the Ocean Quest, while she of stories, landscape and was on a writer residency in the Mountain cultural traditions. Exploring Caithness, on Scotland’s north regenerative culture lead Source coast. The book was awarded him to the wild woods of with Geeta Ramanujam the Kelpies Prize 2009. Janis is Massachusetts in 2015 to currently doing a PhD on the Is there a spiritual dimension embark on a fortnight of theme of blending myth with to storytelling traditions? If coyote mentoring. Douglas life story, focusing on selkie so, where better to encounter returned to Scotland with legends as a path towards it than in the Indian sub- a question: which cultural wellbeing and soul retrieval. continent? Geeta Ramanujam tools and natural elements is a pioneer of the storytelling in Scotland can foster nature movement in India and in connection and community this workshop she takes us resilience today? What can back to the ancient roots be shared through friendship of her traditions in the and reconciliation to seed a Himalayas. In addition to sustainable culture and meet being an internationally the challenges of the renowned storyteller, Geeta 21st century? is an educator, academician
sisf.org.uk 19 bhuineas do dh’ eachdraidh MON 26 OCT TUE 27 OCT nan Gàidheal is gu leòr eile às àiteachan eile is mu Myths of the Living for bheatha dhaoine san latha an-diugh. Bheir iad ort gàire Corryvreckan the Sea a dhèanamh no a bhith Whirlpool with YouthLink Scotland air bhioran no caoineadh. & John Hamilton Bidh Màrtainn cuideachd a’ with Seoras Macpherson gabhail òran on dualchas is YouthLink Scotland is the & Stuart McHardy chì e iad-sin na stòiridhean is National Agency for youth The Corryvreckan, between ceòl is bàrdachd a bhith nam work. Over the last 18 months Jura and Scarba, is the world’s pàirtean dhen aon chèilidh – they have been delivering third largest whirlpool and a dhen aon fhearas-cuideachd the National Lottery Heritage deep source of mythological fhallain bhlàth. B’ e Màrtainn Funded project, On Our Wave connections. This workshop a’ chiad cho-òrdanaiche a bh’ Length, which is a youth-led enables a dialogue between air Tobar an Dualchais / Kist research project exploring storytelling traditions, of Riches is’s e fìor adhbhar environmental impacts archaeology and ecology. moit a th’ ann dha na chuir na on coastal communities. sgiobaidhean a lean fo dhìon Young researchers from Seoras Macpherson is a is an tairgse an t-sluaigh de across Scotland have been traditional seanchaí based ghuthan prìseil ar sìnnsearan. on the Isle of Skye. His stories exploring environmental come from family traditions issues that matter most to Martin MacIntyre has always passed down through many them and their communities, respected the power of oral generations in Skye and whether this be climate narrative to forge stronger Argyll. His repertoire is rich change, pollution, impacts connections between people with tales of fairies, water on wildlife, oceans and so on. and to achieve artistic and horses and the seal people. The young researchers are therapeutic results. His stories sharing their findings through include Ossianic wonder tales, Stuart McHardy has pioneered storytelling both nationally those based on the historical geo-mythography, studying and locally to help ensure traditions of the Scottish specific locations and their that their key messages are Highlands and further afield detailed features in the light spread throughout Scotland, and also modern stories of of storytelling traditions. He hopefully for years to come. adventure, love and humor. is a key collector of traditional A fluent Gaelic speaker, Martin Scots stories and has devoted sings traditionally and sees increasing time and energy WED 28 OCT storytelling as an integral to sharing this work through component of the holistic live storytelling. Much of ceilidh, which naturally the research Stuart has Tobar an includes stories, song, undertaken over the past Dualchais | Well music and poetry, to which decade and a half is based all can contribute. Martin upon material from the oral of Stories was the first coordinator of tradition, making the point with Màrtainn Mac an the Sabhal Mòr Ostaig led that oral tradition can provide t-Saoir | Martin MacIntyre Tobar an Dualchais / Kist of relevant and otherwise Riches project, which has Tha spèis air a bhith aig unavailable source material now digitised and made Màrtainn Mac an t-Saoir over centuries, if not millennia. accessible online thousands dha na sgeulachdan fad of hours of oral material in bhliadhnachan is mar a bheir Gaelic, Scots and English from iad daoine cruinn is a bheir the archives of the School of iad ioma seòrsa buannachd Scottish Studies, University of dhaibh. Bidh e ag innse Edinburgh; BBC Alba and The feadhainn na Fèinne cho National Trust for Scotland math ri feadhainn eile a Canna Collections.
