Scottish Storytelling Centre

26/04/2025

Join us for some fantastic family events during Edinburgh Tradfest...

On Saturday 3rd May our friends from Beltane Fire Society are in the building! In the morning, they'll be painting faces and decorating masks ahead of the May Day Parade, followed by Family Beltane in the afternoon. Share the magic of the Beltane story with little ones through storytelling, face painting and arts & crafts.

On Sunday 4th May come together with family and friends to dance Scottish dances and sing well-known songs with the Minnow Ceilidh Band at our Family Ceilidh.

On May Day Monday Claire and Fergus McNicol invite you back in time to Auld Reekie for a lively, family-friendly session of traditional street games, playful rhymes, toe-tapping songs, and captivating tales in Hip Hop Story Stop! Old Edinburgh Street Games & Stories.

Rounding off the week on Sunday 10th May storyteller Ailie Finlay from My Kind of Book on a fun-packed, sensory adventure of Sunshine Stories and Sensory Play! A fun and engaging session for everyone but particularly suitable for children with additional needs and their families and friends.

More info and tickets available here
https://shorturl.at/eIAp6

24/04/2025

We kick off Edinburgh Tradfest next Friday with MAIK a brand new folk duo from either side of the Scotland/England border. Jamie Cook and Kirsty Law have joined forces to bring some of their most beloved songs together. MAIK's performance will be preceded by a support slot from Jemima Thewes.

On Sunday 4th May Cinematic-folk duo Dowally and innovative French drummer Philippe Boudot celebrate the release of their album Ici et Là-Bas, recorded last year in Edinburgh.

Tuesday 6th sees our monthly Café Ceilidh with friends from the Scots Music Group! An afternoon session held in the relaxed setting of the Storytelling Court. All welcome to listen or bring a tune for a turn.

Then on Wednesday evening join Sangstream Scots Folk Choir for Let Them Be Heard, Songs from the people of Scotland; voices of the excluded, the marginalised, the feared and the fearful, the enchanted and the enchanters, the mothers, the fathers, the workers, the children... let them all be heard.

More info & 🎟️ https://shorturl.at/eIAp6

22/04/2025

TRACS - Traditional Arts and Culture Scotland is looking for a committed, dynamic and experienced Chair to lead its Board of Trustees from Autumn 2025.

🌟 TRACS (Traditional Arts and Culture Scotland) is looking for a committed, dynamic and experienced Chair to lead its Board of Trustees from Autumn 2025.

⏰ Expressions of interest by 5pm, Fri 30 May
🔗 More info - link in comments below

Know someone who'd be a great fit? Please share!

21/04/2025

Happy Easter! 🐰🐣🌸🥚🐥

The eagle eyed of you will notice our reception friends 'Babs' the Pidgeon from Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2018 campaign & pals change outfits seasonally thanks to our wonderful technician Maria!

Today aptly donning an accompanied by the & Chicks - Maria is looking for ideas for them, let us know yours in the comments!

14/04/2025

Do you fancy learning something new?
We’ve a whole host of workshops coming up, here’s a few below!

On Saturday 19th April, the whole family can set sail to Pirates, Stories & Songs of the High Seas with Joss Cameron Folk Singer! Join Joss for a sea-faring workshop with hands on experience that brings maritime history and songs to life. Part of Northern Streams Festival 2025.

Scottish Storytelling Forum (TRACS) present Starting with Stories with Ruth Kirkpatrick on Saturday 26th April; a hands-on, practical introduction for new and aspiring tellers!

And on Saturday 10th May; Storytelling for Musicians - for musicians who want to be better storytellers on stage! Learn how to improve your patter and song introductions with some basic rules of storytelling. An interactive and fun session led by experienced musician and storyteller David Francis. Part of Edinburgh Tradfest, presented by Traditional Music Forum.

More information and all workshop tickets available via our website https://shorturl.at/M6irE

08/04/2025

Join us on Thursday for Q***r Folks' Tales

Household names feature alongside new and diverse q***r storytellers from the different communities of Scotland. Many of the stories told in the Q***r Folks’ Tales evenings will be true stories of LGBTQ+ experience in Scotland today. Hosted by Edinburgh’s Turan Ali, who is joined in April by Edinburgh spoken word artist Bee Asha, Glasgow based indie-folk musician Finn Brodie and Edinburgh based stand up Sam Lake - Comedian.

