Scottish Storytelling Centre

Bal Folk: Dance Workshops & Social

Learn the steps to bal folk, the European version of ceilidh dancing, followed by an hour of social dancing to recorded and live music. Suitable for beginners. Led by Edinbal.

Burns for Brunch

Theatre Objektiv Hungover, perhaps, but not yet hung out to dry, Robert Burns awakes in Auld Reekie 2019 sharing his thoughts, poems and songs, casting a satiric eye around his Scotland and ours. Well suppered and well scuppered, Rabbie reveals what it’s like to be transmogrified into a couthy wee household god. With…

Burnsfest

A programme of events based around the works of Oor Rabbie, including live music, storytelling, dancing, an alternative Burns Supper and more.

Café Ceilidh

Relaxed daytime traditional music session hosted by Scots Music Group.

Cafe Voices: Stories and Songs for Imbolc

Storyteller and musician Susanna Orr Holland shares tales of new beginnings and the transition of death, recalling Bríde and the first beginnings of the coming spring. The Centre’s monthly storytelling night, with an open-floor section for storytellers to tell their own tales, or bring a poem, song or music to share.

Café Voices: Tales and Tunes from the Emerald Isle

Join us in the lead up to St. Patrick’s Day for an evening of Irish stories and songs led by Marion Kenny, who comes from a family of musicians and storytellers hailing from Donegal in Éire and, that most Irish of cities, Birmingham. The Centre’s monthly storytelling night, with an open-floor section for storytellers…

Ceilidh Dance: Fitness, Fun and Friendship

Learn how informal ceilidh dance sessions can enhance health and wellbeing through moderate physical activity, social interaction, teamwork and fun! Led by Bernie Hewitt who teaches ceilidh dancing in fitness centres, care homes and day centres and runs a small ceilidh band. All welcome for a fun afternoon!

The Coming of Spring

As the wheel of the year turns, Beara, Queen of Winter, relinquishes her icy grip on the land. Days lengthen and the world is filled with warmth and light as Bride’s snowdrops herald the onset of Spring. Celebrate the season of new beginnings with Lynda Dargie from Matrix Storytelling as we share stories of magic and…

Crafty Burdies

One Yule morning Robin Redbreast sets out to sing for the King, join in his adventures and find out how Robin won the love of wee Jenny Wren. Following the story of the midwinter ‘burdies’, come and build them a wee nest, craft paper birds and join in their wedding celebrations! Participants will enjoy stories, songs and…

Exhibition: Quiet Places, Feeding the Imagination

Across a career of storytelling, puppetry, art and education Sylvia Troon has led a journey of adventure and inspiration. This exhibition of Sylvia’s paintings explores the magical qualities of light, patterns and colour, as part of a collaborative process with contributed poems, weavings and stories by artistic friends.

Exploring Our Voices

Accessible workshop for beginners and experienced singers led by Kirsty Law, which will introduce concepts of voice care and exploring rhythm, pitch and harmonies.

Family Ceilidh

A ceilidh for all the family – all dances are called and young 'uns get their own, easier, circles.

Loud Poets: Six Candles

One of the UK’s most successful spoken word collectives, Loud Poets return with their monthly showcase of the UK’s top spoken word talent. This is make some noise, fist-thumping, pint-drinking, side-tickling, heart-wrenching poetry. This is poetry for the masses. ‘Throughout there’s a humour, poignancy and most of all…

Mary Queen of Scots & The Missing Shortbread

Storytellers Brooke Conway and Hannah Mathieson weave a tale about rival queens and missing shortbread.

Red Velvet Revelry

Join Revel Sisters Marie Louise Cochrane and Heidi Docherty for a women’s night dedicated to celebrating female sexuality through stories, songs, poetry and the power of knowing laughter. On World Storytelling Day, we also celebrate the spring equinox and the energy that creates new life in all its forms.

