THE Scottish International Storytelling Festival (SISF) has launched its largest ever programme of events.
The festival gets under way on October 14 and will run until October 31, with more than 240 events dedicated to the tradition of oral storytelling in Scotland.
The programme is centred around the theme of Keep It Lit and seeks to attract as many visitors as possible to the festival’s symbolic fireside.
Scots Speaker of the Year Marjolein Robertson is set to tell a story dating back to the 800s, with The Story of Auslag – a historical, mythological saga that features Shetlandic language as well as landscapes.
Storyteller Aine King and musician/composer Eric Linklater will invite audiences to Hotel Caledonia, which draws together stories from all over the world spanning genres and even getting some of the guests involved.
The programme also features an extensive list of events in Gaelic, including one with Gaelic singer and researcher Ceit Langhorne that shares lesser-known Perthshire Gaelic songs and the stories behind them.
From further afield storytellers Julie Pellissier-Lush and John Shaw will speak about the stories and traditions from North America’s First Nations Mi’kmaq, who handed down their culture through oral tradition.
Daniel Abercrombie, associate director of SISF said: “It’s really exciting to be approaching this year’s Scottish International Storytelling Festival, in Scotland’s Year of Stories 2022 no less. We’ve put together our biggest programme ever, with events happening all over Scotland, from Dumfries to Unst.
“This year’s festival is all about keeping the tradition of oral storytelling alive, and passing that torch from the past to the present. The programme is piled high with classic folk tales and fables, as well as exciting new commissions from contemporary storytellers, including storyteller and comedian Marjolein Robertson, writer/producer Aisha Josiah, and storyteller Shona Cowie.
“The glow of stories is a warm one during times like these, and we wanted everyone to feel welcome to come along and share in a tale or two. To that end we have over 140 free events in our programme, plus our Festival Pass which gives a discount to paid events at the Scottish Storytelling Centre here in Edinburgh.”
To see the full programme and find details on how to buy tickets visit the SISF website.
