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(Jun 2025-Apr 2026) To mark its 100th birthday, the National Library of Scotland presents a special exhibition. Made in collaboration with partners across the country, this love letter to libraries will intrigue, energise, and galvanise you. You’ll leave with a whole new perspective on how libraries can help you, and how you can help them. Browse bookshelves in an open reading room filled with recommendations from the public and well-known Scottish figures. See libraries in popular culture, protest banners and badges, vintage film footage, and more. ~~~~~ The Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025 tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky! Purchase a Storytelling Festival Pass and make the most of the Festival programme! Buy A Pass
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
National Library of Scotland
(Sat 27 Sep-Wed 5 Nov) This stunning collection of ink illustrations and ceramics by emerging artist Hester Aspland draws lines between traditional stories and wild places. Atmospheric, observational landscape studies and explorations into folklore and fairy tales inform detailed, textural works which blend inspiration from the Golden Age of Illustration with a contemporary focus on the connections between women and nature. Book illustrations for projects working with the stories of Duncan Williamson and Tom Muir are shown alongside other evocative works traversing the landscapes and stories of Scotland, Iceland, Ireland and the Faroe Islands. ~~~~~ The Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025 tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky! Purchase a Storytelling Festival Pass and make the most of the Festival programme! Buy A Pass
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Storytelling Court
(Thu 2 Oct, Fri 3 Oct & Sat 4 Oct - Stranraer, Moffat, Hawick) A 400-million-year-old stone reveals layers of mystery and resonance. Mairi Campbell blends live music and song with visual art, highlighting the mystery and beauty of everyday life. Co-created with director Kath Burlinson and composer Dave Gray. Thu 2 Oct at Ryan Centre, StranraerFri 3 Oct at Moffat Theatre, MoffatSat 4 Oct at Heart of Hawick, Hawick ~~~~~ Discover a rich programme of local storytelling events, from the southwest to the very north of Scotland through Go Local as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025. The Festival tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky!
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Regional Events
(Fri 3 Oct-Wed 19 Nov - Aberdeen) Join us for a jamboree of stories from Aberdeen and beyond. With special guests Mimesis Heidi Dahlsveen (Norway) and Martin MacIntyre (Scotland), joined by local storytellers Phyll McBain, Jackie Ross, Grace Banks, Pauline Cordiner, Cara Silversmith and many more. Hosted by GAS (Grampian Association of Storytellers) and Elphinstone Institute. ~~~~~ Discover a rich programme of local storytelling events, from the southwest to the very north of Scotland through Go Local as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025. The Festival tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky!
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Regional Events
(Fri 3 Oct: 7pm - Peterculter) A wonderful evening of stories, music and song celebrating the bothy culture of rural North East Scotland. Join ballad singer Allan Taylor, fiddler Karin Paterson, and storytellers Phyll McBain and Jackie Ross for a cèilidh of land, laughter, and a hearty dollop of Doric! Hosted by GAS (Grampian Association of Storytellers) and Elphinstone Institute. At St Peter’s Heritage Hall, Howie Ln, AB14 0PU. ~~~~~ Discover a rich programme of local storytelling events, from the southwest to the very north of Scotland through Go Local as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025. The Festival tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky! Purchase a Storytelling Festival Pass and make the most of the Festival programme! Buy A Pass
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Regional Events
(Fri 10 Oct: 7pm - Peterculter) Storyteller Grace Banks will regale us with tales and myths of the Faroes, Greenland and Norway. She will then take us on a sensory safari to explore a little of the natural world around us. Hosted by GAS (Grampian Association of Storytellers) and Elphinstone Institute. At St Peter’s Heritage Hall, Howie Ln, AB14 0PU. ~~~~~ Discover a rich programme of local storytelling events, from the southwest to the very north of Scotland through Go Local as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025. The Festival tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky!
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Regional Events
(Sat 11 & Sun 12 Oct: 11am, 12pm, 1pm & 2pm - Scottish Storytelling Centre) Step into a soft, sensory storytelling experience, following the incredible journey of the Painted Lady Butterfly. Every year she travels 9000 miles all over the world ensuring the survival of her entire species. Impossible to complete alone, the journey happens across five generations. Through puppetry, participation and play, Fibi Cowley shows us what we can learn from this incredible creature, and how past generations can inspire us to make the world a better place. ~~~~~ Join us in the school holidays and across the Festival for a selection of storytelling performances and events for all the family as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025. The Festival tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky! Purchase a Storytelling Festival Pass and make the most of the Festival programme! Buy A Pass
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
George Mackay Brown Library
(Tue 14 Oct: 7:30pm - Kincraig) Come along to our all-age community show for sharing storytelling, music, poetry and art, as we celebrate the Lights of the North. Featuring Lithuanian stories by guest storyteller Daiva Ivanauskaitė-Brown. At Kincraig Church Hall, The Brae, PH21 1QD. ~~~~~ Discover a rich programme of local storytelling events, from the southwest to the very north of Scotland through Go Local as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025. The Festival tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky!
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Regional Events
(Wed 15-Sat 25 Oct - Alloa) Welcome to Clackmannanshire! At the heart of our festival is community, family, local history and wellbeing. Join us for the familiar and the unexpected. We will tell some spooky stories, share local legends, introduce the ‘Wee Folk’ in our folklore and enrich the stories with crafty activities. Featuring guest storyteller Jess Smith and local storytellers Joanne Dowd, Eleanor Bell and many more. Hosted by Hillfoots Tales. Wed 15 Oct - Cats, Spiders and Funny HatsSat 18 Oct - Her Story with CraftsThu 23 Oct - Wild HistorySat 25 Oct - Mini Cats, Spiders and Funny Hats ~~~~~ Discover a rich programme of local storytelling events, from the southwest to the very north of Scotland through Go Local as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025. The Festival tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky!
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Regional Events
(Wed 15, Thu 16 & Fri 17 Oct, drop-in from 10:30am) The event blends papercut craft and traditional storytelling to honour the awe-inspiring migration of barn swallows and swifts between Scotland and Africa. Participants will create paper insects and birds with local artist Ed Harrison, brought to life through performances by African folklorist Chief Gift Amu and Scottish bard Cara Silversmith. Presented in partnership with the National Museum of Scotland. ~~~~~ The Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025 tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky! Purchase a Storytelling Festival Pass and make the most of the Festival programme! Buy A Pass
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
National Museum of Scotland
(Wed 15 Oct: 2pm) Prepare to become a Skald, a Viking poet storyteller. Join storytellers extraordinaire Macastory for a daring adventure... YOURS! With Macastory’s help, create your own mini-saga, learn it and tell it in the style of the ancient Viking Skalds. Prepare for sea monsters, battles and even a visit from the gods. Cast the mystical story runes, then it’s up to you what happens next! ~~~~~ Join us in the school holidays and across the Festival for a selection of storytelling performances and events for all the family as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025. The Festival tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky! Purchase a Storytelling Festival Pass and make the most of the Festival programme! Buy A Pass
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Storytelling Court
(Thu 16 Oct: 11am & 12pm - Dollar) If you go down to the woods today... who will you meet? Adventure through the trees with storytellers Mio Shudo and Lindsey Gibb as they share tales of marvellous and mythical woodland creatures from around the world. At Japanese Garden at Cowden, Upper Hillfoot Rd, FK14 7PL. ~~~~~ Discover a rich programme of local storytelling events, from the southwest to the very north of Scotland through Go Local as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025. The Festival tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky!
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Regional Events
(Fri 17-Sun 26 Oct - Dumfries) Our annual festival celebrates the inspirational journey undertaken by the geese from Svalbard to Scotland, and uses them and other migratory species as a sign to deepen our connection with the natural world. We aim to engage our communities through creativity, education and play, building meaningful relationships and encouraging people across generations to reconnect with the environment they live in. Hosted by The Stove Network. ~~~~~ Discover a rich programme of local storytelling events, from the southwest to the very north of Scotland through Go Local as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025. The Festival tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky!
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Regional Events
(Fri 17 Oct: 2pm) A girl faces a dragon. Songs and stories are her weapons and her armour. Join storyteller Daiva Ivanauskaitė-Brown for a magical tale about courage and dreams. This performance brings together tales and tunes from Lithuania and Scotland, with live music from Gaynor Barradell. ~~~~~ Join us in the school holidays and across the Festival for a selection of storytelling performances and events for all the family as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025. The Festival tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky! Purchase a Storytelling Festival Pass and make the most of the Festival programme! Buy A Pass
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Netherbow Theatre
(Fri 17 Oct: 7:30pm - Crail) Norwegian storyteller, historian and author Thor Ewing takes us on a rare journey to the northern realms, diving deep into Icelandic sagas and Viking myths. Accompanied by lyre, flute and drum, he will regale us with ancient tales of Odin, Asgarth and Balder. Storyteller Riikka Palonen from Sweden and musician Richard Clarke will set the scene with Nordic songs and ballads. At Crail Community Hall, St Andrews Rd, KY10 3UH. ~~~~~ Discover a rich programme of local storytelling events, from the southwest to the very north of Scotland through Go Local as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025. The Festival tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky!
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Regional Events
(Sat 18 Oct: 2pm) What makes a good story...?! Join storyteller Nicola Wright for cliffhangers, love stories and rags-to-riches tales, bringing 900 years of Edinburgh’s history vividly to life through the eyes of young people. Stories so wild you cannot make them up! For young people (and their adults) with an ear for a story! Supported by the City of Edinburgh Council 900 fund. ~~~~~ Join us in the school holidays and across the Festival for a selection of storytelling performances and events for all the family as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025. The Festival tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky! Purchase a Storytelling Festival Pass and make the most of the Festival programme! Buy A Pass
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
George Mackay Brown Library
(Sat 18 Oct: 4pm - Strathpeffer) Join storytellers Lizzie McDougall and Sunny Moodie, with clàrsach player Siannie Moodie and musician Nick Jenkins, for an afternoon of music and stories in the ancestral home of the Chief of Clan MacKenzie. The fine portraits on the walls echo with past adventures, making it a very special place to enjoy tales and tunes evoking this rich history. Tickets are limited, please book in advance. At Castle Leod, IV14 9AA. ~~~~~ Discover a rich programme of local storytelling events, from the southwest to the very north of Scotland through Go Local as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025. The Festival tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky!
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Regional Events
(Sat 18 Oct: 6:45pm) BLOOM is a dance performance and personal story from Tokyo-born, Scotland based Percussive Step Dancer Kae Sakurai. This lyrical and innovative work blends expressive percussive dance with original music inspired by tradition, complemented by poetic video projections. BLOOM will delight, refresh and inspire. After the show join us for a fun-filled evening of Ceilidh dancing, a lively Scottish tradition perfect for all ages and abilities! No experience? No problem! Our friendly caller will guide you through the steps, ensuring everyone feels confident and ready to dance. Running orderPerformance 35minInterval 30minsCeilidh: 45 mins ~~~~~ Join us in the school holidays and across the Festival for a selection of storytelling performances and events for all the family as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025. The Festival tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky! Purchase a Storytelling Festival Pass and make the most of the Festival programme! Buy A PassFunded by Creative Scotland’s Touring Fund for Theatre and Dance.
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Netherbow Theatre
(Sun 19 Oct: 1pm) Come with family and friends to dance Scottish dances and sing well-known songs with the Minnow Cèilidh Band. All dances will be called and there’ll be easy-to-follow circles for wee ones. A fun introduction to sociable dancing with live music. ~~~~~ Join us in the school holidays and across the Festival for a selection of storytelling performances and events for all the family as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025. The Festival tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky! Purchase a Storytelling Festival Pass and make the most of the Festival programme! Buy A Pass
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Storytelling Court
(Wed 22 Oct: 6pm) A mythical journey through the celestial origin stories of the Fenno-Baltic tradition, told by Finnish-born storyteller Riikka Palonen, accompanied by folk musician Richard Clarke. Modern science tells us we were born from stardust, but how did the ancient people in the north know that? Elemental tales like these remind us that we share this planet, alongside bears, cranes and wolves, but who told the first stories? This performance will be interpreted in British Sign Language. ~~~~~ The Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025 tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky! Purchase a Storytelling Festival Pass and make the most of the Festival programme! Buy A Pass
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Netherbow Theatre
(Wed 22 Oct: 8pm) Our Open Hearth sessions gather together storytellers and musicians for a relaxed evening of stories and music in the Netherbow Theatre. As the darkness closes in and minds glow with pictures in the symbolic fire, this is the perfect way to end your day! Featuring Beverley Bryant, Mimesis Heidi Dahlsveen and Colin Urwin, with musician Marit Fält. ~~~~~ The Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025 tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky! Purchase a Storytelling Festival Pass and make the most of the Festival programme! Buy A Pass
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Netherbow Theatre
(Thu 23-Sun 26 Oct - Orkney) The small festival with a big heart gives you a warm welcome to a four-day celebration of traditional stories in beautiful places all around the islands. Featuring daily performances of guest storytellers Hjörleifur Stefánsson from Iceland and Jerker Fahlström from Sweden, joined by local storytellers Tom Muir, Fran Flett Hollinrake, Marita Luck, Erin Farley and Chris Perry. Come and join an island cèilidh! ~~~~~ Discover a rich programme of local storytelling events, from the southwest to the very north of Scotland through Go Local as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025. The Festival tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky!
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Regional Events
(Thu 23-Fri 31 Oct - Glasgow) The Village Storytelling Centre presents a lively series of events celebrating all kinds of stories, from traditional folk tales to autobiographical, from myths and legends to chilling ghost tales. Special guests Hjörleifur Stefánsson and Mima Merrow join local storytellers in a Glasgow cèilidh. Thu 23 Oct - Sangs an’ Clatter: Emerging Voices in StorytellingFri 24 Oct - What We Talk about When We Talk about Life & Three Voices: Stories in GlasgowMon 27 Oct - Community Sangs an’ ClatterFri 31 Oct - The Village Storytelling Centre’s Halloween Parade ~~~~~ Discover a rich programme of local storytelling events, from the southwest to the very north of Scotland through Go Local as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025. The Festival tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky!
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Regional Events
(Thu 23 Oct: 10:30am) Scotland’s storytelling tradition has been nurtured by decades of fieldwork by folklorists, capturing the wealth of our intangible cultural heritage and bridging the gap between the past, present, and future. In this engaging and hands-on workshop, storytellers will learn how to explore, interpret, and creatively incorporate sound archives and field recordings into their craft. We’ll also delve into ethical considerations for sourcing and acknowledging materials, honouring the voices of our forebears with respect and care, ensuring the tradition thrives for generations to come. With TRACS CEO Steve Byrne. ~~~~~ The Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025 tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky! Purchase a Storytelling Festival Pass and make the most of the Festival programme! Buy A Pass
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Training Venue at SSC
(Thu 23 Oct: 11:15am - North Dell) Storytellers Ian Stephen and Magaidh Smith share and compare stories of North Atlantic islands. Magaidh will contribute Gaelic versions of some of the tales. The event is part of the maritime programme Fèis na Fairge. At Comunn Eachdraidh Nis, HS2 0SN. ~~~~~ Discover a rich programme of local storytelling events, from the southwest to the very north of Scotland through Go Local as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025. The Festival tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky!
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Regional Events
(Thu 23 Oct: 6pm) The old stories tell us there is one place on Earth where the birds laid down their wings in peace - yet the real battle rages on, the endless war against forgetting. Storyteller Mark Borthwick weaves traditional and electronic music together with full-blooded stories of the old world to transport us to the shores of a new one, where stories are currency, and memory is home. An exploration of postwar migrations, family histories lost to time, and the stories which made us all that we are, a long time ago. ~~~~~ The Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025 tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky! Purchase a Storytelling Festival Pass and make the most of the Festival programme! Buy A Pass
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Netherbow Theatre
(Thu 23 Oct: 8pm) Inspired by David Thomson’s remarkable work The People of the Sea, storytellers Ruth Kirkpatrick and Colin Urwin bring selkie myths and coastal voices back to life. Both tender and brutal, Thomson’s collection of seal folklore and folktales from the coasts of Scotland and Ireland captures the mythic bond between people and nature, acting as a quiet yet powerful homage to a disappearing world. ~~~~~ The Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025 tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky! Purchase a Storytelling Festival Pass and make the most of the Festival programme! Buy A Pass
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Netherbow Theatre
(Fri 24 Oct: 10:30am) Storytellers working with musicians is a well-ploughed furrow, but little exploration has been done around the innate musicality of storytellers when talking. Storyteller Daniel Serridge and musician Neil Wood discuss how your telling changes and grows when working in tandem with a musician, exploring pace, rhythm and atmosphere. Everyone is musicking! ~~~~~ The Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025 tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky! Purchase a Storytelling Festival Pass and make the most of the Festival programme! Buy A Pass
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Training Venue at SSC
(Fri 24 Oct: 4pm) Norwegian storytellers Mimesis Heidi Dahlsveen and Georgiana Keable Jerstad share tales of trolls, hens and strange husbands. A chance to enjoy the company of two of Norway’s leading storytellers, also celebrating the launch of Georgiana’s new collection Norwegian Folk Tales (The History Press). ~~~~~ The Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025 tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky! Purchase a Storytelling Festival Pass and make the most of the Festival programme! Buy A Pass
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Netherbow Theatre
(Fri 24 Oct: 5pm - Stornoway) Inspired by the tradition of gathering together to hear a traveller’s tales, storytellers Magaidh Smith and Ian Stephen present a story exchange and share travellers adventures that link us with our North Atlantic neighbours. Featuring tunes, songs and Gaelic versions of the tales from Magaidh. Hosted by An Taigh Cèilidh, 16 Church St, HS1 2DH. ~~~~~ Discover a rich programme of local storytelling events, from the southwest to the very north of Scotland through Go Local as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025. The Festival tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky!