Scots Music Group Café Ceilidh:: celebrating St Patrick’s Day

Join friends from Scots Music Group for an afternoon session of traditional songs, music, poems and stories celebrating St Patrick. Held in the relaxed setting of the Storytelling Court. All welcome to listen or bring a turn and join in!

Scots Music Group Café Ceilidh: Spring Sing

Join friends from Scots Music Group for an afternoon session of traditional songs, music, poems and stories. Held in the relaxed setting of the Storytelling Court. All welcome to listen or bring a turn and join in!

Scots Music Group Café Ceilidh:: Summer Stramash

Join friends from Scots Music Group for an afternoon session of traditional songs, music, poems and stories. Held in the relaxed setting of the Storytelling Court. All welcome to listen or bring a turn and join in!

Scottish International Storytelling Festival

A celebration of live storytelling and imagination uniting Scottish and international storytellers and musicians. Performance, workshops, talks and children's events radiate out from the capital with guest storytellers from across the globe. The 2020 edition will focus on tales that explore Scotland's place as a coastal…

Small Wonders

Magical things happen when we are in a state of wonder. Ines Alvarez Villa and Beverley Casebow share stories of chance encounters, miracles of nature, unexpected gifts and all those moments when the world is made anew.

Starting with Stories

A hands-on introduction to live storytelling.

Starting with Stories 1

Introductory session on storytelling.

Stories on the Way: A Sense of Wonder

Let our wonderful apprentice storytellers enchant and transport you into the Otherworld; a magical place of faery folk, elves and wizardry that stories know so well.

The Strange Visitor: Book Launch

Join us for the twitchy tale of a wily old woman, a wideeyed cat, wild weather and the weird appearance of a very strange visitor… We dare you to discover this trad Scots tale re-imagined in English and in Scots by Renita Boyle, with graphic novel illustrations by Mike Abel, published by Curly Tale Books. Games and crafts…

Supper with Burns

Enjoy your traditional Burns Supper with storytellers David Campbell and Ruth Kirkpatrick. The evening also features clarsach player Katie Harrigan and Donald Smith’s wonderful rendition of 'Tam O’Shanter'.

Tall Tales Oscar

Listen to tall tales, ferocious fibs and fables performed live on stage by Scotland’s finest tellers, then decide who wins the lucrative accolade of Oscar the Leprechaun.

Tiny Tales: All Aboard! The Adventures of Jenny Pirate

Join storyteller Fergus McNicol and set sail with the one and only Pirate Jenny! We’ll sail the seven seas with Jenny in search of songs, rhymes, stoires and sea shanties galore… it’s a whole ship load of fun for wee pirates and big buckaneers! So hoist the sails and cast of on a wee pirate adventure with the one and only…

Tiny Tales: Spring is Coming

Join storyteller Robbie Fotheringham to hear her favourite stories and songs at the time when the world comes back to life after winter. Tiny Tales is the perfect introduction to storytelling and the Centre for your wee ones. A different storyteller each month will share stories, songs and rhymes, with plenty of space…

Trauma Awareness for Storytellers

This stand-alone workshop is aimed at storytellers and anyone who facilitates story workshops or participative groups. It is not a clinical workshop but aims to develop an understanding of what trauma is, how it affects people and how storytellers can create a safe and inclusive space. Facilitated by Lynda Dargie who has…

The Watchmaker's Wife: Book Launch

Janis Mackay is already well known as a novelist for children, but here she ventures into the new landscape of writing for adults with this historical fiction/memoir based on the life of her grandmother. Come along for readings from the novel, space for questions, and book signings of course!

Yng Ngheredigion

An exploration of landscape and place through music, film, stories, experience and discourse, originating from the west Wales landscape and culture of Ceredigion. Featuring new compositions, traditional tunes and sound collages by Angharad Davies, Burd Ellen, Rafe Fitzpatrick, Sharron Kraus and Stevie Jones (Sound of…