20 Box office: 0131 556 9579 FRI 30 OCT The Earth Stories Collection with Grian Cutanda, Donald Smith & Earth Tellers Network This workshop opens a window onto the international effort to disseminate and learn from indigenous traditions, in the face of environmental crisis. Grian Cutanda is a researcher, educator, psychologist and author of 15 books. A social and environmental activist, he has been involved in the organisation of the People’s Climate March (Edinburgh, 2014) and in the creation of Extinction Rebellion in Spain and Mexico. Along with his wife Marta Ventura, Grian is also the founder of the Avalon Project - Initiative for a Culture of Peace, and of The Earth Stories Collection, a bank of traditional stories from all over the world. Donald Smith is Director of SISF, a community gardens activist and co-founder of Earth Story Tellers.
Grian Cutanda Photo by Marta Ventura
sisf.org.uk 21 GO LOCAL
In these unprecedented times we embrace, more than ever, the ethos of slow travel and invite you to rediscover the place you live in through stories and music. Find out more about local storytelling events in Edinburgh and across Scotland.
Heather Yule Photo by David McIntosh
22 Box office: 0131 556 9579 GO GO LOCAL EDINBURGH DAILY SUN 18 OCT MON 19 OCT LOCAL Storytelling Scuttlebutt Spirit of the Café Sessions Stories! Mountains In-person | Indoor Open-mic In-person | Indoor Online | Live Broadcast Scottish Storytelling Centre Padlox Escape Rooms 3pm (45mins) | Free (ticketed) 4pm (1hr 30) | £8 (£6) 4pm & 6pm (50mins) Beverley Bryant and Heather Rediscover the joy of ‘eye By donation | 12+ Yule share stories of female to eye, mind to mind and The Scuttlebutt was the spirits, goddesses and heart to heart’ storytelling. barrel of water kept on a giantesses who inhabit Wellbeing and connection ship’s deck and the place mountain ranges across the flows through these daily to meet to tell stories and world. Held in association with sessions as the core ethos, sing songs of the sea. Local the Petticoats and Pinnacles with a special guest storyteller storyteller Jan Bee Brown exhibition at the National and an open-floor section for and musician Toby Hawks Library of Scotland, join us audience participation. invite you to join them for for an exploration of Scottish Limited tickets available, some tall tales and spirited women who have climbed, advance booking shanties, a heady blend walked and written about recommended. Full listings of stories and songs of mountains. Hosted by the will be available online. the sea that link Scotland National Library of Scotland. and Scandinavia. Fill your Booking and Info: boots with whirlpools, www.nls.uk/events winds, witches and whales, SAT 17 OCT nautical nonsense and some curious Scandinavian string TUE 20 OCT Edinburgh instruments. Booking and Info: Old Town www.facebook.com/ Tales and Family Day setsailwithstories Traditions 07799 852 162 In-person | Outdoor [email protected] from Orkney Scottish Storytelling Centre Online | Live Broadcast 11am & 12.30pm (50mins) 3pm (45mins) | Free (ticketed) By donation (ticketed) All Ages Inspired by photographs from the MacKinnon Collection, Celebrate the start of the Tom Muir shares some of Storytelling Festival with the stories and lore of his a session of stories, songs native Orkney. Hosted by the and sunshine (yes please!) National Library of Scotland. outdoors, in the heart of Edinburgh’s Old Town. Booking and Info: Presented in partnership www.nls.uk/events with the Edinburgh Old Town Development Trust and subject to safety guidelines in October.