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Regional Events
(Fri 24 Oct & Sat 25 Oct: 6pm - Isle of Skye) Be transported to the magical Hebridean Islands and the Highlands of Scotland through stories and legends collected by folklorist Otta Swire, who captured the spirit and traditions of a bygone era. With story, music and imagery, storytellers Bea Ferguson and Heather Yule explore the captivating tales of these lands, and the people and strange creatures who dwelt there. Hosted by SEALL.Fri 24 Oct: At Dunvegan Community Hall, IV55 8WA.Sat 25 Oct: At An Crùbh, Sleat, IV43 8QU. ~~~~~ Discover a rich programme of local storytelling events, from the southwest to the very north of Scotland through Go Local as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025. The Festival tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky!
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Regional Events
(Fri 24 Oct: 6pm) Niall Moorjani and Ailsa Dixon present an evocative and moving exploration of what it is to be human, as they lyrically synthesise storytelling with live music and Orcadian folk song. Come for the music, stories and songs, stay for the deep exploration of trans experience in Scotland today, through three queered and reimagined selkies set in the past, present and future. ~~~~~ The Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025 tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky! Purchase a Storytelling Festival Pass and make the most of the Festival programme! Buy A Pass
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Netherbow Theatre
(Fri 24 & Sat 25 Oct: 7pm - Unst & Bigton) As the nights draw in, come and hear tales from Shetland’s past. A collection of folktales and historical stories all themed on the dark nights of Winter. From magical to factual and even funny. These stories have been gathered from books and memories. Told by storyteller and comedian Marjolein Robertson. Fri 24 Oct 7pm at Uyeasound Hall, Uyeasound, ZE2 9DL.Sat 25 Oct 7pm at Hymhus, ZE2 9JF. ~~~~~ Discover a rich programme of local storytelling events, from the southwest to the very north of Scotland through Go Local as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025. The Festival tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky!
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Regional Events
(Fri 24 Oct & Sat 25 Oct: 7:30pm - Isle of Skye) Tha seanchaidh Àdhamh Ó Broin a’ cur fàilte blath thugamh a chruinneachadh chòmhla gus ionmhas sgeulachdan nan Gàidheal, òrain is seudan eile aige a’ co-phàirteachadh bho Earra- Ghàidheal. Bidh an tachartas seo ann an Gàidhlig is Beurla. Gaelic tradition-bearer Àdhamh Ó Broin invites you to an informal, cosy gathering as he shares his treasure of Gaelic stories, songs and other nuggets of lore from Central Argyll. The event will feature Gaelic and English. Hostead by SEALL.Fri 24 Oct: At Dunvegan Community Hall, IV55 8WA.Sat 25 Oct: At At An Crùbh, Sleat, IV43 8QU. ~~~~~ Discover a rich programme of local storytelling events, from the southwest to the very north of Scotland through Go Local as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025. The Festival tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky!
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Regional Events
(Fri 24 Oct: 8pm) Our Open Hearth sessions gather together storytellers and musicians for a relaxed evening of stories and music in the Netherbow Theatre. As the darkness closes in and minds glow with pictures in the symbolic fire, this is the perfect way to end your day! Featuring Kirsten Milliken, Bob Mitchell, Inés Álvarez Villa and musician Claire White. ~~~~~ The Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025 tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky! Purchase a Storytelling Festival Pass and make the most of the Festival programme! Buy A Pass
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Netherbow Theatre
(Sat 25 Oct: 10:30am) A lot of classic fairy tales, especially well-known ones by the Brothers Grimm, have been heavily edited over the years by removing the grisliest details to make them more palatable. Join storyteller Anna Lehr to rediscover the original tales, explore the forgotten ones and work on your very own gruesome tale that will send shivers down your audience’s spine! ~~~~~ The Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025 tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky! Purchase a Storytelling Festival Pass and make the most of the Festival programme! Buy A Pass
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Training Venue at SSC
(Sat 25 Oct: 11am) Join storyteller Ailie Finlay for some sensory stories from the forests of the North. Big cosy bears in caves, tiny birds and the first snow of the year! We’ll learn all about heat and cold and have fun with lots of props to squish and shake. We’ll finish the session with a simple sensory craft activity. Fun for everyone but particularly suitable for children with additional needs and their families and friends.. ~~~~~ Join us in the school holidays and across the Festival for a selection of storytelling performances and events for all the family as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025. The Festival tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky! Purchase a Storytelling Festival Pass and make the most of the Festival programme! Buy A Pass
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Storytelling Court
(Sat 25 Oct: 2pm - Findhorn) Storytellers Ruth Kirkpatrick and Colin Urwin invite you to a playful workshop where you’ll discover how to breathe life into the written word and make stories your own. Building on their performance of The People of the Sea, they’ll share insights into their own creative process, from choosing the right material to shaping it for the oral tradition. At Universal Hall, The Park, IV36 3TZ ~~~~~ Discover a rich programme of local storytelling events, from the southwest to the very north of Scotland through Go Local as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025. The Festival tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky!
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Regional Events
(Sat 25 Oct: 2pm) Hear some of the background inspirations and values of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival, including the Andy Hunter Storytelling Bursary, the Earth Stories Collection and the work of the Scottish Storytelling Forum. A chance to also share your own aims and purposes in a networking space, bringing together performers and attendees who are interested in storytelling skills and sources, community projects and creative collaboration. This event will be interpreted in British Sign Language. ~~~~~ The Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025 tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky! Purchase a Storytelling Festival Pass and make the most of the Festival programme! Buy A Pass
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Storytelling Court
(Sat 25 Oct: 3pm - Bigton) Many folktales travel from place to place, making each setting their new home. In this workshop we’ll look through stories and retell them to find their true heart. Through exercises and storytelling, we will then bring them to life in a setting that’s familiar to you. Hosted by storyteller Marjolein Robertson. At Hymhus, ZE2 9JF. ~~~~~ Discover a rich programme of local storytelling events, from the southwest to the very north of Scotland through Go Local as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025. The Festival tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky! Purchase a Storytelling Festival Pass and make the most of the Festival programme! Buy A Pass
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Regional Events
(Sat 25 Oct: 4pm) Enjoy the future of European storytelling with 3 short performances in collaboration with FEST (Federation of European Storytelling). What’s the Difference? by Geoffrey van der Ven delves into the emotions of shame and personal isolation. (Not) Your Girl! by Winter de Cock weaves auto-fiction and myth, asking enduring questions of female objectification, agency and consent. Cassandra by Ailsa Dixon blends Greek myth, Scottish folklore and personal narrative into an exploration of prophecy, protest and survival. Come see the future! ~~~~~ The Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025 tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky! Purchase a Storytelling Festival Pass and make the most of the Festival programme! Buy A Pass
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Netherbow Theatre
(Sat 25 Oct: 6pm) A dynamic group of storytellers reimagine the forgotten tale of St Enoch, mother of St Mungo, through the journeys of four women making their lives in Glasgow. Woven with myth, movement and lived experience, this contemporary performance is a love letter to a northern city and a celebration of resilience, homemaking and voice. With Sarah Wedderburn-Ogilvy, Isobel O’Donovan, Daiva Ivanauskaitė-Brown and Trinidad Cabezón Droguett. Originally created for the Village Storytelling Festival 2024. ~~~~~ The Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025 tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky! Purchase a Storytelling Festival Pass and make the most of the Festival programme! Buy A Pass
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Netherbow Theatre
(Sat 25 Oct: 6pm - Kenmore) From the great river Tay to the peak of Galdhøpiggen, the land around us tells us stories: come and listen to what it has to say. Storyteller and author of the newly published Norwegian Folk Tales Georgiana Keable Jerstad and Lindsey Gibb, local storyteller and co-author of Perthshire Folk Tales, will share tales of the land and people. At the Scottish Crannog Centre, Loch Tay, PH15 2HY. ~~~~~ Discover a rich programme of local storytelling events, from the southwest to the very north of Scotland through Go Local as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025. The Festival tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky!
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Regional Events
(Sat 25 Oct: 7:30pm - Findhorn) Inspired by David Thomson’s remarkable work The People of the Sea, storytellers Ruth Kirkpatrick and Colin Urwin bring selkie myths and coastal voices back to life. Both tender and brutal, Thomson’s collection of seal folklore and folktales from the coasts of Scotland and Ireland captures the mythic bond between people and nature, acting as a quiet yet powerful homage to a disappearing world. At Universal Hall, The Park, IV36 3TZ ~~~~~ Discover a rich programme of local storytelling events, from the southwest to the very north of Scotland through Go Local as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025. The Festival tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky!
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Regional Events
(Sat 25 Oct: 8pm) Land of rivers, lochs and waterways, Scotland is a place where the signs of Cailleach, Bodach and Salmon still shimmer amidst the stones and shrines. Inspired by Scottish rivers, the stories they carry and their fragile eco-system, Eileen Budd and David McAlmont present a narrative blend of storytelling, songs and visual arts, with sound design and traditional rhythms from Debbie Armour. Includes Gaelic content, with translations for non-Gaelic speakers. ~~~~~ The Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025 tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky! Purchase a Storytelling Festival Pass and make the most of the Festival programme! Buy A Pass
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Netherbow Theatre
(Sun 26 Oct: 10:30am) Join Norwegian storyteller Mimesis Heidi Dahlsveen in an immersive workshop where we will delve into the rich tradition of the Norse ‘skalds’ (bards) and their storytelling techniques. We will explore the poetic and narrative tools that skalds used to captivate their audiences and bring the stories from Norse mythology to life. ~~~~~ The Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025 tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky! Purchase a Storytelling Festival Pass and make the most of the Festival programme! Buy A Pass
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Training Venue at SSC
(Sun 26 Oct: 12pm, 1pm & 2pm - Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh) Step into a soft, sensory storytelling experience, following the incredible journey of the Painted Lady Butterfly. Every year she travels 9000 miles all over the world ensuring the survival of her entire species. Impossible to complete alone, the journey happens across five generations. Through puppetry, participation and play, Fibi Cowley shows us what we can learn from this incredible creature, and how past generations can inspire us to make the world a better place. Please meet at the Botanic Cottage in the Demonstration Garden and dress for the weather! ~~~~~ Join us in the school holidays and across the Festival for a selection of storytelling performances and events for all the family as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025. The Festival tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky! Purchase a Storytelling Festival Pass and make the most of the Festival programme! Buy A Pass
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh
(Sun 26 Oct - Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh) Giant turnips, lush rampions, magic beans and pumpkins turned into golden coaches! Veggie gardens have thrived with stories since the beginning of time. You are welcome to come and discover them with our storytellers, for an afternoon of fun and magic for all ages! Drop-in for Wee Stories at the Gazebo, take a Story Walks through the gardens and explore the story of the Painted Lady in A Dispute with a Butterfly. Please meet at the Botanic Cottage in the Demonstration Garden and dress for the weather! *Please note Magician with Wood (workshop) will now be held at the Scottish Storytelling Centre, not at RBGE as advertised in print. ~~~~~ Join us in the school holidays and across the Festival for a selection of storytelling performances and events for all the family as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025. The Festival tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky! Purchase a Storytelling Festival Pass and make the most of the Festival programme! Buy A Pass Illustration by Annalisa Salis.
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh
(Sun 26 Oct: 12pm-4pm - Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh) Explore stories of nature and things that grow on a story walk, with Amanda Edmiston, Mara Menzies and Georgiana Keable Jerstad. These 20min sessions are designed as story walks around a section of the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, so not suitable for younger children. Please meet at the Botanic Cottage in the Demonstration Garden and dress for the weather! ScheduleAmanda Edmiston 12:15pm, 1:45pm, 3:15pmMara Menzies 12:45pm, 2:15pm, 3:30pmGeorgiana Keable Jerstad 1:15pm, 2:45pm ~~~~~ Join us in the school holidays and across the Festival for a selection of storytelling performances and events for all the family as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025. The Festival tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky! Purchase a Storytelling Festival Pass and make the most of the Festival programme! Buy A Pass
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh
(Sun 26 Oct: 12pm-4pm - Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh) Drop-in for free storytelling sessions at the Gazebo, with Kate Walker, Marie-Louise Cochrane and Owen Pilgrim. Please meet at the Botanic Cottage in the Demonstration Garden and dress for the weather! ScheduleMarie-Louise Cochrane 12pm, 1:30pm, 3pmOwen Pilgrim 12:30pm, 2pm, 3:30pmKate Walker 1pm, 2:30pm ~~~~~ Join us in the school holidays and across the Festival for a selection of storytelling performances and events for all the family as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025. The Festival tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky! Purchase a Storytelling Festival Pass and make the most of the Festival programme! Buy A Pass Illustration by Annalisa Salis.
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh
(Sun 26 Oct: 1:30pm) *Please note, this event is now held at the Scottish Storytelling Centre from 1:30pm, not at the Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh* This workshop, led by filmmaker Beatrix Wood, invites participants to be inspired by trees and wood through a series of playful, experimental and creative exercises to create a modern myth together. Extracts from Beatrix’s film Tim Stead: Magician with Wood will act as a catalyst, as well as some of Tim’s own poems. No prior skills or experience needed. ~~~~~ The Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025 tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky! Purchase a Storytelling Festival Pass and make the most of the Festival programme! Buy A Pass
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Training Venue at SSC
(Sun 26 Oct - Peterhead) Join storyteller Pauline Cordiner for a day of spooky Aden Halloween events! Spooky Shadows, Ghostly Tales & Spooky Crafts2.30pm (1hr) | £10 | 8-12yrsHorrible Histories of Aden and Beyond4pm (1hr) | £8 | 6yrs+Aden’s Terrifying Tales6.30pm (2hrs) | £15 | 18+ At Aberdeenshire Farming Museum, Aden Country Park, Mintlaw, AB42 5FQ. ~~~~~ Discover a rich programme of local storytelling events, from the southwest to the very north of Scotland through Go Local as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025. The Festival tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky!
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Regional Events
(Sun 26 Oct: 3pm - Perth) Join storyteller Andrew Woodward and musician Jon Hoad for a magical evening tracing the life of Merlin, from his otherworldly conception to his tragic end in ancient Lothian. Inspired by Amy Jeffs’ Storyland, expect myth, music and mystery woven through Scottish legend. At Osteria Bau Bau, 11 South St.Johns Place, PH1 5SU. ~~~~~ Discover a rich programme of local storytelling events, from the southwest to the very north of Scotland through Go Local as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025. The Festival tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky!
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Regional Events
(Sun 26 Oct: 3pm - Loch Awe) Young artists Ailsa Dixon and Neil Sutcliffe shine a light on Scots words, expressions and sayings, exploring how they relate to modern culture. They share folktales in Scots and Doric, integrated with a conversation about how they interact with the language in their own lives and with their peers. The show will feature a mix of traditional storytelling and music, with strong audience input. At St Conan’s Kirk, PA33 1AQ. ~~~~~ Discover a rich programme of local storytelling events, from the southwest to the very north of Scotland through Go Local as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025. The Festival tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky!