Limited 🎟 left https://shorturl.at/1lrk3

03/04/2025

Let it Bring Hope, Let it Be a Tale: Stories from Palestine
Sun 6 Apr | 3pm | £5

Hear from David Heathfield - Storyteller who is joined on Sunday by Jackie Ross to retell beautiful Palestinian folk tales for adults and families, alongside online theatre expert Haneen Jadallah from Gaza.

They are also joined live and online by Young International Storytellers from Palestine who will also share some stories with us.

We look forward to welcoming you all!

🎟 https://shorturl.at/d09Hj

01/04/2025

On Saturday night join a live album recording for The Gathering Quartet , a brand-new European traditional string group.

The performance will be the product of their first week-long exchange of music from Ukraine, Scotland, England and Sweden.

The Gathering Quartet members:

Olena Yeremenko - fiddle (Ukraine)
Luisa Brown - fiddle, octave fiddle (Scotland)
Louis Bingham - guitar, bouzouki, cittern, mandolin (England)
Mats Nystam - bouzouki, mandolin (Sweden)

More info & Tickets https://shorturl.at/1yQLI

27/03/2025

On Sunday 6th April, Storytellers David Heathfield - Storyteller, Jackie Ross and online theatre expert Haneen Jadallah from Gaza are joined live online by Young International Storytellers from Palestine to retell beautiful Palestinian folk tales for adults and families.

The tales are all learned from children, teenagers and their teachers and are part of the ongoing voluntary project Tell a Child in Gaza's Tale.

On Saturday 5th, Explore and address challenging global issues through telling powerfully simple traditional wisdom tales from the world's oral cultures. What we learn from these tales is not just what happens in a story but how we respond to it, both individually and collectively. Creative response offers us insights about how we could make the world better.

Storytelling for a Better World: Workshop with David Heathfield

More info & tickets https://shorturl.at/autdW

13/03/2025

✨The fantastic Storyteller Niall Moorjani just popped in to say hi and has kindly signed copies of their book ‘Rajiv’s Starry Feelings’! ✨

“Did you know that constellations are ancient maps that help explorers find their way?”

Rajiv has feelings for everything. He can feel confident. He can feel happy. He can feel silly. But today, he feels angry and he doesn’t know why. With the help of his father, he sets out on a journey to make sense of his feelings. It is a journey that will take him to a park, then up into the branches of a tree, and from there all the way to the stars . . .

Beautifully told and stunningly illustrated by Nanette Regan Illustration, this extraordinary story will help children everywhere explore the complex emotions we all feel but cannot always name.

11/03/2025

*Tomorrow Night*
Come and enjoy live storytelling in a relaxed setting, where amazing apprentice storytellers show off their skills.

Our March session celebrates Scotland's stories, so expect a wide range of traditional tales, myths, legends and more.

With guest storytellers Mary Baxter, Freya McCall, Ryan Martin, Sophie McCarthy, Rich Mitchell, Lababa Naqvi, Katie Proven and Nina Willms.

Hosted by Janis Mackay - Author.

🎟️https://shorturl.at/UfNe1

07/03/2025

It’s a beautiful spring morning and our new exhibition of recent work by MIKE TURPIE ART AND BAGPIPES is now on display in the Storytelling Court. Featuring some fantastic works from places all across Edinburgh the Storytelling Court is awash with light and colour!
We look forward to welcoming you to see it for yourself!

06/03/2025

📚 Happy World Book Day (UK & Ireland) ! 📚

To mark the occasion we asked the team to share some of their favourite books:

Libby our Visitor Services Officer has chosen Scotland Her Story! She said “This is a great book for history lovers that explores Scotland’s past through the women who lived it.”

Ásta our Head of Operations selected some illustrated treasuries saying “I absolutely adore Theresa Breslin, Author’s Treasuries of Scottish tales and legends and their gorgeous illustrations by Kate Leiper.”

Daniel our Head of Programming said
“I’ve chosen George Mackay Brown’s A Time to Keep (and Other Stories), from our collection in the George Mackay Brown Reference Library, which is packed full of great stories just like these!”

Finally, we’ve had a visit from The Book Fairies did you catch them this morning on BBC 1 - Morning Live Show? Perhaps you noticed some familiar spaces including our Library and The Haggis Box Cafe!

Happy Reading!

04/03/2025

🖼️Exhibition: Recent Work by MIKE TURPIE ART AND BAGPIPES | Sat 8-Sun 30 Mar | Free non-ticketed 🖼️

On Saturday join us at 2pm to celebrate the launch of Mike's new exhibition with a open session of Trad music.

All welcome in the Storytelling Court!



ℹ️ shorturl.at/AjGN1