sisf.org.uk 23 education in ways that are still MON 19 & relevant today. Along the way, Storytelling TUE 20 OCT you will hear traditional tales from this part of the world, Walks tales that we might imagine In-person | Outdoor Enlightened a young Geddes heard at his mother’s knee, which may A bespoke series of story Eccentrics! have influenced his ideas walks around Edinburgh with Jan Bee Brown about living in harmony with locations, guided by 11am (1hr 30) | £10 (£8) the natural world. storytellers with expert knowledge and tales to From daring aeronauts and tell. Story walks will be in decidedly dodgy doctors to SAT 24 OCT small groups so advance stony-broke bankers and booking is recommended. dedicated drinkers, storyteller Jan Bee Brown will be drinking Caddie Capers All walks start from the a toast to some entrepreneurs with Macastory Scottish Storytelling Centre of the Enlightenment, inspired unless otherwise stated by social satirist John Kay. 11am & 1pm (45mins) | £5 | 5+ and are subject to Scottish Kay published his first caustic Join the Old Town Caddies as Government guidance in caricature in 1784 and his they take you for a tour the autumn period. biting wit and satirical style of Auld Reekie in story, song became so popular that he and rhyme. You’ll meet refurbished his barber shop, characters such as Deacon re-opening to sell his prints of Brodie and Aggie the Fish SUN 18 & his colourful clientele. There is Wife as the caddies lead FRI 23 OCT a story behind every print, you through the cobbled a song or two and many a streets and closes to share close shave… so walk this the secrets of old Edinburgh Scotland’s way for a jaunt around Kay’s with you! Interactive favourite haunts! storytelling with the always Democracy Trail entertaining Macastory. with Jean Bareham, Greenyonder Tours WED 21 & 11am (2hrs) | £10 (£8) WED 28 OCT Whether it’s IndyRef2, Brexit, Project Fear or Project Farce, how we do democracy is By Leaves We a hot topic in Scotland. Live: Patrick In 2014’s Independence Referendum, many thousands Geddes Story of people in Scotland even got enthusiastic about it! This Tour of the walking tour takes a gentle Old Town uphill path to the top of with Alette Willis Calton Hill to tell a 500-year- old story of democracy in 11am (1hr 30) | £10 (£8) Scotland, much of it almost Walk in the footsteps of the forgotten. Using the fabulous great Victorian polymath, views of the city, the tour will Patrick Geddes, who made show you the clues that live his home in St James court on in Edinburgh’s landscape. and shaped the community We then take a downhill stroll and gardens of the Old Town. to the Scottish Parliament Learn how Geddes’ ideas to bring the story right up shaped the fields of botany, to present day. ecology, town planning and Storytelling Walk Photo by Solen Collet
24 Box office: 0131 556 9579 SUN 25 & TUE 27 & WED 21 & 28, SAT 31 OCT FRI 30 OCT SAT 24 & 31 OCT
Black History The Witches Enchanted Walking Tour Walk Garden: Paths with Lea Taylor of Edinburgh & Mary Craig of Stories with Lisa Williams, Royal Botanic Garden 11am (1hr 30) | £10 (£8) Edinburgh Caribbean Edinburgh, West Gate & Association Take a wander with John Hope Gateway storytellers Lea Taylor and 11am (1hr 30) | £10 (£8) 1pm & 3pm (50mins) Mary Craig, walking where Free (ticketed) Hear the fascinating but little- the witches feared to tread! Tune in with nature and known stories of Edinburgh’s Passing St Giles Cathedral rediscover the pleasure of deep connections with Africa, and the National Library strolling amongst trees while Asia and the Caribbean over of Scotland, they will take listening to beautiful stories. the past 500 years. The walk you down Victoria Street to Scottish storytellers Amanda around the centre of the city the Grassmarket and then Edmiston, Daniel Allison, will make you see Edinburgh’s up again to the Witches’ Daniel Serridge and Jane statues and buildings in a Well by Edinburgh Castle. Mather will guide you on whole new way! In this fun, informative and storywalks through the Royal interactive walk, Lea and Botanic Garden unveiling the Mary will intrigue and delight untold stories of trees and you with the gore, the facts wildlife. All storywalks depart and fiction and a little more from the John Hope Gateway, besides. Bring umbrellas (this meeting at the Real Life is Scotland after all) and a Science Studio. willingness to take part! Booking and Info: 0131 248 2909