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Regional Events
(Sun 26 Oct: 4pm) Deep in the woods of Kalevala, a voice rises. Old man Väinämöinen has been promised the lovely young Aino as his bride! He sings his joy, twice, three times. But his troubles have only begun. Journey into the northern forests with storyteller Linda Perttula and singer- songwriter Aino Elina as they combine teenage memories, ancient poetry and ethereal vocals in search for a connection to the Finnish epic. ~~~~~ The Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025 tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky! Purchase a Storytelling Festival Pass and make the most of the Festival programme! Buy A Pass
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Netherbow Theatre
(Sun 26 Oct: 6pm) Tania Allan and Craig McCulloch share two haunting tales of captivity, silence and survival. Weaving together Selkie myths and Deaf history, they explore themes of oppression, abuse, environmental destruction and cultural erasure. Though rooted in the past, the stories still echo loudly today, and they both fight for freedom. Performed in British Sign Language, with spoken English interpretation. This session will include a short panel discussion as part of the 1hr event. ~~~~~ The Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025 tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky! Purchase a Storytelling Festival Pass and make the most of the Festival programme! Buy A Pass
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Netherbow Theatre
(Sun 26 Oct: 8pm) As the nights draw in, come and hear tales from Shetland’s past. A collection of folktales and historical stories arching across the dark nights of Winter. From magical to factual and even funny, these stories have been gathered from the books and memories of Shetlanders. Told by storyteller and comedian Marjolein Robertson. This performance will be interpreted in British Sign Language. ~~~~~ As da nichts draa in, gadder aboot tae hear tales fae Shetland's past. A collection o folktales and history fae daggri tae dagalien ida dark nichts o Winter. Fae stories o magic, truth an humour. Aa o dem gaddered fae books and folk. Telt by storyteller and comedian Marjolein Robertson. Dis performance will be interpreted in British Sign Language. ~~~~~ The Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025 tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky! Purchase a Storytelling Festival Pass and make the most of the Festival programme! Buy A Pass
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Netherbow Theatre
(Mon 27 Oct: 2:30pm) This exchange of stories between German and Scottish sources highlights the continuing importance of fairy tales, and the richness of local versions. Event in English and Scots with some running commentary on language. Recommended for adults and older children. With Franziska Droll and Donald Smith. ~~~~~ The Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025 tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky! Purchase a Storytelling Festival Pass and make the most of the Festival programme! Buy A Pass
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
National Library of Scotland
(Mon 27 Oct: 5pm) Pioneering Norwegian, German and Scottish folk tale collectors inspired each other. Norwegian storyteller Mimesis Heidi Dahlsveen reveals some salty riches gathered by Peter Christen Asbjørnsen and Jørgen Moe, for contemporary adult audiences. ~~~~~ The Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025 tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky! Purchase a Storytelling Festival Pass and make the most of the Festival programme! Buy A Pass
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
National Library of Scotland
(Mon 27 Oct: 5pm) A first-ever Edinburgh screening for this documentary about innovative wood sculptor and furniture designer Tim Stead. The whole story of a man, a tree, a wood, a sculpted home and a legacy to be protected. Join director Beatrix Wood for a special screening and Q&A, and enjoy some of Tim’s original furniture in the Centre’s Cafe. ~~~~~ The Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025 tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky! Purchase a Storytelling Festival Pass and make the most of the Festival programme! Buy A Pass
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Netherbow Theatre
(Mon 27 Oct: 8pm) As darkness descends, join storyteller and musician Marion Kenny as she pays homage to her friend and mentor, the late Duncan Williamson, widely acknowledged as Scotland’s greatest ever storyteller. Marion will mesmerise and enchant as she shares Scottish folktales passed down by word of mouth, magically interweaving words with harp and flute. ~~~~~ The Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025 tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky! Purchase a Storytelling Festival Pass and make the most of the Festival programme! Buy A Pass
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Netherbow Theatre
(Tue 28 Oct: 2:30pm) The National Library of Scotland holds the collections of John Francis Campbell, a true Light of the North, and many other sources, including three volumes of The Dewar Manuscripts. Ruairidh Maclean and Donald Smith share some treasures in English and Gaelic, accompanied by written translations. ~~~~~ The Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025 tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky! Purchase a Storytelling Festival Pass and make the most of the Festival programme! Buy A Pass
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
National Library of Scotland
(Tue 28 Oct: 4pm) Swedish storyteller Jerker Fahlström shares traditional folktales from the forests of his native country and beyond. Be ready for a fun journey to the north, in company of one of Sweden’s leading storytellers. ~~~~~ The Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025 tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky! Purchase a Storytelling Festival Pass and make the most of the Festival programme! Buy A Pass
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Netherbow Theatre
(Tue 28 Oct: 5:30pm - Aberfeldy) Birks Cinema invites you to a double event about swans, their migrations and the stories they carry. Flight of the Swans (1hr): A film screening about the Bewick’s swans and their annual migration. Followed by discussion with film protagonist and producer Sacha Dench.The Swan Woman (2hrs): Finnish storyteller Anna-Maria Toivonen and Scottish storyteller Claire Hewitt weave swan lore, songs and stories from their traditions around a magical transformation tale from the North. Hosted by Birks Cinema, 1 Dunkeld St, PH15 2DA. ~~~~~ Discover a rich programme of local storytelling events, from the southwest to the very north of Scotland through Go Local as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025. The Festival tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky!
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Regional Events
(Tue 28 Oct: 6pm) Scottish place names and their origins are important. Join Dr Robert Fell to hear about the perspectives of Nackens (Scottish Gypsy Travellers) and how their folklore can give us unique insights into Scotland’s history and her place names. With special guest Shamus McPhee, who recounts a curious episode from Highland Perthshire that gave Balquhidder its name. Presented in memory of Scottish scholar Alan Bruford, in partnership with the University of Edinburgh’s Department of Celtic and Scottish Studies. ~~~~~ The Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025 tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky! Purchase a Storytelling Festival Pass and make the most of the Festival programme! Buy A Pass
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Netherbow Theatre
(Tue 28 Oct: 6:30pm - Aberdeen) Norwegian storyteller Mimesis Heidi Dahlsveen shares stories on the inevitable concept of death and, throughout the evening, we encounter death as it is characterized in Norwegian folktales, legends, and Old Norse poetry and prose. The storytelling performance explores the topic with a distinct emphasis on both the poetic and the humorous. Hosted by GAS (Grampian Association of Storytellers) and Elphinstone Institute. At the Sir Duncan Rice Library, Bedford Rd, AB24 3AA. ~~~~~ Discover a rich programme of local storytelling events, from the southwest to the very north of Scotland through Go Local as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025. The Festival tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky!
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Regional Events
(Tue 28 Oct: 8pm) Our Open Hearth sessions gather together storytellers and musicians for a relaxed evening of stories and music in the Netherbow Theatre. As the darkness closes in and minds glow with pictures in the symbolic fire, this is the perfect way to end your day! Featuring Grace Banks, Johan Sandberg McGuinne, Jackie Ross and musician Tom Oakes. ~~~~~ The Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025 tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky! Purchase a Storytelling Festival Pass and make the most of the Festival programme! Buy A Pass
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Netherbow Theatre
(Wed 29 Oct: 10:30am, 12pm & 2pm - Stirling) Storyteller Caroline Carmichael and Stirling makar Laura Fyfe bring you stories and poems that respond to the lives of the ordinary people of Stirling Castle, and Argyll and Sutherland regiment. It’s a place where Gaelic meets Scots, and the gateway to the north. Stories will be in English, with a distinct Gaelic and Scots flavour. At Stirling Castle, Castle Wynd, FK8 1EJ. ~~~~~ Discover a rich programme of local storytelling events, from the southwest to the very north of Scotland through Go Local as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025. The Festival tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky!
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Regional Events
(Wed 29 Oct: 10:30am) Discover the legacy of Vilmos Csipkés, one of Hungary’s last traditional Roma storytellers, led by Boglárka Klitsie-Szabad of the Hungarian Heritage House. Explore Csipkés’ rich repertoire of magical tales, religious stories, and humorous anecdotes through subtitled video excerpts and ethnographic insights. Learn about his performative techniques and storytelling contexts, documented using the performer-centered Budapest School method. ~~~~~ The Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025 tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky! Purchase a Storytelling Festival Pass and make the most of the Festival programme! Buy A Pass
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Training Venue at SSC
(Wed 29 Oct: 2:30pm) Scotland’s storytelling renaissance could not have happened without the generosity of Scotland’s Travelling People. Enjoy the flow of tales with two storytellers who draw on rich Traveller family and cultural traditions. With Jess Smith and Jimmy Williamson. ~~~~~ The Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025 tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky! Purchase a Storytelling Festival Pass and make the most of the Festival programme! Buy A Pass
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
National Library of Scotland
(Wed 29 Oct: 4pm) Storyteller Hjörleifur Stefánsson shares tales from the spellbinding highlands of Iceland, where locals and Huldufólk (hidden people) live in harmony, most of the time. A chance to enjoy the company of one of Iceland’s leading storytellers. ~~~~~ The Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025 tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky! Purchase a Storytelling Festival Pass and make the most of the Festival programme! Buy A Pass
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Netherbow Theatre
(Wed 29 & Thu 30 Oct: 6pm - Isle of Bute) Scotland’s rainforest thrives with stories and folklore. Come and hear of treasures hiding under dancing trees and learn how Argyll oaks were turned into weapons of war. With Luke Winter of Story Wagon. At Anchor Community Hub, 33 Marine Rd, Port Bannatyne, PA20 0LL. ~~~~~ Discover a rich programme of local storytelling events, from the southwest to the very north of Scotland through Go Local as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025. The Festival tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky!
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Regional Events
(Wed 29 Oct: 6pm) Enjoy a flow of tales and songs with Scotland’s Travelling People, whose traditions have been gathered from all parts of Scotland. Go with the magic of Jess Smith, Jimmy Williamson and special guest David Pullar, as they explore the riches of Traveller heritage passed down to them through generations. This performance will be interpreted in British Sign Language. ~~~~~ The Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025 tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky! Purchase a Storytelling Festival Pass and make the most of the Festival programme! Buy A Pass
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Netherbow Theatre
(Wed 29 Oct: 7pm - Dumfries) Come gather around the fire of inspiration as Finnish storyteller Anna-Maria Toivonen and Scottish storyteller and visual artist Claire Hewitt weave bird lore, songs and stories from their traditions around a magical transformation tale from the North. As a run-up to the event Claire will display a selection of artworks from her recent exhibition Swan Woman, inspired by the stories she tells. At the Stove Café, 100 High Street, DG11BX. ~~~~~ Discover a rich programme of local storytelling events, from the southwest to the very north of Scotland through Go Local as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025. The Festival tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky!
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Regional Events
(Wed 29 Oct: 8pm) Fresh from cèilidhs and story nights at the recently concluded Orkney Storytelling Festival, Nordic storytellers from Orkney, Iceland and Sweden gather once again to share more of their Viking adventures. With Tom Muir, Hjörleifur Stefánsson and Jerker Fahlström. ~~~~~ The Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025 tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky! Purchase a Storytelling Festival Pass and make the most of the Festival programme! Buy A Pass
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Netherbow Theatre
(Thu 30 Oct: 10:30am) Join Tania Allan and Emery Hunter to explore storytelling through both British Sign Language and English in this inclusive, creative workshop. You’ll learn how to develop expressive characters and bring your story to life using movement, facial expression, and voice. Perfect for beginners or those looking to build confidence in bilingual storytelling. Everyone welcome! Interpreters provided. ~~~~~ The Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025 tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky! Purchase a Storytelling Festival Pass and make the most of the Festival programme! Buy A Pass
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Training Venue at SSC
(Thu 30 Oct: 6pm) Danish storyteller Svend-Erik Engh and Scottish musician Neil Sutcliffe present an original tale of a young woman setting out to create her own destiny in Viking times. Brought to life through storytelling and music, blending traditional and original pieces. This performance will be interpreted in British Sign Language. ~~~~~ The Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025 tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky! Purchase a Storytelling Festival Pass and make the most of the Festival programme! Buy A Pass
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Netherbow Theatre
(Thu 30 Oct: 6pm - Glasgow) The event explores the continuing influence of the Brothers Grimm on folklore and collective imagination and memory in Germany, Europe and far beyond. The development of the tales through time shed light on the uses and abuses of folklore, the importance of language, and the continuing importance of fairy tales for adults and children. Introduced by Kristin Wardetzky with re-telling from Suse Weisse, followed by discussion. At the Goethe-Institut, 3 Park Circus, G3 6AX. ~~~~~ Discover a rich programme of local storytelling events, from the southwest to the very north of Scotland through Go Local as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025. The Festival tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky!
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Regional Events
(Thu 30 Oct: 7pm - Dundee) Join us for a storytelling journey across the oceans and into northern lands, where gods, monsters and mysteries await. Led by Blether Tay-Gither storytellers, with special guest Jerker Fahlström from Sweden. Hosted by Blether Tay-Gither. ~~~~~ Discover a rich programme of local storytelling events, from the southwest to the very north of Scotland through Go Local as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025. The Festival tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky!
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Regional Events
(Thu 30 Oct: 7:30pm - Glasgow) The Village Storytelling Centre’s flagship storytelling night comes to the Festival and welcomes storytellers from across the world. Featuring storyteller Hjörleifur Stefánsson from Iceland, music from the fantastic Irish singer- songwriter Mima Merrow and many more special guests. Venue: The Boardwalk, 105 Brunswick St, G1 1TF ~~~~~ Discover a rich programme of local storytelling events, from the southwest to the very north of Scotland through Go Local as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025. The Festival tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky!
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Regional Events
(Thu 30 Oct: 8pm) The music of the pioneering Scottish musician Martyn Bennett flowed with many inspirations, none more so than that of the Scottish Travellers. His final album Grit saw him draw upon the ballads and stories of the Travellers, famously sampling Sheila Stewart’s version of Ewan MacColl’s The Moving On Song to incredible effect. We celebrate Martyn’s love of Traveller culture, whilst also exploring his wide use of world music through the Hindu Kali myths, in an evening with friends of Martyn’s and those still being inspired by his legacy today. With James MacDonald Reid, Gauri Raje, Jess Smith and Gary West. ~~~~~ The Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025 tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky! Purchase a Storytelling Festival Pass and make the most of the Festival programme! Buy A Pass
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Netherbow Theatre
(Fri 31 Oct: 10:30am) Join us for a panel discussion and presentations about all things storytelling tech and touring. Storyteller Gauri Raje and Tech Engineer Roddy Simpson chat about how they brought these two very different worlds together and how you can too. Award- winning producer Kate Taylor joins the panel bringing her knowledge and expertise, and Emyr Bell from NEAT will give a presentation. ~~~~~ The Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025 tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky! Purchase a Storytelling Festival Pass and make the most of the Festival programme! Buy A Pass
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Training Venue at SSC
(Fri 31 Oct: 2:30pm) Folklore and the natural world come close at seasonal festivals. Trees, plants and herbs bring light and dark as the northern winter begins. Recommended for adults and older children. With German storyteller Suse Weisse and in association with Goethe-Institut. ~~~~~ The Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025 tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky! Purchase a Storytelling Festival Pass and make the most of the Festival programme! Buy A Pass
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
National Library of Scotland
(Fri 31 Oct: 5pm - Stornoway) Eathraichean air a’ chuan mu bhraigh Eilean Leodhais eadar linn Clann ‘ic Leoid, Sabaist Mhor Wick agus iomadh seanchas eile. Bidh seo sa Ghàidhlig an cois Magaidh Nic a Ghobhainn agus a caraidean. Stories of boats linked to the Isle of Lewis through the ages, from the Clan Macleod era to herring fishing in Wick. With Magaidh Smith and friends. The event is in Gaelic. Hosted by An Taigh Cèilidh, 16 Church St, HS1 2DH. ~~~~~ Discover a rich programme of local storytelling events, from the southwest to the very north of Scotland through Go Local as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025. The Festival tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky!
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Regional Events
(Fri 31 Oct: 6pm) What happens if we lose our wings and forget how to dance, sing or let our soul take flight? Is it possible to live between human time and wild time? Storytellers and musicians Anna-Maria Toivonen and Claire Hewitt, invite you to gather round the fire of inspiration as they share their unique Finnish- Scottish weaving of this magical transformation tale, Swan Woman. ~~~~~ The Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025 tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky! Purchase a Storytelling Festival Pass and make the most of the Festival programme! Buy A Pass
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Netherbow Theatre
(Fri 31 Oct: 6:30pm - Kenmore) Join us for the ancient festival of Samhuinn and celebrate the end of the summer with fire, games, guising and feasting! Watch fire and pole performances by Wolanksi’s Pole and Aerial Fitness and revel in the music of Reely Jiggered. You can take part in our treasure hunt, create your own mask, have your fortune read by our blacksmith and listen to tales of ghosts and spirits. At the Scottish Crannog Centre Loch Tay, PH15 2HY. ~~~~~ Discover a rich programme of local storytelling events, from the southwest to the very north of Scotland through Go Local as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025. The Festival tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky!
