Scottish Storytelling Centre
- Telephone 0131 556 9579
- Seasonal times Sep 1–Jul 31: Mon–Sat 10am–6pm; closed Sun. Jul 1–Aug 31: Mon–Sat 10am–6pm; Sun noon–6pm.
- Admission Free entry to SSC; John Knox House £5 (£4; children £1; under 7s free).
- Website www.tracscotland.org/scottish-storytelling-centre
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A stylish contemporary building appended to the 15th-century home of Protestant reformer John Knox, housing materials relating to Scotland's rich oral culture. Located on the Royal Mile, the Centre incorporates historic John Knox House, the 99-seat Netherbow Theatre and the George Mackay Brown Library, and is the headquarters of the Scottish Storytelling Network. It is also home to the Storytelling Café, and is heavily involved in festival events throughout the year.
- Provides: Wheelchair access
Events at this venue
There are 34 events at this location
Sorted by title / date & time
All Is Not Lost
Launch party of the poetry and music collaboration between Francis Daulerio and Laurie Cameron Music.
Sun 22 Dec
£10 / 0131 556 9579
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.
Wed 15 Jan 2020
£5 (£3; Members £2.50) / 0131 556 9579
Wed 29 Jan 2020
£5 (£3; Members £2.50) / 0131 556 9579
Wed 12 Feb 2020
£5 (£3; Members £2.50) / 0131 556 9579
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…
Sat 25 Jan 2020
Burnsfest
A programme of events based around the works of Oor Rabbie, including live music, storytelling, dancing, an alternative Burns Supper and more.
Sat 18 Jan 2020
Times & prices vary / 0131 556 9579
Sun 19 Jan 2020
Times & prices vary / 0131 556 9579
Mon 20 Jan 2020
Times & prices vary / 0131 556 9579
Café Ceilidh
Relaxed daytime traditional music session hosted by Scots Music Group.
Tue 21 Jan 2020
Tue 17 Mar 2020
Cafe Voices: Robert Louis Stevenson Stories
Donald Smith leads an open session of Robert Louis Stevenson stories, songs and poems, celebrating the centenary celebrations of the RLS Club. All contributions from the floor are welcome at the Centre’s monthly storytelling night, held in the relaxed setting of the Storytelling Court.
Fri 17 Jan 2020
£5 (Members £4.50 Storytelling Centre Supporter) / 0131 556 9579
Café Voices: Transformational Tales
Transformational tales on a winter night reminds us that light will soon take over the darkness. Danish storyteller Svend-Erik Engh invites you into a world that always changes… 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…
Thu 12 Dec
£5 (Members £4.50) / 0131 556 9579
- 19:00 – 21:00
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!
Sun 2 Feb 2020
£10 (Members £8 Storytelling Forum Members) / 01315569579
The Ceilidh House: Tam O'Shanter
Family celebration of Burns Night with a ceilidh.
Sat 25 Jan 2020
Family Ceilidh
Come with family and friends to dance Scottish dances and sing well-known songs. 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 and some stories too. Book early to avoid disappointment! Part of Scotland’s Winter Festivals.
Sat 25 Jan 2020
£5 / 01315569579
Family Ceilidh
A ceilidh for all the family – all dances are called and young 'uns get their own, easier, circles.
Sat 25 Jan 2020
It's a Wonderful Life!
Live stage production of the popular holiday film It's A Wonderful Life.
Sun 15 Dec
£10.50–£13.50 (includes voucher for a mince pie at Mimi's Bakehouse) / 0131 556 9579
Mon 16 Dec
£10.50–£13.50 (includes voucher for a mince pie at Mimi's Bakehouse) / 0131 556 9579
Tue 17 Dec
£10.50–£13.50 (includes voucher for a mince pie at Mimi's Bakehouse) / 0131 556 9579
It's a Wonderful Life!
Theatrical adaptation of the classic movie.
Sun 15 Dec
£13.50 includes voucher for mince pie at Mimi's Bakehouse (£10.50 includes voucher for mince pie at Mimi's Bakehouse) / 0131 556 9579
Mon 16 Dec
£13.50 includes voucher for mince pie at Mimi's Bakehouse (£10.50 includes voucher for mince pie at Mimi's Bakehouse) / 0131 556 9579
Tue 17 Dec
£13.50 includes voucher for mince pie at Mimi's Bakehouse (£10.50 includes voucher for mince pie at Mimi's Bakehouse) / 0131 556 9579
It's a Wonderful Life
Theatrical adaptation of Frank Capra's iconic film by Floating Brick Theatre.
