Days out, Storytelling

Illicit Ink - Edinburgh spoken word night

Free spoken-word show from some of Edinburgh's newest undiscovered talents

The Bongo Club has become the home of one of Edinburgh’s freshest groups of writers, who come together to share short stories in the heart of the Cowgate. They recite pieces based on a common theme (the two most recent being school and sleep), each…

The newly-christened Tradfest presents 'feast of culture in the Festival city'

Traditional and folk artists taking part include Karine Polwart, Alasdair Roberts and Shooglenifty

Tradfest is a new 12 day festival bringing dance, crafts, folk drama and environmental celebrations to venues across Edinburgh. The first under this particular name, the festival is organised by the Scottish Storytelling Centre on behalf of Traditional…

Edinburgh and Glasgow Hallowe’en highlights

The best spooky events on and around October 31st 2012

There’s a strong emphasis on storytelling in Edinburgh’s Hallowe’en events this year. Owen Pilgrim’s Hallowe’en Stories (Edinburgh Printmakers, 31 Oct) are suitable for ages 8+, while Marion Kenny’s Meet the Ancestors song’n’story sesh should suit those…

Burns Night 2012: Glasgow and Edinburgh highlights

Edinburgh gets its bard celebrations off to an impressive (and prompt) start with Burnsfest at the Scottish Storytelling Centre in association with Scotland’s Winter Festivals (17–28 Jan, times vary). From a ceilidh in the café to performances of the…

Events for St Andrew's Day 2011

Live music, ceilidhs, free and discounted entry to nation’s key landmarks

Visit for free As part of Scotland’s Winter Festivals, the weekend before St Andrew’s Day will be enhanced with money-off deals for some of the nation’s key landmarks. You can get cheap or free entry to Glasgow Science Centre (check out the…

Refugee Week Scotland

The week-long events programme sets its stall, 60 years after the UN Refugee Convention was signed

We’re huge supporters of Refugee Week – so it’s with a happy heart that we can report it’s back bigger and better than ever before. As well as all the special events, activities and talks, this year’s programme boasts Courage: 60 Years of the UN Refugee…

Festival of Museums set for nationwide celebration of Scotland’s culture in May 2011

Music, storytelling and period fashion among highlights of new festival

From the Groam House Museum in Ross-shire and Portsoy Bothy in Banffshire, to the Annan Museum in Dumfries and Galloway, the Festival of Museums features an eclectic and colourful range of concerts, talks, workshops, performances and exhibitions taking…

Easter Revelry event at Edinburgh Castle

Edinburgh Castle hosts a weekend of family events this Easter

The Easter Revelry event at Edinburgh Castle takes place on Sat 23 - Mon 25 April, and includes historically-themed activities that'll appeal to all the family. Kramis the wizard will perform magic tricks to amuse and amaze you, while Sir Hugo Sofboiled…

Bank of Scotland Imaginate Festival promises a quality homegrown line-up alongside the usual groundbreaking international work

The Bank of Scotland Imaginate Festival has always featured quality children’s theatre from both home and abroad. But while international talent has never been in short supply, Scottish-based companies worthy of inclusion were initially thin on the…

The best Easter 2011 events in Glasgow and Edinburgh

Easter egg hunts, beaches, boat trips and activities for Easter weekend

Beach Babies Scotland is scattered with some of the most peaceful and well-kept beaches in the UK. In particular, North Berwick on the east coast is a famously picturesque seaside town, complete with miles of sand, cobbled streets full of friendly cafés…

Scottish Parliament building hosts exhibition exploring Jacobites' international legacy

Rare chance to see historic artefacts from University of Aberdeen

The Scottish Parliament building hosts an exhibition of historical pieces from the University of Aberdeen's Jacobite collections for the next month.

Family weekend: Rebels with a Cause – The Jacobites and the Global Imagination

Traditional music, egg decorating and quiz among highlights of weekend of free children's events

Rebels with a Cause – The Jacobites and the Global Imagination Wednesday 27 October to Saturday 8 January (closed Sundays except Sunday 28 November and 24 - 28, 31 December and 1 - 3 January) Monday and Friday 10:00 - 16.00 (last entry 15:30)…

Glasgow walk encourages critical engagement with centre

Guided walk of city explores use of urban space

The skyscraper-crammed stretch of city centre basking in the title Glasgow’s International Financial Services District is a strange place at the best of times. During the day, the tower blocks are full of call-centre workers; at night the street corners…

Neil Oliver

With those lovely flowing locks and fruity annunciations, Neil Oliver has left himself wide open to the attentions of crazy satirists (see Only an Excuse and Children in Need), but lest we forget, the guy knows a thing or thousand about the past. A…

Songs of Home

We find out about a festival and a screening looking at the darker sides of the Scottish Diaspora

Between the numerous gigs, gatherings and soap carving workshops (we kid you not) squeezing under its umbrella, ‘Homecoming’ itself has become a rather vague concept this year. It’s refreshing, then, that in their 20th anniversary year the Scottish…

Hitlist - Kids

Peter Pan - A thrilling new production of the JM Barrie classic, LazyTown Live – The Pirate Adventure Join Sportacus, Baby Loves Disco, That’s Rubbish and Rocking Rascals.

Afr-I-Can

Running between June and September, Afr-I-can is a loose series of events, talks, workshops and concerts led by artists of African origin and celebrating African achievement. Although the events are mainly aimed at families of African and Caribbean…

Family Festival

CREATIVE KIDS FAMILY FESTIVAL AT THE GALLERY OF MODERN ART Gallery of Modern Art, Royal Exchange Square, Glasgow, Sat 21 July Modern art is quite often seen as one of the least accessible styles, particularly for littler viewers who might…

Storytelling

Tell me a story

FESTIVE YARN-SPINNING We don’t have much time for folklore these days. The oral tradition of storytelling, while it has contemporary parallels in performance poetry and the sprawling narratives of rap, seems anachronistic in an age of YouTube and…

Scottish International Storytelling Festival

5 REASONS TO GO TO...

1 It’s not just for the ankle-biters Kids love opening up their imaginations to a well-told story, and adults should indulge that same impulse. The festival’s evening events are suited to majors rather than minors, with a storytelling club each Friday…