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Regional Events
(Fri 31 Oct: 7:30pm) A festival Samhuinn special of Edinburgh’s long-running storytelling night. Featuring guest storyteller Mara Menzies, who leads a session of spooky stories! With the usual chance to share a tale of your own. ~~~~~ The Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025 tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky! Purchase a Storytelling Festival Pass and make the most of the Festival programme! Buy A Pass
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Waverley Bar
(Fri 31 Oct: 8pm) Storyteller Anna Lehr presents a tale about death, birth and what lies ‘dazwischen’ (in between). This exploration of fear, grief and reconciliation is loosely based on the Brother’s Grimm fairy tale Godfather Death, German songs, poems and traditions, and will feature Death itself in puppet form joining Anna on stage. ~~~~~ The Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025 tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky! Purchase a Storytelling Festival Pass and make the most of the Festival programme! Buy A Pass
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Netherbow Theatre
(Sat 1 Nov: 10:30am) Join us for a taboo-breaking workshop of storytelling, craft and honest conversation. In a safe, supportive environment, we will explore some traditional death stories then get hands-on, decorating a cardboard coffin and weaving a willow coffin with skilled artisans. This isn’t morbid, it’s liberating! Tackle fears, share experiences, and reclaim death as part of life’s natural rhythm. Led by storyteller, celebrant and death educator Beverley Bryant, this workshop transforms discomfort into understanding and isolation into community, offering new perspectives on life’s final chapter. ~~~~~ The Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025 tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky! Purchase a Storytelling Festival Pass and make the most of the Festival programme! Buy A Pass
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Training Venue at SSC
(Sat 1 Nov: 10:30am) Swedish storyteller and actor Jerker Fahlström leads us through the stages of analysing a text. Explore each character in your story: who they are, their role, and why they act the way they do. By the end, you’ll have a rich pool of insights to shape your narrative with depth and clarity. Please bring a story to work with, let’s get creative! ~~~~~ The Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025 tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky! Purchase a Storytelling Festival Pass and make the most of the Festival programme! Buy A Pass
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Training Venue at SSC
(Sat 1 Nov: 1:30pm) Join the Scottish Wildlife Trust and storyteller Allison Galbraith as we immerse ourselves in the magical, shimmering world of Scottish waters. We will explore the mythology, ecology and importance of rivers and waterways through Allison’s retelling of rare, watery Scottish legends. Then, we will celebrate storytellers of all ages who have captured the spirit and wonder of Scotland’s wildlife and wild places, as we announce the winners of the Words of the Wild nature writing competition. ~~~~~ Join us in the school holidays and across the Festival for a selection of storytelling performances and events for all the family as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025. The Festival tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky! Purchase a Storytelling Festival Pass and make the most of the Festival programme! Buy A Pass
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Netherbow Theatre
(Sat 1 Nov: 2pm) An open conversation with national and international guests about the networks and ideas that connect us. The networking strand at the Scottish International Storytelling Festival brings together performers and attendees who are interested in storytelling skills and sources, community projects and creative collaboration. ~~~~~ The Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025 tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky! Purchase a Storytelling Festival Pass and make the most of the Festival programme! Buy A Pass
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Storytelling Court
(Sat 1 Nov: 4pm) In the fourth century, a young woman steps onto a boat in Greece carrying the bones of a martyr. Triduana is part of a small group of missionaries determined to share the Christian faith by taking Saint Andrew’s bones ‘to the ends of the earth’. Her journey to the land of the Picts will take her across seas and rivers and through transformations of belief and body. Join Monica Madas and Erin Farley as they tell the story of Triduana’s voyage into unseen waters and mythologies through story, song and puppetry. ~~~~~ The Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025 tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky! Purchase a Storytelling Festival Pass and make the most of the Festival programme! Buy A Pass
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Netherbow Theatre
(Sat 1 Nov: 6pm) Across Cumbria, roads wend their way through picturesque countryside. Ancient dry stone walls hold the stories of the dead that were carried past on these secret and haunted trails. The Corpse Road follows the rise and fall, the twists and turns of these paths to tell the tale of characters that were carried to their final resting place. Storyteller Daniel Serridge and musician Heather Cartwright weave stories and songs together in this evocative and unnerving folkloric journey to the grave. ~~~~~ The Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025 tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky! Purchase a Storytelling Festival Pass and make the most of the Festival programme! Buy A Pass
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Netherbow Theatre
(Sat 1 Nov: 8pm) Our Open Hearth sessions gather together storytellers and musicians for a relaxed evening of stories and music in the Netherbow Theatre. As the darkness closes in and minds glow with pictures in the symbolic fire, this is the perfect way to end the festival! Featuring Dougie Mackay, Hjörleifur Stefánsson, Suse Weisse and musician Luisa Brown. ~~~~~ The Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025 tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky! Purchase a Storytelling Festival Pass and make the most of the Festival programme! Buy A Pass
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Netherbow Theatre
(Sun 2 Nov) This delightful Beltane Fire Society tradition allows parents to share in the magic of the Samhuinn story with their little ones through storytelling and music. Join us for a free morning of face painting and activities, followed by a ticketed session of storytelling and songs.. 10:30am face painting & activities, free and drop-in1pm storytelling session, ticketed below ~~~~~ Join us in the school holidays and across the Festival for a selection of storytelling performances and events for all the family as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025. The Festival tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky! Purchase a Storytelling Festival Pass and make the most of the Festival programme! Buy A Pass
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Storytelling Court
(Sun 2 Nov: 11am - Montrose) Eileen Budd shares the folklore of our Northern skies, stones and symbols as seen through the eyes of Picts and Vikings. After the storytelling session, create your own Viking or Pictish calendar, inspired by Eileen’s latest research into their fascinating symbols. At Montrose Museum, Panmuir Place, DD10 8HF. ~~~~~ Discover a rich programme of local storytelling events, from the southwest to the very north of Scotland through Go Local as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025. The Festival tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky!
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Regional Events
(Sun 2 Nov: 4pm) Join host Niall Moorjani for an afternoon of amazing open mic storytelling designed as a safe space to tell new work, or try storytelling for the first time. New stories, old stories, folk stories, myths, legends, made-up stories and stories true to life - bring them all! A BPOC queer-run event welcoming everyone to enjoy the storytelling experience. ~~~~~ The Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025 tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky! Purchase a Storytelling Festival Pass and make the most of the Festival programme! Buy A Pass
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
External Venue
(Wed 5 Nov: 7:30pm) The moon begins to form as the moon spinners wash their wool in the sea, winding it again into a white ball in the sky and re-creating the phases and cycles that guide our seasons, and our stories... ~~~~~ Join us for our quarterly series of full-moon celebrations, with live storytelling, music and a rotating programme of incredible performers. Following the Celtic Wheel of the Year (the quarterly seasons of Imbolc, Beltane, Lughnasadh and Samhain) we look forward to moon myths, lunar legends and cross-cultural stories, revealing themes of creation, fertility, cosmic joy, transformation, death and rebirth. For our November session we welcome you under the full Beaver Moon with another exciting lineup of storytellers, this month featuring Bea Ferguson, Selina Graham and Heather Yule, with Claire McNicol and Linda Williamson. ~~~~~ Moonspinners events will follow two distinct phases, with the first half of performance in the Netherbow Theatre, followed by a social and conversational flow upstairs in the Storytelling Court with a chance to digest and discuss the stories amongst friends old and new. Mark it in your diary, or just follow the moon to guide you here! ~~~~~ Image credit: Hester Aspland
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Netherbow Theatre
(Fri 7 Nov: 5pm - Stornoway) Storyteller Alex Patience from Portskerra returns to her granny’s native shores to share traditional stories and knowledge spiced with a wide range of North Atlantic culture, arts and nature. Hosted by An Taigh Cèilidh, 16 Church St, HS1 2DH ~~~~~ Discover a rich programme of local storytelling events, from the southwest to the very north of Scotland through Go Local as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025. The Festival tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky!
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Regional Events
(Fri 7 Nov: 7pm - Dundee) SISF joins wi Blether, the monthly Scots variety nicht fer an evening fou o sangs, stories, poems and mair! Wi guests Orcadian poet and scriever Harry Josephine Giles, Perthshire storyteller Lindsey Gibb and renowned Scots singer Christine Kydd. There’s open mic slots tae if ye fancy daeing yer thing for 3 mins. Emcees Calum Kelly and National Library of Scotland Scots scriever Taylor Dyson. In partnership wi Elfie Picket Theatre and Sweet Venues. from Sweden. At Sweet Venues, Keiller Centre, 3 Chapel Street, DD1 1DQ. ~~~~~ Discover a rich programme of local storytelling events, from the southwest to the very north of Scotland through Go Local as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025. The Festival tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky!
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Regional Events
(Fri 7 Nov: 7:30pm - Biggar) Join storytellers Peter Chand and Kirsten Milliken for an evening of evocative folktales and legends from their respective Indian and Scottish traditions about lake nymphs, enchanted mists, hidden realms and the water that connects us all. This event will now be held at Biggar Corn Exchange, 126 High St, Biggar ML12 6DL. ~~~~~ Discover a rich programme of local storytelling events, from the southwest to the very north of Scotland through Go Local as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025. The Festival tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky! Purchase a Storytelling Festival Pass and make the most of the Festival programme! Buy A Pass
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Regional Events
(Sat 8 Nov: 11am - Forfar) Eileen Budd shares the folklore of our Northern skies, stones and symbols as seen through the eyes of Picts and Vikings. After the storytelling session, create your own Viking or Pictish calendar, inspired by Eileen’s latest research into their fascinating symbols. Booking essential. At Meffan Museum, 20 West High Street, DD8 1BB. ~~~~~ Discover a rich programme of local storytelling events, from the southwest to the very north of Scotland through Go Local as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025. The Festival tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky!
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Regional Events
(Sat 8 & Sat 22 Nov: 12pm) Come along for a nature-connection walk led by storytelling therapist Stephen McCabe, followed by printing from nature art workshop with Beetroots Collective’s artists Marta Adamowicz and Robert Motyka. Aimed at migrants and members of the local community. Please note: the meeting point for the walk is by the Scottish Parliament building at 12pm, look out for the Beetroots Collective banner. ~~~~~ The Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025 tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky! Purchase a Storytelling Festival Pass and make the most of the Festival programme! Buy A Pass
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
External Venue
(Sat 8 Nov: 1:30pm - Dunfermline) Join Fife storytellers Riikka Palonen and Kate Walker as they make, sing and share stories of the sea from our Northern shores. Curious, crafty and clever tales! Children must be accompanied by an adult. Hosted by Lang Spoon Tales. At Queen Margaret Room, Dunfermline Carnegie Library and Galleries 1 Abbot Street, KY12 7NL. ~~~~~ Discover a rich programme of local storytelling events, from the southwest to the very north of Scotland through Go Local as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025. The Festival tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky!
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Regional Events
(Sat 8 Nov: 3:30pm - Perth) Join storyteller Lizzie McDougall, clàrsach player Siannie Moodie and musician Nick Jenkins for an afternoon of music and tales inspired by Perthshire’s Jacobite past. Discover the legends of nearby Fingask Castle, brought to life at Perth Museum and in the shadow of a sword believed to have belonged to Bonnie Prince Charlie. At Perth Museum, St John’s Place, PH1 5SZ. ~~~~~ Discover a rich programme of local storytelling events, from the southwest to the very north of Scotland through Go Local as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025. The Festival tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky!
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Regional Events
(Sat 8 Nov: 4pm) Join Randall Stevenson and Greg Walker, editors of The Oxford Handbook of Scottish Theatre, with playwright Linda McLean and storyteller Donald Smith, to explore this rich northern theme, past and present. Part of the New College Festival of Books and Belief. ~~~~~ The Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025 tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky! Purchase a Storytelling Festival Pass and make the most of the Festival programme! Buy A Pass
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
External Venue
(Sun 9 Nov: 6:30pm - Aberfeldy) Respected by ancient cultures, but the archetypal villain in European fairy tales, wolves were hunted to extinction in Scotland by the 18th century. Through ancient myth, shadow puppetry and dreamlike soundscapes, Dougie Mackay and Jemima Thewes take us to a space where Norse gods, Irish shapeshifters and Siberian wolf-children traverse Scottish moors and Transylvanian mountains. Stories about our oldest ally share the same question: in the absence of the wolf, what is lost? Hosted by Birks Cinema, 1 Dunkeld St, PH15 2DA. ~~~~~ Discover a rich programme of local storytelling events, from the southwest to the very north of Scotland through Go Local as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025. The Festival tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky!
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Regional Events
(Sat 15 Nov: 2pm - Dundee) The D’arcy Thompson Museum is a cornucopia of fascinating objects, all with their own unique stories. Join Blether Tay-Gither storytellers for an hour of strange and wonderful tales inspired by this eclectic collection. Hosted by Blether Tay-Gither. At the D’arcy Thompson Museum, University of Dundee, Carnelley Building, Nethergate, DD1 4HN ~~~~~ Discover a rich programme of local storytelling events, from the southwest to the very north of Scotland through Go Local as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025. The Festival tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky!
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Regional Events
(Sat 15 Nov: 2pm - Biggar) Step into the Otherworld and follow the Path of the Little People with storytellers Kirsten Milliken and David Hughes. Hear tales of the creatures that live in the branches, in the faerie rings and behind the little doors. Includes free hot chocolate. At Wiston Lodge, Millrigg Rd, Wiston, ML12 6HT. ~~~~~ Discover a rich programme of local storytelling events, from the southwest to the very north of Scotland through Go Local as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025. The Festival tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky!
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Regional Events
(Sat 15 Nov: 7pm - Winchburgh) Myths, legends, local history and lived events are waiting to be shared in a rousing evening of stories in the company of an up-and-coming storytelling community in West Lothian. Hosted by Winchburgh Storytellers and featuring aspiring, apprentice and professional storytellers. Supported by the Winchburgh Community Development Trust. Event held at the Winchburgh Community Centre, Craigton Place, EH52 6RW. ~~~~~ Discover a rich programme of local storytelling events, from the southwest to the very north of Scotland through Go Local as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025. The Festival tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky!
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Regional Events
(Sun 16 Nov: 1:30pm - Dunfermline) Join Fife storytellers Riikka Palonen and Kate Walker as they cast their tales of stormy seas, magic, romance, and valour. Stirring stories to astonish, surprise and sustain. Hosted by Lang Spoon Tales. At Queen Margaret Room, Dunfermline Carnegie Library and Galleries 1 Abbot Street, KY12 7NL. ~~~~~ Discover a rich programme of local storytelling events, from the southwest to the very north of Scotland through Go Local as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025. The Festival tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky!
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Regional Events
(Wed 19 Nov: 6:30pm - Online) Rooted in Northeast Scotland, Education in the North is a radical journal that spans the northern hemisphere, exploring education, culture and language. Through the years, it has provided a cèilidh space for ideas and initiatives to cross fertilise, pushing the boundaries of academic practice so that Indigenous and folk knowledge and practices are valued, and their place within education celebrated. To mark its 60th Anniversary, the event brings together editors, storytellers and other contributors lifting up this work across Canada, Scotland and Norway. Hosted by Cathy Francis and Beth Cross with guests Jackie Ross, Jamie Fairbairn, Liisa- Rávná Finbog and Jennifer Markides. ~~~~~ Discover a rich programme of local storytelling events, from the southwest to the very north of Scotland through Go Local as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025. The Festival tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky!
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Regional Events
(Fri 21 Nov: 11am - Dundee) Ravens have always strutted through myth and legend. Odin had two pet Ravens called Hugin and Munin: ‘Thought’ and ‘Memory’. Join storyteller Jan Bee Brown and musician Toby Hawks for a collection of memorable, thought-provoking and dementia-inclusive stories and songs from Scandinavia and Scotland. Tickets are limited, please book in advance. from Sweden. At Royal Victoria Hospital Meeting Centre, Jedburgh Road, DD2 1SP. ~~~~~ Discover a rich programme of local storytelling events, from the southwest to the very north of Scotland through Go Local as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025. The Festival tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky!
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Regional Events
(Sun 23 Nov: 2:30pm - Cove & Kilcreggan) Danish storyteller Svend-Erik Engh and Scottish musician Neil Sutcliffe present an original tale of a young woman setting out to create her own destiny in Viking times. Brought to life through storytelling & music, blending traditional and original pieces. At Cove Sailing Club SCIO, Barons Point, G84 0NL. ~~~~~ Discover a rich programme of local storytelling events, from the southwest to the very north of Scotland through Go Local as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025. The Festival tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky!
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Regional Events
(Fri 28 Nov: 10:30am - Musselburgh) Ravens have always strutted through myth and legend. Odin had two pet Ravens called Hugin and Munin: ‘Thought’ and ‘Memory’. Join storyteller Jan Bee Brown and musician Toby Hawks for a collection of memorable, thought-provoking and dementia-inclusive stories and songs from Scandinavia and Scotland. At Musselburgh Meeting Centre, The Coffee Lounge, St Andrew’s Church, 70 Millhill, EH21 7EA. ~~~~~ Discover a rich programme of local storytelling events, from the southwest to the very north of Scotland through Go Local as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025. The Festival tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky!