sisf.org.uk 25 GO LOCAL SCOTLAND
Clackman- Dumfries & Glasgow nanshire Galloway THU 22 OCT Alloa Dumfries MON 19 - FRI 9 - Sangs an’ SAT 24 OCT FRI 16 OCT Clatter: Campfire Tales Whispering Wild Goose In-person | Outdoors Waters Festival: Nature, Damshot Woods, Pollok. In-person | Outdoor and Creativity & Meet at The Village Online | Live broadcast Storytelling Centre, Place Langton Halls, Langton Road, Local storytellers Joanne Held in Dumfries and its Pollok, G53 5DD Dowd, Susan Chown, Jack surroundings, the Wild Goose 6pm (2hrs) | Free (ticketed), Stravaiger and Janet Crawford Festival uses the migratory donations welcome invite you to an enticing mix route of the Barnacle Geese A cosy evening of songs of watery tales. Join the Go between Svalbard and and tales around the Local online tales night, or the Solway Estuary to join campfire in Damshot Woods, the Spooky Story Walk from people, nature and ideas. In with special guest storytellers Tillicoultry to the haunted connection with the Scottish and musicians alongside Tait’s Tomb in Dollar. Enjoy International Storytelling regular Village storytellers. more stories at the interactive Festival and produced by Refreshments provided. story evening, or come along The Stove Network, the Wild Hosted by The Village to the Whispering Waters, Goose Festival unites key Storytelling Centre. Planned Live Saturday Story afternoon partners – WWT Caerlaverock with COVID-19 restrictions and hear about local legends Wetland Centre, Scottish in mind. of sea gods, maidens, mists, Natural Heritage, Moat Tickets and Info: wells and warlocks. Planned Brae Centre for Children’s with COVID-19 restrictions 0141 882 3025 Literature and Storytelling, [email protected] in mind. University of Glasgow, Booking and Info: Creative Futures and PAMIS www.facebook.com/ (Promoting a More Inclusive hillfootstales Society) – in an exploration Lanarkshire [email protected] of nature, creativity and place. Planned with COVID-19 OCT - NOV restrictions in mind. Programme and Info: www.thestove.org/wild- Doon the Watter goose-festival In-person | Outdoors Summerlee Museum of Industrial Life, Heritage Way, Coatbridge, ML5 1QD | Free From the Broomielaw Wharves we begin our journey down the River Clyde, or ‘doon the watter’, with storyteller and singer Gerry
26 Box office: 0131 556 9579 Durkin. Passengers gather on board for a trip calling at Greenock Princes Pier, Gourock, Dunoon and Rothesay before cruising into the Kyles, or up Loch Striven or possibly to Largs and around the Cumbraes. It’s the Fair Fortnight holiday, full to this day of memories, songs and nostalgia. But will the staycation bring it all back? And what exactly did ‘steaming’ mean on these journeys…? In partnership with the Summerlee Museum of Scottish Jan Bee Brown and Toby Hawks Industrial Life. Planned with Photo by Sheila Masson COVID-19 restrictions in mind. Tickets and Info: culturenl.co.uk/summerlee among those who came to meet magical beings who take its sulphurous waters, we believe will bless and heal visit the airy pavilion and us. Planned with COVID-19 promenade through the restrictions in mind. Highlands gardens. In 2007 five giant Booking and Info: statues appeared in the www.universalhall.co.uk SAT 28 NOV gardens, all related to local and Tickets can only be booked Highland legends. This short online film by Bob Pegg tells the Maelrubha’s Day stories of the statues and the Spa Gardens themselves. Online | Pre-recorded North East 3pm (6mins) | Free Aberdeen This short film by Bob Pegg Moray tells - in music and images - of SAT 3 OCT a day in the life of St Maelrubha, Findhorn the Irish monk who founded a monastery in Applecross over FRI 13 NOV Salty Tales fae 1300 years ago. Maelrubha spent his last days as a hermit Shore tae Sea on Isle Maree in the middle of In the Flow In-person | Outdoor or Loch Maree in Wester Ross, at Findhorn Online | Pre-recorded where the story is set. In-person | Indoors and Mercat Cross, Castle Street, Online | Live broadcast Aberdeen, AB11 5HP 2pm (2hrs) | Free (ticketed) Tales from Universal Hall, The Park, the Spa Findhorn, IV36 3TZ Smugglers, shipwrecks an ither 7.30pm (1hr 30) wattery happenins wi storyteller Gardens £10 (£5 children) Grace Banks. If possible, this will Adults and 10+ be a face-to-face event with Online | Pre-recorded a small audience, otherwise Join storytellers Peter Vallance, 3pm (20mins) | Free it will be pre-recorded and Margot Henderson and Carol presented online. Planned In Victorian times the village Scorer in a special evening of with COVID-19 restrictions of Strathpeffer in Ross-shire stories and songs. Following in mind. was the most northerly spa in VisitScotland’s theme of Coasts Britain. Florence Nightingale, and Waters, the storytellers Booking and Info: Robert Louis Stevenson and will take you on a voyage of www.facebook.com/GBanks22 George Bernard Shaw were discovery to other worlds to [email protected] sisf.org.uk 27 MON 12 OCT WED 28 OCT Cabrach SUN 25 OCT Sinister an A Tapestry of Spooky Stories Life – The Hills Old an New fae the North An In Atween Tales fae East Online | Pre-recorded The Cabrach Online | Open-mic 6.30pm | Free Online | Live broadcast Zoom The film wis inspired by Facebook Live 7pm (3hrs) | Free (ticketed) the question, ‘How can we @CabrachTrust Donations welcome support oor next generations 2pm (2hrs) | By donation t love an care for their land if Five of the North East’s A mix o auld an new stories they dinna hae a connection finest storytellers explore featurin the Blackwater an wi nature?’. Storytellers Grace the region’s darker side in a the Deveron wi Jackie Ross. Banks an Sheena Blackhall set collaborative online evening Presented live online from out on a journey wi pupils fae of sinister and spooky stories. The Cabrach. There may also four schools to explore the run Join us to learn of the North be a small audience allowed o the rivers o Dee an Don fae East’s ghosts and ghoulies, at the Acorn Centre in The the Cairngorms tae Aberdeen. its witches and warlocks. But Cabrach. Their wonder an discoveries don’t just listen – we want are woven throughout in Booking and Info: you to share your own tales thochts, pictures, poetry, sang www.facebook.com/ too. Whether you’re from an stories, agin a backdrop o CabrachTrust the North East or whether wunnerfu sichts an soonds [email protected] you’ve moved to Scotland fae river, land an sea. from elsewhere, we want to know the spooky stories you’ve grown up with, or Ballater Orkney maybe even experienced yourself. The event is open to SUN 18 OCT THU 22 – all brave souls. With Jackie Ross, Grace Banks, Sheena SUN 25 OCT Blackhall, Pauline Cordiner Tales Fae and Diane Peers. Hosted by the Elphinstone Institute, the Clachan Orkney University of Aberdeen. Online | Pre-recorded Storytelling Booking and Info: www.abdn.ac.uk/elphinstone/ Facebook Live Festival public-engagement/scottish- @storiesfaethehowe 2pm (2hrs) | Free Online | Live broadcast and international-storytelling- Online | Pre-recorded festival Come an jyne Sheena The small festival with a big [email protected] Blackhall online for an entertainin efterneen o sangs, heart has reached its 11th stories an poems fae Ballater edition this year, featuring an there aboots. Filmed a blend of pre-recorded at Deeside Inn, Ballater, storytelling and live-streamed streamed live on Facebook. events where local storytellers Info: [email protected] can observe social distancing. At this time of uncertainty and the disturbing increase in hate speech and violence in some sectors of society, stories are more important than ever. Why? Because they
28 Box office: 0131 556 9579 bring people together. They carry our values and THU 29 OCT West Lothian morality. They are inclusive to all people, as human beings. OCTOBER - As the old Scots saying goes, The Song ‘Wir a’ Jock Tamson’s bairns’. of Tatha NOVEMBER Booking and Info: In-person | Indoors and/or www.orkneystorytelling Online | Live broadcast festival.co.uk From the Avon Aberfeldy Town Hall, to the Almond 2 Crieff Rd, Aberfeldy – The Forth’s Perthshire PH15 2BJ 6.30pm (1hr) Forgotten In-person: £5 (£3) | Online: £5 Aberfeldy Adults and 10+ Waters FRI 23, SAT 24 Water has memory. Held in In-person | Outdoors the rivers, lochs and burns of & SUN 25 OCT