Sun 15 Dec
£13.50 / 0131 556 9579
Mon 16 Dec
£13.50 / 0131 556 9579
Tue 17 Dec
£13.50 / 0131 556 9579
Jordy Deelight: The Honeymoon Period
Meet Hayley. Hayley has Cystic Fibrosis and is 24 years old. Hayley has a boyfriend, and a mum that loves her very much. Hayley is going to Newcastle for a lung transplant assessment. Hayley has no clue what she’s doing. She just needs a little time…
Sat 18 Jan 2020
£10 / 0131 556 9579
Loud Poets
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…
Fri 20 Dec
£8 (£6; Members £5.50) / 0131 556 9579
- 19:30 – 22:00
Loud Poets: You Had Me At Hello
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…
Fri 17 Jan 2020
£8 (£6; Members £5.50 Storytelling Centre Supporter) / 0131 556 9579
Magic School
Kids magic workshops led by magician Gary James, who even once managed to make JK Rowling vanish (and then reappear, thankfully).
Fri 27 Dec
Four days £80; One day £20 / 01312260019
The four-day course takes place from 10am to 12.30pm, while the one-off workshops are 1.30pm–4pm. Part of Edinburgh International Magic Festival.
Booking is essential.
Sat 28 Dec
Four days £80; One day £20 / 01312260019
The four-day course takes place from 10am to 12.30pm, while the one-off workshops are 1.30pm–4pm. Part of Edinburgh International Magic Festival.
Booking is essential.
Sun 29 Dec
Four days £80; One day £20 / 01312260019
The four-day course takes place from 10am to 12.30pm, while the one-off workshops are 1.30pm–4pm. Part of Edinburgh International Magic Festival.
Booking is essential.
Mon 30 Dec
Four days £80; One day £20 / 01312260019
The four-day course takes place from 10am to 12.30pm, while the one-off workshops are 1.30pm–4pm. Part of Edinburgh International Magic Festival.
Booking is essential.
Mary Queen of Scots & The Missing Shortbread
Storytellers Brooke Conway and Hannah Mathieson weave a tale about rival queens and missing shortbread.
Sat 8 Feb 2020
Children £5; accompanying adult free free, maximum two adults / 0131 556 9579
Robert Louis Stevenson - A Tribute
A celebration of RLS through the rich treasury of his poetry, letters, essays and selected works. To mark the centenary celebrations of the RLS Club, John Shedden and Peter Berry present a moving and humorous tribute to a literary great whose life and work continues to inspire affection and admiration across the world.
Wed 15 Jan 2020
£5 (Members £4.50 Storytelling Centre Supporter) / 0131 556 9579
Scots Music Group Café Ceilidh:: celebrating Robert Burns
Join friends from Scots Music Group for an afternoon session of traditional songs, music, poems and stories celebrating Scotland’s national bard. Held in the relaxed setting of the Storytelling Court. All welcome to listen or bring a turn and join in!
Tue 21 Jan 2020
Free / 0131 555 7668
- 14:00 – 16:00
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!
Tue 17 Mar 2020
Free / 0131 555 7668
- 14:00 – 16:00
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!
Tue 5 May 2020
Free / 0131 555 7668
- 14:00 – 16:00
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!
Tue 16 Jun 2020
Free / 0131 555 7668
- 14:00 – 16:00
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…
Fri 16 Oct 2020
Times & prices vary / 0131 556 9579
Sat 17 Oct 2020
Times & prices vary / 0131 556 9579
Sun 18 Oct 2020
Times & prices vary / 0131 556 9579
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.
Sat 8 Feb 2020
£6 (£6; Members £5.50 Storytelling Centre Supporter) / 01315569579
Starting with Stories 1
Introductory session on storytelling.
Sat 1 Feb 2020
£26 (Members £20) / 0131 556 9579
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'.
Thu 23 Jan 2020
£30 / 0131 556 9579
Fri 24 Jan 2020
£30 / 0131 556 9579
Tam O'Shanter: Telling the Big Tale
Donald Smith shares his lifelong quest to understand and do justice to Robert Burns' poem, Tam O'Shanter. Attendees will be encouraged to come back on Sat 30 Jan to share their version.
Sat 18 Jan 2020
£16 (Members £12) / 0131 556 9579
Tiny Tales: Snuggly Bear Tales
Join storyteller Claire Hewitt for some snuggly bear tales to warm the winter dark. 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 for buggies and roaming around!
Tue 14 Jan 2020
Free Accompanying Adult Ticket (Children £5) / 0131 556 9579
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…
Sat 8 Feb 2020
£26 (Members £20 Storytelling Forum Members) / 01315569579
Tricky Ricky: Christmas Madness
New magic show from award-winning Tricky Ricky.
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!
Sat 8 Feb 2020
Free Ticketed / 01315569579
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…
Thu 30 Jan 2020
£12 (£10; Members £9.50 Storytelling Centre Supporter) / 01315569579
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