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Regional Events
(Jun 2025-Apr 2026) To mark its 100th birthday, the National Library of Scotland presents a special exhibition. Made in collaboration with partners across the country, this love letter to libraries will intrigue, energise, and galvanise you. You’ll leave with a whole new perspective on how libraries can help you, and how you can help them. Browse bookshelves in an open reading room filled with recommendations from the public and well-known Scottish figures. See libraries in popular culture, protest banners and badges, vintage film footage, and more. ~~~~~ The Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025 tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky! Purchase a Storytelling Festival Pass and make the most of the Festival programme! Buy A Pass
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
National Library of Scotland
(Sat 27 Sep-Wed 5 Nov) This stunning collection of ink illustrations and ceramics by emerging artist Hester Aspland draws lines between traditional stories and wild places. Atmospheric, observational landscape studies and explorations into folklore and fairy tales inform detailed, textural works which blend inspiration from the Golden Age of Illustration with a contemporary focus on the connections between women and nature. Book illustrations for projects working with the stories of Duncan Williamson and Tom Muir are shown alongside other evocative works traversing the landscapes and stories of Scotland, Iceland, Ireland and the Faroe Islands. ~~~~~ The Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025 tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky! Purchase a Storytelling Festival Pass and make the most of the Festival programme! Buy A Pass
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Storytelling Court
(Thu 2 Oct, Fri 3 Oct & Sat 4 Oct - Stranraer, Moffat, Hawick) A 400-million-year-old stone reveals layers of mystery and resonance. Mairi Campbell blends live music and song with visual art, highlighting the mystery and beauty of everyday life. Co-created with director Kath Burlinson and composer Dave Gray. Thu 2 Oct at Ryan Centre, StranraerFri 3 Oct at Moffat Theatre, MoffatSat 4 Oct at Heart of Hawick, Hawick ~~~~~ Discover a rich programme of local storytelling events, from the southwest to the very north of Scotland through Go Local as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025. The Festival tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky!
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Regional Events
(Fri 3 Oct-Wed 19 Nov - Aberdeen) Join us for a jamboree of stories from Aberdeen and beyond. With special guests Mimesis Heidi Dahlsveen (Norway) and Martin MacIntyre (Scotland), joined by local storytellers Phyll McBain, Jackie Ross, Grace Banks, Pauline Cordiner, Cara Silversmith and many more. Hosted by GAS (Grampian Association of Storytellers) and Elphinstone Institute. ~~~~~ Discover a rich programme of local storytelling events, from the southwest to the very north of Scotland through Go Local as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025. The Festival tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky!
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Regional Events
(Fri 3 Oct: 7pm - Peterculter) A wonderful evening of stories, music and song celebrating the bothy culture of rural North East Scotland. Join ballad singer Allan Taylor, fiddler Karin Paterson, and storytellers Phyll McBain and Jackie Ross for a cèilidh of land, laughter, and a hearty dollop of Doric! Hosted by GAS (Grampian Association of Storytellers) and Elphinstone Institute. At St Peter’s Heritage Hall, Howie Ln, AB14 0PU. ~~~~~ Discover a rich programme of local storytelling events, from the southwest to the very north of Scotland through Go Local as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025. The Festival tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky! Purchase a Storytelling Festival Pass and make the most of the Festival programme! Buy A Pass
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Regional Events
(Fri 10 Oct: 7pm - Peterculter) Storyteller Grace Banks will regale us with tales and myths of the Faroes, Greenland and Norway. She will then take us on a sensory safari to explore a little of the natural world around us. Hosted by GAS (Grampian Association of Storytellers) and Elphinstone Institute. At St Peter’s Heritage Hall, Howie Ln, AB14 0PU. ~~~~~ Discover a rich programme of local storytelling events, from the southwest to the very north of Scotland through Go Local as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025. The Festival tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky!
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Regional Events
(Sat 11 & Sun 12 Oct: 11am, 12pm, 1pm & 2pm - Scottish Storytelling Centre) Step into a soft, sensory storytelling experience, following the incredible journey of the Painted Lady Butterfly. Every year she travels 9000 miles all over the world ensuring the survival of her entire species. Impossible to complete alone, the journey happens across five generations. Through puppetry, participation and play, Fibi Cowley shows us what we can learn from this incredible creature, and how past generations can inspire us to make the world a better place. ~~~~~ Join us in the school holidays and across the Festival for a selection of storytelling performances and events for all the family as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025. The Festival tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky! Purchase a Storytelling Festival Pass and make the most of the Festival programme! Buy A Pass
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
George Mackay Brown Library
(Tue 14 Oct: 7:30pm - Kincraig) Come along to our all-age community show for sharing storytelling, music, poetry and art, as we celebrate the Lights of the North. Featuring Lithuanian stories by guest storyteller Daiva Ivanauskaitė-Brown. At Kincraig Church Hall, The Brae, PH21 1QD. ~~~~~ Discover a rich programme of local storytelling events, from the southwest to the very north of Scotland through Go Local as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025. The Festival tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky!
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Regional Events
(Wed 15-Sat 25 Oct - Alloa) Welcome to Clackmannanshire! At the heart of our festival is community, family, local history and wellbeing. Join us for the familiar and the unexpected. We will tell some spooky stories, share local legends, introduce the ‘Wee Folk’ in our folklore and enrich the stories with crafty activities. Featuring guest storyteller Jess Smith and local storytellers Joanne Dowd, Eleanor Bell and many more. Hosted by Hillfoots Tales. Wed 15 Oct - Cats, Spiders and Funny HatsSat 18 Oct - Her Story with CraftsThu 23 Oct - Wild HistorySat 25 Oct - Mini Cats, Spiders and Funny Hats ~~~~~ Discover a rich programme of local storytelling events, from the southwest to the very north of Scotland through Go Local as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025. The Festival tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky!
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Regional Events
(Wed 15, Thu 16 & Fri 17 Oct, drop-in from 10:30am) The event blends papercut craft and traditional storytelling to honour the awe-inspiring migration of barn swallows and swifts between Scotland and Africa. Participants will create paper insects and birds with local artist Ed Harrison, brought to life through performances by African folklorist Chief Gift Amu and Scottish bard Cara Silversmith. Presented in partnership with the National Museum of Scotland. ~~~~~ The Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025 tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky! Purchase a Storytelling Festival Pass and make the most of the Festival programme! Buy A Pass
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
National Museum of Scotland
(Wed 15 Oct: 2pm) Prepare to become a Skald, a Viking poet storyteller. Join storytellers extraordinaire Macastory for a daring adventure... YOURS! With Macastory’s help, create your own mini-saga, learn it and tell it in the style of the ancient Viking Skalds. Prepare for sea monsters, battles and even a visit from the gods. Cast the mystical story runes, then it’s up to you what happens next! ~~~~~ Join us in the school holidays and across the Festival for a selection of storytelling performances and events for all the family as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025. The Festival tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky! Purchase a Storytelling Festival Pass and make the most of the Festival programme! Buy A Pass
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Storytelling Court
(Thu 16 Oct: 11am & 12pm - Dollar) If you go down to the woods today... who will you meet? Adventure through the trees with storytellers Mio Shudo and Lindsey Gibb as they share tales of marvellous and mythical woodland creatures from around the world. At Japanese Garden at Cowden, Upper Hillfoot Rd, FK14 7PL. ~~~~~ Discover a rich programme of local storytelling events, from the southwest to the very north of Scotland through Go Local as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025. The Festival tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky!
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Regional Events
(Fri 17-Sun 26 Oct - Dumfries) Our annual festival celebrates the inspirational journey undertaken by the geese from Svalbard to Scotland, and uses them and other migratory species as a sign to deepen our connection with the natural world. We aim to engage our communities through creativity, education and play, building meaningful relationships and encouraging people across generations to reconnect with the environment they live in. Hosted by The Stove Network. ~~~~~ Discover a rich programme of local storytelling events, from the southwest to the very north of Scotland through Go Local as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025. The Festival tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky!
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Regional Events
(Fri 17 Oct: 2pm) A girl faces a dragon. Songs and stories are her weapons and her armour. Join storyteller Daiva Ivanauskaitė-Brown for a magical tale about courage and dreams. This performance brings together tales and tunes from Lithuania and Scotland, with live music from Gaynor Barradell. ~~~~~ Join us in the school holidays and across the Festival for a selection of storytelling performances and events for all the family as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025. The Festival tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky! Purchase a Storytelling Festival Pass and make the most of the Festival programme! Buy A Pass
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Netherbow Theatre
(Fri 17 Oct: 7:30pm - Crail) Norwegian storyteller, historian and author Thor Ewing takes us on a rare journey to the northern realms, diving deep into Icelandic sagas and Viking myths. Accompanied by lyre, flute and drum, he will regale us with ancient tales of Odin, Asgarth and Balder. Storyteller Riikka Palonen from Sweden and musician Richard Clarke will set the scene with Nordic songs and ballads. At Crail Community Hall, St Andrews Rd, KY10 3UH. ~~~~~ Discover a rich programme of local storytelling events, from the southwest to the very north of Scotland through Go Local as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025. The Festival tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky!
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Regional Events
(Sat 18 Oct: 2pm) What makes a good story...?! Join storyteller Nicola Wright for cliffhangers, love stories and rags-to-riches tales, bringing 900 years of Edinburgh’s history vividly to life through the eyes of young people. Stories so wild you cannot make them up! For young people (and their adults) with an ear for a story! Supported by the City of Edinburgh Council 900 fund. ~~~~~ Join us in the school holidays and across the Festival for a selection of storytelling performances and events for all the family as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025. The Festival tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky! Purchase a Storytelling Festival Pass and make the most of the Festival programme! Buy A Pass
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
George Mackay Brown Library
(Sat 18 Oct: 4pm - Strathpeffer) Join storytellers Lizzie McDougall and Sunny Moodie, with clàrsach player Siannie Moodie and musician Nick Jenkins, for an afternoon of music and stories in the ancestral home of the Chief of Clan MacKenzie. The fine portraits on the walls echo with past adventures, making it a very special place to enjoy tales and tunes evoking this rich history. Tickets are limited, please book in advance. At Castle Leod, IV14 9AA. ~~~~~ Discover a rich programme of local storytelling events, from the southwest to the very north of Scotland through Go Local as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025. The Festival tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky!
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Regional Events
(Sat 18 Oct: 6:45pm) BLOOM is a dance performance and personal story from Tokyo-born, Scotland based Percussive Step Dancer Kae Sakurai. This lyrical and innovative work blends expressive percussive dance with original music inspired by tradition, complemented by poetic video projections. BLOOM will delight, refresh and inspire. After the show join us for a fun-filled evening of Ceilidh dancing, a lively Scottish tradition perfect for all ages and abilities! No experience? No problem! Our friendly caller will guide you through the steps, ensuring everyone feels confident and ready to dance. Running orderPerformance 35minInterval 30minsCeilidh: 45 mins ~~~~~ Join us in the school holidays and across the Festival for a selection of storytelling performances and events for all the family as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025. The Festival tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky! Purchase a Storytelling Festival Pass and make the most of the Festival programme! Buy A PassFunded by Creative Scotland’s Touring Fund for Theatre and Dance.
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Netherbow Theatre
(Sun 19 Oct: 1pm) Come with family and friends to dance Scottish dances and sing well-known songs with the Minnow Cèilidh Band. All dances will be called and there’ll be easy-to-follow circles for wee ones. A fun introduction to sociable dancing with live music. ~~~~~ Join us in the school holidays and across the Festival for a selection of storytelling performances and events for all the family as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025. The Festival tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky! Purchase a Storytelling Festival Pass and make the most of the Festival programme! Buy A Pass
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Storytelling Court
(Wed 22 Oct: 6pm) A mythical journey through the celestial origin stories of the Fenno-Baltic tradition, told by Finnish-born storyteller Riikka Palonen, accompanied by folk musician Richard Clarke. Modern science tells us we were born from stardust, but how did the ancient people in the north know that? Elemental tales like these remind us that we share this planet, alongside bears, cranes and wolves, but who told the first stories? This performance will be interpreted in British Sign Language. ~~~~~ The Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025 tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky! Purchase a Storytelling Festival Pass and make the most of the Festival programme! Buy A Pass
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Netherbow Theatre
(Wed 22 Oct: 8pm) Our Open Hearth sessions gather together storytellers and musicians for a relaxed evening of stories and music in the Netherbow Theatre. As the darkness closes in and minds glow with pictures in the symbolic fire, this is the perfect way to end your day! Featuring Beverley Bryant, Mimesis Heidi Dahlsveen and Colin Urwin, with musician Marit Fält. ~~~~~ The Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025 tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky! Purchase a Storytelling Festival Pass and make the most of the Festival programme! Buy A Pass
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Netherbow Theatre
(Thu 23-Sun 26 Oct - Orkney) The small festival with a big heart gives you a warm welcome to a four-day celebration of traditional stories in beautiful places all around the islands. Featuring daily performances of guest storytellers Hjörleifur Stefánsson from Iceland and Jerker Fahlström from Sweden, joined by local storytellers Tom Muir, Fran Flett Hollinrake, Marita Luck, Erin Farley and Chris Perry. Come and join an island cèilidh! ~~~~~ Discover a rich programme of local storytelling events, from the southwest to the very north of Scotland through Go Local as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025. The Festival tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky!
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Regional Events
(Thu 23-Fri 31 Oct - Glasgow) The Village Storytelling Centre presents a lively series of events celebrating all kinds of stories, from traditional folk tales to autobiographical, from myths and legends to chilling ghost tales. Special guests Hjörleifur Stefánsson and Mima Merrow join local storytellers in a Glasgow cèilidh. Thu 23 Oct - Sangs an’ Clatter: Emerging Voices in StorytellingFri 24 Oct - What We Talk about When We Talk about Life & Three Voices: Stories in GlasgowMon 27 Oct - Community Sangs an’ ClatterFri 31 Oct - The Village Storytelling Centre’s Halloween Parade ~~~~~ Discover a rich programme of local storytelling events, from the southwest to the very north of Scotland through Go Local as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025. The Festival tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky!
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Regional Events
(Thu 23 Oct: 10:30am) Scotland’s storytelling tradition has been nurtured by decades of fieldwork by folklorists, capturing the wealth of our intangible cultural heritage and bridging the gap between the past, present, and future. In this engaging and hands-on workshop, storytellers will learn how to explore, interpret, and creatively incorporate sound archives and field recordings into their craft. We’ll also delve into ethical considerations for sourcing and acknowledging materials, honouring the voices of our forebears with respect and care, ensuring the tradition thrives for generations to come. With TRACS CEO Steve Byrne. ~~~~~ The Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025 tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky! Purchase a Storytelling Festival Pass and make the most of the Festival programme! Buy A Pass
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Training Venue at SSC
(Thu 23 Oct: 11:15am - North Dell) Storytellers Ian Stephen and Magaidh Smith share and compare stories of North Atlantic islands. Magaidh will contribute Gaelic versions of some of the tales. The event is part of the maritime programme Fèis na Fairge. At Comunn Eachdraidh Nis, HS2 0SN. ~~~~~ Discover a rich programme of local storytelling events, from the southwest to the very north of Scotland through Go Local as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025. The Festival tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky!
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Regional Events
(Thu 23 Oct: 6pm) The old stories tell us there is one place on Earth where the birds laid down their wings in peace - yet the real battle rages on, the endless war against forgetting. Storyteller Mark Borthwick weaves traditional and electronic music together with full-blooded stories of the old world to transport us to the shores of a new one, where stories are currency, and memory is home. An exploration of postwar migrations, family histories lost to time, and the stories which made us all that we are, a long time ago. ~~~~~ The Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025 tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky! Purchase a Storytelling Festival Pass and make the most of the Festival programme! Buy A Pass
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Netherbow Theatre
(Thu 23 Oct: 8pm) Inspired by David Thomson’s remarkable work The People of the Sea, storytellers Ruth Kirkpatrick and Colin Urwin bring selkie myths and coastal voices back to life. Both tender and brutal, Thomson’s collection of seal folklore and folktales from the coasts of Scotland and Ireland captures the mythic bond between people and nature, acting as a quiet yet powerful homage to a disappearing world. ~~~~~ The Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025 tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky! Purchase a Storytelling Festival Pass and make the most of the Festival programme! Buy A Pass
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Netherbow Theatre
(Fri 24 Oct: 10:30am) Storytellers working with musicians is a well-ploughed furrow, but little exploration has been done around the innate musicality of storytellers when talking. Storyteller Daniel Serridge and musician Neil Wood discuss how your telling changes and grows when working in tandem with a musician, exploring pace, rhythm and atmosphere. Everyone is musicking! ~~~~~ The Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025 tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky! Purchase a Storytelling Festival Pass and make the most of the Festival programme! Buy A Pass
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Training Venue at SSC
(Fri 24 Oct: 4pm) Norwegian storytellers Mimesis Heidi Dahlsveen and Georgiana Keable Jerstad share tales of trolls, hens and strange husbands. A chance to enjoy the company of two of Norway’s leading storytellers, also celebrating the launch of Georgiana’s new collection Norwegian Folk Tales (The History Press). ~~~~~ The Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025 tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky! Purchase a Storytelling Festival Pass and make the most of the Festival programme! Buy A Pass
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Netherbow Theatre
(Fri 24 Oct: 5pm - Stornoway) Inspired by the tradition of gathering together to hear a traveller’s tales, storytellers Magaidh Smith and Ian Stephen present a story exchange and share travellers adventures that link us with our North Atlantic neighbours. Featuring tunes, songs and Gaelic versions of the tales from Magaidh. Hosted by An Taigh Cèilidh, 16 Church St, HS1 2DH. ~~~~~ Discover a rich programme of local storytelling events, from the southwest to the very north of Scotland through Go Local as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025. The Festival tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky!