Breadalbane are many stories. Various Locations | Free Tales of urisks, gruagachs, Two long rivers wind from kelpies and water spirits offer central Scotland through Of Kelpies, us a glimpse of the deep West Lothian to the Firth of Crannogs interconnection between Forth. They are flowing with these elemental beings, the ecological and historical and Urisks land and the people who surprises, and are both part of have made this their home. a major conservation effort. In-person | Indoors Storytellers and musicians Why not get out and about Scottish Crannog Centre, Claire Hewitt, Ceit Langhorne on a guided or self-guided Aberfeldy PH15 2HY and Munro Gauld, inspired by route to explore these often 6pm (1hr) | £5 (£4 seniors the River Tay and Highland forgotten rivers? See signs of and children 5-16) Perthshire’s rich collection of shy creatures, reviving rivers and hidden history of our past. As the dark winter nights stories, songs and music, offer draw in, come join us round you a magical and unique Delivered with the RiverLife: the fire at twilight at the evening set in a specially Almond & Avon project, part Scottish Crannog Centre, created multi-sensory space. of the Forth Rivers Trust. beside the waters of Loch Tay, The event is part of a project Supported by the National for a feast of stories and music in collaboration with the Lottery Heritage Fund. Scottish Crannog Centre and to warm the heart. For three Tickets and Info: TRACS - Traditional Arts and evenings, storytellers Graham www.forthriverstrust.org Liney and Claire Hewitt, Culture Scotland, supported with musician Munro Gauld, by The Andy Hunter Bursary. will weave a magical spell Booking and Info: of ancient tales connected www.birkscinema.co.uk/ to Highland Perthshire’s community-hub watery elemental beings, in a celebration of community and kindness. Each gathering will last one hour and will comply in accordance with all safe distancing regulations in place at the time. Booking and Info: www.crannog.co.uk
sisf.org.uk 29 FEED THE GREEN SHOOTS! Donate to the Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Storytellers, musicians and dancers are working across Scotland to nourish the sustainable communities of the future. You can support the work of TRACS (Traditional Arts and Culture Scotland) by making a one-off donation, helping to enrich the traditional arts community as we struggle to recover from the Coronavirus pandemic. Photo by Peter Dibdin Our online festival events are mainly free, but if you are in a position to donate our suggested donation is £5 per event.
As a registered charity we rely on the generous support of our friends, funders, sponsors and trusts. We could not do what we do without your help.
Thank you! Photo by Colin Hattersley
To donate please go to sisf.org.uk
30 Box office: 0131 556 9579 THROUGH THE ROUND WINDOW
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Scottish Storytelling Centre 43-45 High Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1SR 0131 556 9579 www.scottishstorytellingcentre.com
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Box office: 0131 556 9579 | sisf.org.uk | #SISFInTheFlow
Traditional Arts and Culture Scotland (SCIO, SC043009) is a collaborative alliance designed to improve the knowledge, practice, development and advocacy of Scotland’s traditional arts in a contemporary world. TRACS brings together the Scottish Storytelling Forum (SC020891), Traditional Dance Forum of Scotland (SC045085) and Traditional Music Forum (SC042867). TRACS is currently based at the Scottish Storytelling Centre.
Our Partners
Special thanks to Edinburgh partners: National Library of Scotland, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, Edinburgh UNESCO City of Literature, Padlox Escape Rooms, Edinburgh Caribbean Association, Edinburgh Old Town Development Trust and Greenyonder Tours.
Special thanks to regional partners: Orkney Storytelling Festival, Wild Goose Festival, Elphinstone Institute, The Village Storytelling Centre, Universal Hall, Hillfoots Tales, The Cabrach Trust, Aberfeldy Town Hall, Scottish Crannog Centre, Birks Cinema, RiverLife, Forth Rivers Trust and the Summerlee Museum of Scottish Industrial Life.
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