***** (5 stars)
“Immensely varied”
I didn’t need to be bribed with coffee and pastries to attend the launch of this year’s festival – but I have to say they were both delicious – as is the feast contained in the festival programme!
A goodly crowd assembled in the main storytelling court of the Scottish Storytelling Centre, enjoying the refreshments and chatting very loudly, obviously excited both to reconnect with friends and colleagues and looking forward to finding out what’s on offer this year. We were serenaded on the clarsach by Niall, whose talent and versatility deserved to be heard in silence…
And then we went down into the Netherbow Theatre, where Steve Byrne, chief executive of TRACS [Traditional Arts and Culture Scotland] welcomed us all. It’s the 20th anniversary of the opening of the Storytelling Centre [and of the creation of the National Theatre of Scotland, did we know?]. The Scottish Storytelling Forum was founded in 1992 – who could have foreseen than that this year’s SISF would have over 200 events, not simply in Edinburgh but all over Scotland?
Daniel Abercrombie has taken over from the wonderful Donald Smith [with whom I had the pleasure of working rather more years ago than I care to admit] as director of this, the 37th International Storytelling Festival. What is storytelling? he is often asked – it’s so many things, isn’t it? Connection between human beings – eye to eye, mind to mind, heart to heart; being present to each other; really listening; welcoming and sharing; feeling the JOY – all the things you can experience in a good Scottish ceilidh. This year’s Festival stretches across the whole of Scotland – the whole country could be seen as a ceilidh.
Storytelling can be entertaining, subversive, inspire societal change, transmit knowledge and wisdom from generation to generation. This year’s theme Bird and Beast brings us together and invites us to respect and celebrate our planet and the natural world we live in and are inextricably bound to. The heron that graces the front cover of the festival programme is a symbol of patience and stillness – the moments in which we can feel the magic and make connections. It is also seen as a bridge between the elements of water, earth and air – and the Otherworld…
The programme is immensely varied, and I’m very sorry to be out of the country for the first six days – otherwise I think I’d be at one or more shows just about every day! As it is, there are so many things I want to see…
It’s the Chinese year of the Horse – so there are horse tales and kelpie tales; the Bird of Truth has stories from Lithuania [and book smuggling!]; Italian tales have stories of horses, myths of birds and legends of snakes. The Antler and the Wing; Oh those inspiring Cows!; Stanley’s Beasts an Birds; Sheep Stanes and so much more… I’m really sorry to miss Warrior/Poet which weaves together the Celtic myth of Mad Sweeney and the Pollok Free State [who knew??? Not me!] Two Scottish epic storytelling cycles surround Columba and his journeyings and the magic and mayhem, mystery and full-blooded emotion surrounding Fionn, Gráinne, Diarmuid, Ossian, Niamh and others, which I’m really interested to hear. Of stars, bears and the beginning of time is also on my hit list!
There are guest storytellers, international guests, exhibitions, workshops… there are Emerging Storytellers, family events, the Big Scottish Story Ripple and the Go Local programme…and for me a fascinating experience of Deaf storytelling. The whole presentation was signed in BSL – something we take for granted in so many situations these days – as we watch the glorious combination of facial expression, gesture, and body language BSL uses. What I’ve never experienced before is Deaf storytelling. Tania Allan explained to us the importance of storytelling for Deaf people: answering a question is never straightforward because the whole story surrounding the question is also a part of the answer. She then told us a story from Italy, where she grew up, about sheep, a goat, a sheepdog and a shepherd, with a voiced interpretation for those of us who don’t have BSL.
It was a wonderful demonstration of the inclusivity of this Festival. I could go on – and on – but won’t. I’ll finish by saying there’s going to be something in the programme to suit you, to suit you and yours, and to get you up and out and joining in this explosion of creativity, inspiration and sharing. Get your tickets now!!!
Bird and Beast Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2026, Launch Event, Scottish Storytelling Centre, Edinburgh. The festival will run from the 21st to 31st October at venues across the city for more information go to: Home – Scottish International Storytelling Festival
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