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Regional Events
(Fri 24 Oct & Sat 25 Oct: 6pm - Isle of Skye) Be transported to the magical Hebridean Islands and the Highlands of Scotland through stories and legends collected by folklorist Otta Swire, who captured the spirit and traditions of a bygone era. With story, music and imagery, storytellers Bea Ferguson and Heather Yule explore the captivating tales of these lands, and the people and strange creatures who dwelt there. Hosted by SEALL.Fri 24 Oct: At Dunvegan Community Hall, IV55 8WA.Sat 25 Oct: At An Crùbh, Sleat, IV43 8QU. ~~~~~ Discover a rich programme of local storytelling events, from the southwest to the very north of Scotland through Go Local as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025. The Festival tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky!
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Regional Events
(Fri 24 Oct: 6pm) Niall Moorjani and Ailsa Dixon present an evocative and moving exploration of what it is to be human, as they lyrically synthesise storytelling with live music and Orcadian folk song. Come for the music, stories and songs, stay for the deep exploration of trans experience in Scotland today, through three queered and reimagined selkies set in the past, present and future. ~~~~~ The Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025 tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky! Purchase a Storytelling Festival Pass and make the most of the Festival programme! Buy A Pass
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Netherbow Theatre
(Fri 24 & Sat 25 Oct: 7pm - Unst & Bigton) As the nights draw in, come and hear tales from Shetland’s past. A collection of folktales and historical stories all themed on the dark nights of Winter. From magical to factual and even funny. These stories have been gathered from books and memories. Told by storyteller and comedian Marjolein Robertson. Fri 24 Oct 7pm at Uyeasound Hall, Uyeasound, ZE2 9DL.Sat 25 Oct 7pm at Hymhus, ZE2 9JF. ~~~~~ Discover a rich programme of local storytelling events, from the southwest to the very north of Scotland through Go Local as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025. The Festival tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky!
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Regional Events
(Fri 24 Oct & Sat 25 Oct: 7:30pm - Isle of Skye) Tha seanchaidh Àdhamh Ó Broin a’ cur fàilte blath thugamh a chruinneachadh chòmhla gus ionmhas sgeulachdan nan Gàidheal, òrain is seudan eile aige a’ co-phàirteachadh bho Earra- Ghàidheal. Bidh an tachartas seo ann an Gàidhlig is Beurla. Gaelic tradition-bearer Àdhamh Ó Broin invites you to an informal, cosy gathering as he shares his treasure of Gaelic stories, songs and other nuggets of lore from Central Argyll. The event will feature Gaelic and English. Hostead by SEALL.Fri 24 Oct: At Dunvegan Community Hall, IV55 8WA.Sat 25 Oct: At At An Crùbh, Sleat, IV43 8QU. ~~~~~ Discover a rich programme of local storytelling events, from the southwest to the very north of Scotland through Go Local as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025. The Festival tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky!
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Regional Events
(Fri 24 Oct: 8pm) Our Open Hearth sessions gather together storytellers and musicians for a relaxed evening of stories and music in the Netherbow Theatre. As the darkness closes in and minds glow with pictures in the symbolic fire, this is the perfect way to end your day! Featuring Kirsten Milliken, Bob Mitchell, Inés Álvarez Villa and musician Claire White. ~~~~~ The Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025 tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky! Purchase a Storytelling Festival Pass and make the most of the Festival programme! Buy A Pass
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Netherbow Theatre
(Sat 25 Oct: 10:30am) A lot of classic fairy tales, especially well-known ones by the Brothers Grimm, have been heavily edited over the years by removing the grisliest details to make them more palatable. Join storyteller Anna Lehr to rediscover the original tales, explore the forgotten ones and work on your very own gruesome tale that will send shivers down your audience’s spine! ~~~~~ The Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025 tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky! Purchase a Storytelling Festival Pass and make the most of the Festival programme! Buy A Pass
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Training Venue at SSC
(Sat 25 Oct: 11am) Join storyteller Ailie Finlay for some sensory stories from the forests of the North. Big cosy bears in caves, tiny birds and the first snow of the year! We’ll learn all about heat and cold and have fun with lots of props to squish and shake. We’ll finish the session with a simple sensory craft activity. Fun for everyone but particularly suitable for children with additional needs and their families and friends.. ~~~~~ Join us in the school holidays and across the Festival for a selection of storytelling performances and events for all the family as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025. The Festival tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky! Purchase a Storytelling Festival Pass and make the most of the Festival programme! Buy A Pass
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Storytelling Court
(Sat 25 Oct: 2pm - Findhorn) Storytellers Ruth Kirkpatrick and Colin Urwin invite you to a playful workshop where you’ll discover how to breathe life into the written word and make stories your own. Building on their performance of The People of the Sea, they’ll share insights into their own creative process, from choosing the right material to shaping it for the oral tradition. At Universal Hall, The Park, IV36 3TZ ~~~~~ Discover a rich programme of local storytelling events, from the southwest to the very north of Scotland through Go Local as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025. The Festival tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky!
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Regional Events
(Sat 25 Oct: 2pm) Hear some of the background inspirations and values of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival, including the Andy Hunter Storytelling Bursary, the Earth Stories Collection and the work of the Scottish Storytelling Forum. A chance to also share your own aims and purposes in a networking space, bringing together performers and attendees who are interested in storytelling skills and sources, community projects and creative collaboration. This event will be interpreted in British Sign Language. ~~~~~ The Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025 tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky! Purchase a Storytelling Festival Pass and make the most of the Festival programme! Buy A Pass
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Storytelling Court
(Sat 25 Oct: 3pm - Bigton) Many folktales travel from place to place, making each setting their new home. In this workshop we’ll look through stories and retell them to find their true heart. Through exercises and storytelling, we will then bring them to life in a setting that’s familiar to you. Hosted by storyteller Marjolein Robertson. At Hymhus, ZE2 9JF. ~~~~~ Discover a rich programme of local storytelling events, from the southwest to the very north of Scotland through Go Local as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025. The Festival tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky! Purchase a Storytelling Festival Pass and make the most of the Festival programme! Buy A Pass
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Regional Events
(Sat 25 Oct: 4pm) Enjoy the future of European storytelling with 3 short performances in collaboration with FEST (Federation of European Storytelling). What’s the Difference? by Geoffrey van der Ven delves into the emotions of shame and personal isolation. (Not) Your Girl! by Winter de Cock weaves auto-fiction and myth, asking enduring questions of female objectification, agency and consent. Cassandra by Ailsa Dixon blends Greek myth, Scottish folklore and personal narrative into an exploration of prophecy, protest and survival. Come see the future! ~~~~~ The Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025 tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky! Purchase a Storytelling Festival Pass and make the most of the Festival programme! Buy A Pass
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Netherbow Theatre
(Sat 25 Oct: 6pm) A dynamic group of storytellers reimagine the forgotten tale of St Enoch, mother of St Mungo, through the journeys of four women making their lives in Glasgow. Woven with myth, movement and lived experience, this contemporary performance is a love letter to a northern city and a celebration of resilience, homemaking and voice. With Sarah Wedderburn-Ogilvy, Isobel O’Donovan, Daiva Ivanauskaitė-Brown and Trinidad Cabezón Droguett. Originally created for the Village Storytelling Festival 2024. ~~~~~ The Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025 tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky! Purchase a Storytelling Festival Pass and make the most of the Festival programme! Buy A Pass
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Netherbow Theatre
(Sat 25 Oct: 6pm - Kenmore) From the great river Tay to the peak of Galdhøpiggen, the land around us tells us stories: come and listen to what it has to say. Storyteller and author of the newly published Norwegian Folk Tales Georgiana Keable Jerstad and Lindsey Gibb, local storyteller and co-author of Perthshire Folk Tales, will share tales of the land and people. At the Scottish Crannog Centre, Loch Tay, PH15 2HY. ~~~~~ Discover a rich programme of local storytelling events, from the southwest to the very north of Scotland through Go Local as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025. The Festival tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky!
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Regional Events
(Sat 25 Oct: 7:30pm - Findhorn) Inspired by David Thomson’s remarkable work The People of the Sea, storytellers Ruth Kirkpatrick and Colin Urwin bring selkie myths and coastal voices back to life. Both tender and brutal, Thomson’s collection of seal folklore and folktales from the coasts of Scotland and Ireland captures the mythic bond between people and nature, acting as a quiet yet powerful homage to a disappearing world. At Universal Hall, The Park, IV36 3TZ ~~~~~ Discover a rich programme of local storytelling events, from the southwest to the very north of Scotland through Go Local as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025. The Festival tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky!
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Regional Events
(Sat 25 Oct: 8pm) Land of rivers, lochs and waterways, Scotland is a place where the signs of Cailleach, Bodach and Salmon still shimmer amidst the stones and shrines. Inspired by Scottish rivers, the stories they carry and their fragile eco-system, Eileen Budd and David McAlmont present a narrative blend of storytelling, songs and visual arts, with sound design and traditional rhythms from Debbie Armour. Includes Gaelic content, with translations for non-Gaelic speakers. ~~~~~ The Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025 tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky! Purchase a Storytelling Festival Pass and make the most of the Festival programme! Buy A Pass
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Netherbow Theatre
(Sun 26 Oct: 10:30am) Join Norwegian storyteller Mimesis Heidi Dahlsveen in an immersive workshop where we will delve into the rich tradition of the Norse ‘skalds’ (bards) and their storytelling techniques. We will explore the poetic and narrative tools that skalds used to captivate their audiences and bring the stories from Norse mythology to life. ~~~~~ The Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025 tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky! Purchase a Storytelling Festival Pass and make the most of the Festival programme! Buy A Pass
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Training Venue at SSC
(Sun 26 Oct: 12pm, 1pm & 2pm - Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh) Step into a soft, sensory storytelling experience, following the incredible journey of the Painted Lady Butterfly. Every year she travels 9000 miles all over the world ensuring the survival of her entire species. Impossible to complete alone, the journey happens across five generations. Through puppetry, participation and play, Fibi Cowley shows us what we can learn from this incredible creature, and how past generations can inspire us to make the world a better place. Please meet at the Botanic Cottage in the Demonstration Garden and dress for the weather! ~~~~~ Join us in the school holidays and across the Festival for a selection of storytelling performances and events for all the family as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025. The Festival tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky! Purchase a Storytelling Festival Pass and make the most of the Festival programme! Buy A Pass
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh
(Sun 26 Oct - Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh) Giant turnips, lush rampions, magic beans and pumpkins turned into golden coaches! Veggie gardens have thrived with stories since the beginning of time. You are welcome to come and discover them with our storytellers, for an afternoon of fun and magic for all ages! Drop-in for Wee Stories at the Gazebo, take a Story Walks through the gardens and explore the story of the Painted Lady in A Dispute with a Butterfly. Please meet at the Botanic Cottage in the Demonstration Garden and dress for the weather! *Please note Magician with Wood (workshop) will now be held at the Scottish Storytelling Centre, not at RBGE as advertised in print. ~~~~~ Join us in the school holidays and across the Festival for a selection of storytelling performances and events for all the family as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025. The Festival tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky! Purchase a Storytelling Festival Pass and make the most of the Festival programme! Buy A Pass Illustration by Annalisa Salis.
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh
(Sun 26 Oct: 12pm-4pm - Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh) Explore stories of nature and things that grow on a story walk, with Amanda Edmiston, Mara Menzies and Georgiana Keable Jerstad. These 20min sessions are designed as story walks around a section of the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, so not suitable for younger children. Please meet at the Botanic Cottage in the Demonstration Garden and dress for the weather! ScheduleAmanda Edmiston 12:15pm, 1:45pm, 3:15pmMara Menzies 12:45pm, 2:15pm, 3:30pmGeorgiana Keable Jerstad 1:15pm, 2:45pm ~~~~~ Join us in the school holidays and across the Festival for a selection of storytelling performances and events for all the family as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025. The Festival tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky! Purchase a Storytelling Festival Pass and make the most of the Festival programme! Buy A Pass
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh
(Sun 26 Oct: 12pm-4pm - Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh) Drop-in for free storytelling sessions at the Gazebo, with Kate Walker, Marie-Louise Cochrane and Owen Pilgrim. Please meet at the Botanic Cottage in the Demonstration Garden and dress for the weather! ScheduleMarie-Louise Cochrane 12pm, 1:30pm, 3pmOwen Pilgrim 12:30pm, 2pm, 3:30pmKate Walker 1pm, 2:30pm ~~~~~ Join us in the school holidays and across the Festival for a selection of storytelling performances and events for all the family as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025. The Festival tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky! Purchase a Storytelling Festival Pass and make the most of the Festival programme! Buy A Pass Illustration by Annalisa Salis.
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh
(Sun 26 Oct: 1:30pm) *Please note, this event is now held at the Scottish Storytelling Centre from 1:30pm, not at the Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh* This workshop, led by filmmaker Beatrix Wood, invites participants to be inspired by trees and wood through a series of playful, experimental and creative exercises to create a modern myth together. Extracts from Beatrix’s film Tim Stead: Magician with Wood will act as a catalyst, as well as some of Tim’s own poems. No prior skills or experience needed. ~~~~~ The Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025 tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky! Purchase a Storytelling Festival Pass and make the most of the Festival programme! Buy A Pass
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Training Venue at SSC
(Sun 26 Oct - Peterhead) Join storyteller Pauline Cordiner for a day of spooky Aden Halloween events! Spooky Shadows, Ghostly Tales & Spooky Crafts2.30pm (1hr) | £10 | 8-12yrsHorrible Histories of Aden and Beyond4pm (1hr) | £8 | 6yrs+Aden’s Terrifying Tales6.30pm (2hrs) | £15 | 18+ At Aberdeenshire Farming Museum, Aden Country Park, Mintlaw, AB42 5FQ. ~~~~~ Discover a rich programme of local storytelling events, from the southwest to the very north of Scotland through Go Local as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025. The Festival tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky!
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Regional Events
(Sun 26 Oct: 3pm - Perth) Join storyteller Andrew Woodward and musician Jon Hoad for a magical evening tracing the life of Merlin, from his otherworldly conception to his tragic end in ancient Lothian. Inspired by Amy Jeffs’ Storyland, expect myth, music and mystery woven through Scottish legend. At Osteria Bau Bau, 11 South St.Johns Place, PH1 5SU. ~~~~~ Discover a rich programme of local storytelling events, from the southwest to the very north of Scotland through Go Local as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025. The Festival tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky!
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Regional Events
(Sun 26 Oct: 3pm - Loch Awe) Young artists Ailsa Dixon and Neil Sutcliffe shine a light on Scots words, expressions and sayings, exploring how they relate to modern culture. They share folktales in Scots and Doric, integrated with a conversation about how they interact with the language in their own lives and with their peers. The show will feature a mix of traditional storytelling and music, with strong audience input. At St Conan’s Kirk, PA33 1AQ. ~~~~~ Discover a rich programme of local storytelling events, from the southwest to the very north of Scotland through Go Local as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025. The Festival tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky!
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Regional Events
(Sun 26 Oct: 4pm) Deep in the woods of Kalevala, a voice rises. Old man Väinämöinen has been promised the lovely young Aino as his bride! He sings his joy, twice, three times. But his troubles have only begun. Journey into the northern forests with storyteller Linda Perttula and singer- songwriter Aino Elina as they combine teenage memories, ancient poetry and ethereal vocals in search for a connection to the Finnish epic. ~~~~~ The Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025 tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky! Purchase a Storytelling Festival Pass and make the most of the Festival programme! Buy A Pass
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Netherbow Theatre
(Sun 26 Oct: 6pm) Tania Allan and Craig McCulloch share two haunting tales of captivity, silence and survival. Weaving together Selkie myths and Deaf history, they explore themes of oppression, abuse, environmental destruction and cultural erasure. Though rooted in the past, the stories still echo loudly today, and they both fight for freedom. Performed in British Sign Language, with spoken English interpretation. This session will include a short panel discussion as part of the 1hr event. ~~~~~ The Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025 tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky! Purchase a Storytelling Festival Pass and make the most of the Festival programme! Buy A Pass
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Netherbow Theatre
(Sun 26 Oct: 8pm) As the nights draw in, come and hear tales from Shetland’s past. A collection of folktales and historical stories arching across the dark nights of Winter. From magical to factual and even funny, these stories have been gathered from the books and memories of Shetlanders. Told by storyteller and comedian Marjolein Robertson. This performance will be interpreted in British Sign Language. ~~~~~ As da nichts draa in, gadder aboot tae hear tales fae Shetland's past. A collection o folktales and history fae daggri tae dagalien ida dark nichts o Winter. Fae stories o magic, truth an humour. Aa o dem gaddered fae books and folk. Telt by storyteller and comedian Marjolein Robertson. Dis performance will be interpreted in British Sign Language. ~~~~~ The Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025 tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky! Purchase a Storytelling Festival Pass and make the most of the Festival programme! Buy A Pass
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Netherbow Theatre
(Mon 27 Oct: 2:30pm) This exchange of stories between German and Scottish sources highlights the continuing importance of fairy tales, and the richness of local versions. Event in English and Scots with some running commentary on language. Recommended for adults and older children. With Franziska Droll and Donald Smith. ~~~~~ The Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025 tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky! Purchase a Storytelling Festival Pass and make the most of the Festival programme! Buy A Pass
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
National Library of Scotland
(Mon 27 Oct: 5pm) Pioneering Norwegian, German and Scottish folk tale collectors inspired each other. Norwegian storyteller Mimesis Heidi Dahlsveen reveals some salty riches gathered by Peter Christen Asbjørnsen and Jørgen Moe, for contemporary adult audiences. ~~~~~ The Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025 tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky! Purchase a Storytelling Festival Pass and make the most of the Festival programme! Buy A Pass
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
National Library of Scotland
(Mon 27 Oct: 5pm) A first-ever Edinburgh screening for this documentary about innovative wood sculptor and furniture designer Tim Stead. The whole story of a man, a tree, a wood, a sculpted home and a legacy to be protected. Join director Beatrix Wood for a special screening and Q&A, and enjoy some of Tim’s original furniture in the Centre’s Cafe. ~~~~~ The Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025 tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky! Purchase a Storytelling Festival Pass and make the most of the Festival programme! Buy A Pass
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Netherbow Theatre
(Mon 27 Oct: 8pm) As darkness descends, join storyteller and musician Marion Kenny as she pays homage to her friend and mentor, the late Duncan Williamson, widely acknowledged as Scotland’s greatest ever storyteller. Marion will mesmerise and enchant as she shares Scottish folktales passed down by word of mouth, magically interweaving words with harp and flute. ~~~~~ The Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025 tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky! Purchase a Storytelling Festival Pass and make the most of the Festival programme! Buy A Pass
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Netherbow Theatre
(Tue 28 Oct: 2:30pm) The National Library of Scotland holds the collections of John Francis Campbell, a true Light of the North, and many other sources, including three volumes of The Dewar Manuscripts. Ruairidh Maclean and Donald Smith share some treasures in English and Gaelic, accompanied by written translations. ~~~~~ The Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025 tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky! Purchase a Storytelling Festival Pass and make the most of the Festival programme! Buy A Pass
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
National Library of Scotland
(Tue 28 Oct: 4pm) Swedish storyteller Jerker Fahlström shares traditional folktales from the forests of his native country and beyond. Be ready for a fun journey to the north, in company of one of Sweden’s leading storytellers. ~~~~~ The Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025 tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky! Purchase a Storytelling Festival Pass and make the most of the Festival programme! Buy A Pass
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Netherbow Theatre
(Tue 28 Oct: 5:30pm - Aberfeldy) Birks Cinema invites you to a double event about swans, their migrations and the stories they carry. Flight of the Swans (1hr): A film screening about the Bewick’s swans and their annual migration. Followed by discussion with film protagonist and producer Sacha Dench.The Swan Woman (2hrs): Finnish storyteller Anna-Maria Toivonen and Scottish storyteller Claire Hewitt weave swan lore, songs and stories from their traditions around a magical transformation tale from the North. Hosted by Birks Cinema, 1 Dunkeld St, PH15 2DA. ~~~~~ Discover a rich programme of local storytelling events, from the southwest to the very north of Scotland through Go Local as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025. The Festival tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky!
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Regional Events
(Tue 28 Oct: 6pm) Scottish place names and their origins are important. Join Dr Robert Fell to hear about the perspectives of Nackens (Scottish Gypsy Travellers) and how their folklore can give us unique insights into Scotland’s history and her place names. With special guest Shamus McPhee, who recounts a curious episode from Highland Perthshire that gave Balquhidder its name. Presented in memory of Scottish scholar Alan Bruford, in partnership with the University of Edinburgh’s Department of Celtic and Scottish Studies. ~~~~~ The Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025 tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky! Purchase a Storytelling Festival Pass and make the most of the Festival programme! Buy A Pass
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Netherbow Theatre
(Tue 28 Oct: 6:30pm - Aberdeen) Norwegian storyteller Mimesis Heidi Dahlsveen shares stories on the inevitable concept of death and, throughout the evening, we encounter death as it is characterized in Norwegian folktales, legends, and Old Norse poetry and prose. The storytelling performance explores the topic with a distinct emphasis on both the poetic and the humorous. Hosted by GAS (Grampian Association of Storytellers) and Elphinstone Institute. At the Sir Duncan Rice Library, Bedford Rd, AB24 3AA. ~~~~~ Discover a rich programme of local storytelling events, from the southwest to the very north of Scotland through Go Local as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025. The Festival tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky!
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Regional Events
(Tue 28 Oct: 8pm) Our Open Hearth sessions gather together storytellers and musicians for a relaxed evening of stories and music in the Netherbow Theatre. As the darkness closes in and minds glow with pictures in the symbolic fire, this is the perfect way to end your day! Featuring Grace Banks, Johan Sandberg McGuinne, Jackie Ross and musician Tom Oakes. ~~~~~ The Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025 tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky! Purchase a Storytelling Festival Pass and make the most of the Festival programme! Buy A Pass
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Netherbow Theatre
(Wed 29 Oct: 10:30am, 12pm & 2pm - Stirling) Storyteller Caroline Carmichael and Stirling makar Laura Fyfe bring you stories and poems that respond to the lives of the ordinary people of Stirling Castle, and Argyll and Sutherland regiment. It’s a place where Gaelic meets Scots, and the gateway to the north. Stories will be in English, with a distinct Gaelic and Scots flavour. At Stirling Castle, Castle Wynd, FK8 1EJ. ~~~~~ Discover a rich programme of local storytelling events, from the southwest to the very north of Scotland through Go Local as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025. The Festival tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky!
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Regional Events
(Wed 29 Oct: 10:30am) Discover the legacy of Vilmos Csipkés, one of Hungary’s last traditional Roma storytellers, led by Boglárka Klitsie-Szabad of the Hungarian Heritage House. Explore Csipkés’ rich repertoire of magical tales, religious stories, and humorous anecdotes through subtitled video excerpts and ethnographic insights. Learn about his performative techniques and storytelling contexts, documented using the performer-centered Budapest School method. ~~~~~ The Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025 tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky! Purchase a Storytelling Festival Pass and make the most of the Festival programme! Buy A Pass
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Training Venue at SSC
(Wed 29 Oct: 2:30pm) Scotland’s storytelling renaissance could not have happened without the generosity of Scotland’s Travelling People. Enjoy the flow of tales with two storytellers who draw on rich Traveller family and cultural traditions. With Jess Smith and Jimmy Williamson. ~~~~~ The Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025 tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky! Purchase a Storytelling Festival Pass and make the most of the Festival programme! Buy A Pass
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
National Library of Scotland
(Wed 29 Oct: 4pm) Storyteller Hjörleifur Stefánsson shares tales from the spellbinding highlands of Iceland, where locals and Huldufólk (hidden people) live in harmony, most of the time. A chance to enjoy the company of one of Iceland’s leading storytellers. ~~~~~ The Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025 tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky! Purchase a Storytelling Festival Pass and make the most of the Festival programme! Buy A Pass
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Netherbow Theatre
(Wed 29 & Thu 30 Oct: 6pm - Isle of Bute) Scotland’s rainforest thrives with stories and folklore. Come and hear of treasures hiding under dancing trees and learn how Argyll oaks were turned into weapons of war. With Luke Winter of Story Wagon. At Anchor Community Hub, 33 Marine Rd, Port Bannatyne, PA20 0LL. ~~~~~ Discover a rich programme of local storytelling events, from the southwest to the very north of Scotland through Go Local as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025. The Festival tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky!
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Regional Events
(Wed 29 Oct: 6pm) Enjoy a flow of tales and songs with Scotland’s Travelling People, whose traditions have been gathered from all parts of Scotland. Go with the magic of Jess Smith, Jimmy Williamson and special guest David Pullar, as they explore the riches of Traveller heritage passed down to them through generations. This performance will be interpreted in British Sign Language. ~~~~~ The Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025 tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky! Purchase a Storytelling Festival Pass and make the most of the Festival programme! Buy A Pass
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Netherbow Theatre
(Wed 29 Oct: 7pm - Dumfries) Come gather around the fire of inspiration as Finnish storyteller Anna-Maria Toivonen and Scottish storyteller and visual artist Claire Hewitt weave bird lore, songs and stories from their traditions around a magical transformation tale from the North. As a run-up to the event Claire will display a selection of artworks from her recent exhibition Swan Woman, inspired by the stories she tells. At the Stove Café, 100 High Street, DG11BX. ~~~~~ Discover a rich programme of local storytelling events, from the southwest to the very north of Scotland through Go Local as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025. The Festival tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky!
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Regional Events
(Wed 29 Oct: 8pm) Fresh from cèilidhs and story nights at the recently concluded Orkney Storytelling Festival, Nordic storytellers from Orkney, Iceland and Sweden gather once again to share more of their Viking adventures. With Tom Muir, Hjörleifur Stefánsson and Jerker Fahlström. ~~~~~ The Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025 tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky! Purchase a Storytelling Festival Pass and make the most of the Festival programme! Buy A Pass
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Netherbow Theatre
(Thu 30 Oct: 10:30am) Join Tania Allan and Emery Hunter to explore storytelling through both British Sign Language and English in this inclusive, creative workshop. You’ll learn how to develop expressive characters and bring your story to life using movement, facial expression, and voice. Perfect for beginners or those looking to build confidence in bilingual storytelling. Everyone welcome! Interpreters provided. ~~~~~ The Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025 tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky! Purchase a Storytelling Festival Pass and make the most of the Festival programme! Buy A Pass
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Training Venue at SSC
(Thu 30 Oct: 6pm) Danish storyteller Svend-Erik Engh and Scottish musician Neil Sutcliffe present an original tale of a young woman setting out to create her own destiny in Viking times. Brought to life through storytelling and music, blending traditional and original pieces. This performance will be interpreted in British Sign Language. ~~~~~ The Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025 tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky! Purchase a Storytelling Festival Pass and make the most of the Festival programme! Buy A Pass
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Netherbow Theatre
(Thu 30 Oct: 6pm - Glasgow) The event explores the continuing influence of the Brothers Grimm on folklore and collective imagination and memory in Germany, Europe and far beyond. The development of the tales through time shed light on the uses and abuses of folklore, the importance of language, and the continuing importance of fairy tales for adults and children. Introduced by Kristin Wardetzky with re-telling from Suse Weisse, followed by discussion. At the Goethe-Institut, 3 Park Circus, G3 6AX. ~~~~~ Discover a rich programme of local storytelling events, from the southwest to the very north of Scotland through Go Local as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025. The Festival tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky!
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Regional Events
(Thu 30 Oct: 7pm - Dundee) Join us for a storytelling journey across the oceans and into northern lands, where gods, monsters and mysteries await. Led by Blether Tay-Gither storytellers, with special guest Jerker Fahlström from Sweden. Hosted by Blether Tay-Gither. ~~~~~ Discover a rich programme of local storytelling events, from the southwest to the very north of Scotland through Go Local as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025. The Festival tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky!
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Regional Events
(Thu 30 Oct: 7:30pm - Glasgow) The Village Storytelling Centre’s flagship storytelling night comes to the Festival and welcomes storytellers from across the world. Featuring storyteller Hjörleifur Stefánsson from Iceland, music from the fantastic Irish singer- songwriter Mima Merrow and many more special guests. Venue: The Boardwalk, 105 Brunswick St, G1 1TF ~~~~~ Discover a rich programme of local storytelling events, from the southwest to the very north of Scotland through Go Local as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025. The Festival tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky!
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Regional Events
(Thu 30 Oct: 8pm) The music of the pioneering Scottish musician Martyn Bennett flowed with many inspirations, none more so than that of the Scottish Travellers. His final album Grit saw him draw upon the ballads and stories of the Travellers, famously sampling Sheila Stewart’s version of Ewan MacColl’s The Moving On Song to incredible effect. We celebrate Martyn’s love of Traveller culture, whilst also exploring his wide use of world music through the Hindu Kali myths, in an evening with friends of Martyn’s and those still being inspired by his legacy today. With James MacDonald Reid, Gauri Raje, Jess Smith and Gary West. ~~~~~ The Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025 tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky! Purchase a Storytelling Festival Pass and make the most of the Festival programme! Buy A Pass
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Netherbow Theatre
(Fri 31 Oct: 10:30am) Join us for a panel discussion and presentations about all things storytelling tech and touring. Storyteller Gauri Raje and Tech Engineer Roddy Simpson chat about how they brought these two very different worlds together and how you can too. Award- winning producer Kate Taylor joins the panel bringing her knowledge and expertise, and Emyr Bell from NEAT will give a presentation. ~~~~~ The Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025 tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky! Purchase a Storytelling Festival Pass and make the most of the Festival programme! Buy A Pass
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Training Venue at SSC
(Fri 31 Oct: 2:30pm) Folklore and the natural world come close at seasonal festivals. Trees, plants and herbs bring light and dark as the northern winter begins. Recommended for adults and older children. With German storyteller Suse Weisse and in association with Goethe-Institut. ~~~~~ The Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025 tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky! Purchase a Storytelling Festival Pass and make the most of the Festival programme! Buy A Pass
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
National Library of Scotland
(Fri 31 Oct: 5pm - Stornoway) Eathraichean air a’ chuan mu bhraigh Eilean Leodhais eadar linn Clann ‘ic Leoid, Sabaist Mhor Wick agus iomadh seanchas eile. Bidh seo sa Ghàidhlig an cois Magaidh Nic a Ghobhainn agus a caraidean. Stories of boats linked to the Isle of Lewis through the ages, from the Clan Macleod era to herring fishing in Wick. With Magaidh Smith and friends. The event is in Gaelic. Hosted by An Taigh Cèilidh, 16 Church St, HS1 2DH. ~~~~~ Discover a rich programme of local storytelling events, from the southwest to the very north of Scotland through Go Local as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025. The Festival tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky!
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Regional Events
(Fri 31 Oct: 6pm) What happens if we lose our wings and forget how to dance, sing or let our soul take flight? Is it possible to live between human time and wild time? Storytellers and musicians Anna-Maria Toivonen and Claire Hewitt, invite you to gather round the fire of inspiration as they share their unique Finnish- Scottish weaving of this magical transformation tale, Swan Woman. ~~~~~ The Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025 tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky! Purchase a Storytelling Festival Pass and make the most of the Festival programme! Buy A Pass
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Netherbow Theatre
(Fri 31 Oct: 6:30pm - Kenmore) Join us for the ancient festival of Samhuinn and celebrate the end of the summer with fire, games, guising and feasting! Watch fire and pole performances by Wolanksi’s Pole and Aerial Fitness and revel in the music of Reely Jiggered. You can take part in our treasure hunt, create your own mask, have your fortune read by our blacksmith and listen to tales of ghosts and spirits. At the Scottish Crannog Centre Loch Tay, PH15 2HY. ~~~~~ Discover a rich programme of local storytelling events, from the southwest to the very north of Scotland through Go Local as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025. The Festival tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky!
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Regional Events
(Fri 31 Oct: 7:30pm) A festival Samhuinn special of Edinburgh’s long-running storytelling night. Featuring guest storyteller Mara Menzies, who leads a session of spooky stories! With the usual chance to share a tale of your own. ~~~~~ The Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025 tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky! Purchase a Storytelling Festival Pass and make the most of the Festival programme! Buy A Pass
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Waverley Bar
(Fri 31 Oct: 8pm) Storyteller Anna Lehr presents a tale about death, birth and what lies ‘dazwischen’ (in between). This exploration of fear, grief and reconciliation is loosely based on the Brother’s Grimm fairy tale Godfather Death, German songs, poems and traditions, and will feature Death itself in puppet form joining Anna on stage. ~~~~~ The Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025 tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky! Purchase a Storytelling Festival Pass and make the most of the Festival programme! Buy A Pass
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Netherbow Theatre
(Sat 1 Nov: 10:30am) Join us for a taboo-breaking workshop of storytelling, craft and honest conversation. In a safe, supportive environment, we will explore some traditional death stories then get hands-on, decorating a cardboard coffin and weaving a willow coffin with skilled artisans. This isn’t morbid, it’s liberating! Tackle fears, share experiences, and reclaim death as part of life’s natural rhythm. Led by storyteller, celebrant and death educator Beverley Bryant, this workshop transforms discomfort into understanding and isolation into community, offering new perspectives on life’s final chapter. ~~~~~ The Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025 tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky! Purchase a Storytelling Festival Pass and make the most of the Festival programme! Buy A Pass
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Training Venue at SSC
(Sat 1 Nov: 10:30am) Swedish storyteller and actor Jerker Fahlström leads us through the stages of analysing a text. Explore each character in your story: who they are, their role, and why they act the way they do. By the end, you’ll have a rich pool of insights to shape your narrative with depth and clarity. Please bring a story to work with, let’s get creative! ~~~~~ The Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025 tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky! Purchase a Storytelling Festival Pass and make the most of the Festival programme! Buy A Pass
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Training Venue at SSC
(Sat 1 Nov: 1:30pm) Join the Scottish Wildlife Trust and storyteller Allison Galbraith as we immerse ourselves in the magical, shimmering world of Scottish waters. We will explore the mythology, ecology and importance of rivers and waterways through Allison’s retelling of rare, watery Scottish legends. Then, we will celebrate storytellers of all ages who have captured the spirit and wonder of Scotland’s wildlife and wild places, as we announce the winners of the Words of the Wild nature writing competition. ~~~~~ Join us in the school holidays and across the Festival for a selection of storytelling performances and events for all the family as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025. The Festival tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky! Purchase a Storytelling Festival Pass and make the most of the Festival programme! Buy A Pass
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Netherbow Theatre
(Sat 1 Nov: 2pm) An open conversation with national and international guests about the networks and ideas that connect us. The networking strand at the Scottish International Storytelling Festival brings together performers and attendees who are interested in storytelling skills and sources, community projects and creative collaboration. ~~~~~ The Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025 tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky! Purchase a Storytelling Festival Pass and make the most of the Festival programme! Buy A Pass
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Storytelling Court
(Sat 1 Nov: 4pm) In the fourth century, a young woman steps onto a boat in Greece carrying the bones of a martyr. Triduana is part of a small group of missionaries determined to share the Christian faith by taking Saint Andrew’s bones ‘to the ends of the earth’. Her journey to the land of the Picts will take her across seas and rivers and through transformations of belief and body. Join Monica Madas and Erin Farley as they tell the story of Triduana’s voyage into unseen waters and mythologies through story, song and puppetry. ~~~~~ The Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025 tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky! Purchase a Storytelling Festival Pass and make the most of the Festival programme! Buy A Pass
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Netherbow Theatre
(Sat 1 Nov: 6pm) Across Cumbria, roads wend their way through picturesque countryside. Ancient dry stone walls hold the stories of the dead that were carried past on these secret and haunted trails. The Corpse Road follows the rise and fall, the twists and turns of these paths to tell the tale of characters that were carried to their final resting place. Storyteller Daniel Serridge and musician Heather Cartwright weave stories and songs together in this evocative and unnerving folkloric journey to the grave. ~~~~~ The Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025 tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky! Purchase a Storytelling Festival Pass and make the most of the Festival programme! Buy A Pass
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Netherbow Theatre
(Sat 1 Nov: 8pm) Our Open Hearth sessions gather together storytellers and musicians for a relaxed evening of stories and music in the Netherbow Theatre. As the darkness closes in and minds glow with pictures in the symbolic fire, this is the perfect way to end the festival! Featuring Dougie Mackay, Hjörleifur Stefánsson, Suse Weisse and musician Luisa Brown. ~~~~~ The Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025 tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky! Purchase a Storytelling Festival Pass and make the most of the Festival programme! Buy A Pass
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Netherbow Theatre
(Sun 2 Nov) This delightful Beltane Fire Society tradition allows parents to share in the magic of the Samhuinn story with their little ones through storytelling and music. Join us for a free morning of face painting and activities, followed by a ticketed session of storytelling and songs.. 10:30am face painting & activities, free and drop-in1pm storytelling session, ticketed below ~~~~~ Join us in the school holidays and across the Festival for a selection of storytelling performances and events for all the family as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025. The Festival tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky! Purchase a Storytelling Festival Pass and make the most of the Festival programme! Buy A Pass
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Storytelling Court
(Sun 2 Nov: 11am - Montrose) Eileen Budd shares the folklore of our Northern skies, stones and symbols as seen through the eyes of Picts and Vikings. After the storytelling session, create your own Viking or Pictish calendar, inspired by Eileen’s latest research into their fascinating symbols. At Montrose Museum, Panmuir Place, DD10 8HF. ~~~~~ Discover a rich programme of local storytelling events, from the southwest to the very north of Scotland through Go Local as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025. The Festival tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky!
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Regional Events
(Sun 2 Nov: 4pm) Join host Niall Moorjani for an afternoon of amazing open mic storytelling designed as a safe space to tell new work, or try storytelling for the first time. New stories, old stories, folk stories, myths, legends, made-up stories and stories true to life - bring them all! A BPOC queer-run event welcoming everyone to enjoy the storytelling experience. ~~~~~ The Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025 tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky! Purchase a Storytelling Festival Pass and make the most of the Festival programme! Buy A Pass
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
External Venue
(Wed 5 Nov: 7:30pm) The moon begins to form as the moon spinners wash their wool in the sea, winding it again into a white ball in the sky and re-creating the phases and cycles that guide our seasons, and our stories... ~~~~~ Join us for our quarterly series of full-moon celebrations, with live storytelling, music and a rotating programme of incredible performers. Following the Celtic Wheel of the Year (the quarterly seasons of Imbolc, Beltane, Lughnasadh and Samhain) we look forward to moon myths, lunar legends and cross-cultural stories, revealing themes of creation, fertility, cosmic joy, transformation, death and rebirth. For our November session we welcome you under the full Beaver Moon with another exciting lineup of storytellers, this month featuring Bea Ferguson, Selina Graham and Heather Yule, with Claire McNicol and Linda Williamson. ~~~~~ Moonspinners events will follow two distinct phases, with the first half of performance in the Netherbow Theatre, followed by a social and conversational flow upstairs in the Storytelling Court with a chance to digest and discuss the stories amongst friends old and new. Mark it in your diary, or just follow the moon to guide you here! ~~~~~ Image credit: Hester Aspland
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Netherbow Theatre
(Fri 7 Nov: 5pm - Stornoway) Storyteller Alex Patience from Portskerra returns to her granny’s native shores to share traditional stories and knowledge spiced with a wide range of North Atlantic culture, arts and nature. Hosted by An Taigh Cèilidh, 16 Church St, HS1 2DH ~~~~~ Discover a rich programme of local storytelling events, from the southwest to the very north of Scotland through Go Local as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025. The Festival tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky!
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Regional Events
(Fri 7 Nov: 7pm - Dundee) SISF joins wi Blether, the monthly Scots variety nicht fer an evening fou o sangs, stories, poems and mair! Wi guests Orcadian poet and scriever Harry Josephine Giles, Perthshire storyteller Lindsey Gibb and renowned Scots singer Christine Kydd. There’s open mic slots tae if ye fancy daeing yer thing for 3 mins. Emcees Calum Kelly and National Library of Scotland Scots scriever Taylor Dyson. In partnership wi Elfie Picket Theatre and Sweet Venues. from Sweden. At Sweet Venues, Keiller Centre, 3 Chapel Street, DD1 1DQ. ~~~~~ Discover a rich programme of local storytelling events, from the southwest to the very north of Scotland through Go Local as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025. The Festival tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky!
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Regional Events
(Fri 7 Nov: 7:30pm - Biggar) Join storytellers Peter Chand and Kirsten Milliken for an evening of evocative folktales and legends from their respective Indian and Scottish traditions about lake nymphs, enchanted mists, hidden realms and the water that connects us all. This event will now be held at Biggar Corn Exchange, 126 High St, Biggar ML12 6DL. ~~~~~ Discover a rich programme of local storytelling events, from the southwest to the very north of Scotland through Go Local as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025. The Festival tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky! Purchase a Storytelling Festival Pass and make the most of the Festival programme! Buy A Pass
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Regional Events
(Sat 8 Nov: 11am - Forfar) Eileen Budd shares the folklore of our Northern skies, stones and symbols as seen through the eyes of Picts and Vikings. After the storytelling session, create your own Viking or Pictish calendar, inspired by Eileen’s latest research into their fascinating symbols. Booking essential. At Meffan Museum, 20 West High Street, DD8 1BB. ~~~~~ Discover a rich programme of local storytelling events, from the southwest to the very north of Scotland through Go Local as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025. The Festival tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky!
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Regional Events
(Sat 8 & Sat 22 Nov: 12pm) Come along for a nature-connection walk led by storytelling therapist Stephen McCabe, followed by printing from nature art workshop with Beetroots Collective’s artists Marta Adamowicz and Robert Motyka. Aimed at migrants and members of the local community. Please note: the meeting point for the walk is by the Scottish Parliament building at 12pm, look out for the Beetroots Collective banner. ~~~~~ The Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025 tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky! Purchase a Storytelling Festival Pass and make the most of the Festival programme! Buy A Pass
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
External Venue
(Sat 8 Nov: 1:30pm - Dunfermline) Join Fife storytellers Riikka Palonen and Kate Walker as they make, sing and share stories of the sea from our Northern shores. Curious, crafty and clever tales! Children must be accompanied by an adult. Hosted by Lang Spoon Tales. At Queen Margaret Room, Dunfermline Carnegie Library and Galleries 1 Abbot Street, KY12 7NL. ~~~~~ Discover a rich programme of local storytelling events, from the southwest to the very north of Scotland through Go Local as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025. The Festival tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky!
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Regional Events
(Sat 8 Nov: 3:30pm - Perth) Join storyteller Lizzie McDougall, clàrsach player Siannie Moodie and musician Nick Jenkins for an afternoon of music and tales inspired by Perthshire’s Jacobite past. Discover the legends of nearby Fingask Castle, brought to life at Perth Museum and in the shadow of a sword believed to have belonged to Bonnie Prince Charlie. At Perth Museum, St John’s Place, PH1 5SZ. ~~~~~ Discover a rich programme of local storytelling events, from the southwest to the very north of Scotland through Go Local as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025. The Festival tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky!
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Regional Events
(Sat 8 Nov: 4pm) Join Randall Stevenson and Greg Walker, editors of The Oxford Handbook of Scottish Theatre, with playwright Linda McLean and storyteller Donald Smith, to explore this rich northern theme, past and present. Part of the New College Festival of Books and Belief. ~~~~~ The Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025 tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky! Purchase a Storytelling Festival Pass and make the most of the Festival programme! Buy A Pass
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
External Venue
(Sun 9 Nov: 6:30pm - Aberfeldy) Respected by ancient cultures, but the archetypal villain in European fairy tales, wolves were hunted to extinction in Scotland by the 18th century. Through ancient myth, shadow puppetry and dreamlike soundscapes, Dougie Mackay and Jemima Thewes take us to a space where Norse gods, Irish shapeshifters and Siberian wolf-children traverse Scottish moors and Transylvanian mountains. Stories about our oldest ally share the same question: in the absence of the wolf, what is lost? Hosted by Birks Cinema, 1 Dunkeld St, PH15 2DA. ~~~~~ Discover a rich programme of local storytelling events, from the southwest to the very north of Scotland through Go Local as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025. The Festival tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky!
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Regional Events
(Sat 15 Nov: 2pm - Dundee) The D’arcy Thompson Museum is a cornucopia of fascinating objects, all with their own unique stories. Join Blether Tay-Gither storytellers for an hour of strange and wonderful tales inspired by this eclectic collection. Hosted by Blether Tay-Gither. At the D’arcy Thompson Museum, University of Dundee, Carnelley Building, Nethergate, DD1 4HN ~~~~~ Discover a rich programme of local storytelling events, from the southwest to the very north of Scotland through Go Local as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025. The Festival tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky!
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Regional Events
(Sat 15 Nov: 2pm - Biggar) Step into the Otherworld and follow the Path of the Little People with storytellers Kirsten Milliken and David Hughes. Hear tales of the creatures that live in the branches, in the faerie rings and behind the little doors. Includes free hot chocolate. At Wiston Lodge, Millrigg Rd, Wiston, ML12 6HT. ~~~~~ Discover a rich programme of local storytelling events, from the southwest to the very north of Scotland through Go Local as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025. The Festival tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky!
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Regional Events
(Sat 15 Nov: 7pm - Winchburgh) Myths, legends, local history and lived events are waiting to be shared in a rousing evening of stories in the company of an up-and-coming storytelling community in West Lothian. Hosted by Winchburgh Storytellers and featuring aspiring, apprentice and professional storytellers. Supported by the Winchburgh Community Development Trust. Event held at the Winchburgh Community Centre, Craigton Place, EH52 6RW. ~~~~~ Discover a rich programme of local storytelling events, from the southwest to the very north of Scotland through Go Local as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025. The Festival tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky!
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Regional Events
(Sun 16 Nov: 1:30pm - Dunfermline) Join Fife storytellers Riikka Palonen and Kate Walker as they cast their tales of stormy seas, magic, romance, and valour. Stirring stories to astonish, surprise and sustain. Hosted by Lang Spoon Tales. At Queen Margaret Room, Dunfermline Carnegie Library and Galleries 1 Abbot Street, KY12 7NL. ~~~~~ Discover a rich programme of local storytelling events, from the southwest to the very north of Scotland through Go Local as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025. The Festival tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky!
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Regional Events
(Wed 19 Nov: 6:30pm - Online) Rooted in Northeast Scotland, Education in the North is a radical journal that spans the northern hemisphere, exploring education, culture and language. Through the years, it has provided a cèilidh space for ideas and initiatives to cross fertilise, pushing the boundaries of academic practice so that Indigenous and folk knowledge and practices are valued, and their place within education celebrated. To mark its 60th Anniversary, the event brings together editors, storytellers and other contributors lifting up this work across Canada, Scotland and Norway. Hosted by Cathy Francis and Beth Cross with guests Jackie Ross, Jamie Fairbairn, Liisa- Rávná Finbog and Jennifer Markides. ~~~~~ Discover a rich programme of local storytelling events, from the southwest to the very north of Scotland through Go Local as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025. The Festival tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky!
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Regional Events
(Fri 21 Nov: 11am - Dundee) Ravens have always strutted through myth and legend. Odin had two pet Ravens called Hugin and Munin: ‘Thought’ and ‘Memory’. Join storyteller Jan Bee Brown and musician Toby Hawks for a collection of memorable, thought-provoking and dementia-inclusive stories and songs from Scandinavia and Scotland. Tickets are limited, please book in advance. from Sweden. At Royal Victoria Hospital Meeting Centre, Jedburgh Road, DD2 1SP. ~~~~~ Discover a rich programme of local storytelling events, from the southwest to the very north of Scotland through Go Local as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025. The Festival tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky!
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Regional Events
(Sun 23 Nov: 2:30pm - Cove & Kilcreggan) Danish storyteller Svend-Erik Engh and Scottish musician Neil Sutcliffe present an original tale of a young woman setting out to create her own destiny in Viking times. Brought to life through storytelling & music, blending traditional and original pieces. At Cove Sailing Club SCIO, Barons Point, G84 0NL. ~~~~~ Discover a rich programme of local storytelling events, from the southwest to the very north of Scotland through Go Local as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025. The Festival tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky!
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Regional Events
(Fri 28 Nov: 10:30am - Musselburgh) Ravens have always strutted through myth and legend. Odin had two pet Ravens called Hugin and Munin: ‘Thought’ and ‘Memory’. Join storyteller Jan Bee Brown and musician Toby Hawks for a collection of memorable, thought-provoking and dementia-inclusive stories and songs from Scandinavia and Scotland. At Musselburgh Meeting Centre, The Coffee Lounge, St Andrew’s Church, 70 Millhill, EH21 7EA. ~~~~~ Discover a rich programme of local storytelling events, from the southwest to the very north of Scotland through Go Local as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025. The Festival tracks a rich northern arc which bridges Finland to Iceland, and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland a sea road junction in the middle. Don’t miss out on the tales and music or the close experience of nature. As winter gathers round the hearth fires, look north to join the merry dancers in the sky!
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Regional Events
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