TRACS and the Scottish Storytelling Centre present an entertaining take on the life of Robert Burns with poems, stories, songs and music this Burns Night, devised by storyteller, author and presenter David Campbell, as an alternative to Burns Suppers with formal speeches. The popular annual live event now goes virtual to offer a convivial evening … Continued

Love drawing? Join the first SISF online art challenge and engage with the festival community in new ways, with the chance to win a book of Scottish folktales! Everyone is encouraged to join the fun. All levels are welcome, and our challenge is open to all art illustration styles and techniques. How to get on … Continued

Set sail this autumn, as the Scottish International Storytelling Festival (SISF) takes audiences on a voyage, exploring Scotland’s coasts and water through music and storytelling. The 2020 SISF programme is revealed today, promising an eclectic mix of online events spanning across the globe and small-scale face-to-face events, celebrating Scotland ‘a nation shaped by the sea’. … Continued

We’re excited to announce that the Scottish International Storytelling Festival, which runs from 17 – 31 October 2020, will keep you ‘In the Flow’ with an eclectic mix of online events and small-scale face-to-face performances, celebrating Scotland ‘a nation shaped by water’, taking you on voyages at home and away. Stories and songs are vital … Continued

‘The Irish Hoard’ is a humorous take on life in Scotland’s far southwest. A metal detector find sparks political and cultural mayhem in the Machars, leading finally to a would-be terrorist heist and a consoling touch of romance. In the background Brexit provokes chaos, Creative Scotland is in meltdown, and there is some dodgy traffic … Continued

It’s been hard to miss the various creative responses to the restrictions, mandatory and self-imposed, caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. From the weekly outbreak of applause, pot-banging and bell-ringing in appreciation of the health workers, to rainbows in windows, and comedian Janey Godley’s affectionate parodies of the First Minister, people have been making sense of … Continued

Last year we celebrated big time the centenary of folklorist, poet and radical, Hamish Henderson. But is there more to Henderson than meets the popular eye? This fictional tale, by Donald Smith, re-imagines Henderson’s inner connection with Perthshire and the mystery of his parenthood. Who was Bardie and what dreams did Hamish live by? Bardie’s … Continued

“The universe is under no obligation to make sense to you.” (Neil DeGrasse Tyson) However, as humans we cannot help but marvel at the great infinite sky and the sheer number of stars and constellations. We can trace first cave drawings of stars as far back as the stone age and we owe much of … Continued

This week we take a break from Scotland’s Brexit travails in favour of assassination attempts and a manhunt in Annandale. Though more than thirty years have passed, the Lockerbie bombing remains unresolved. More people were killed on Scottish soil in this murderous event than any other, excepting war. The only person ever tried was ‘Unsafely Convicted’ … Continued

Welcome back to another satirical story as part of our Scotland the When series. This week’s tale features Scotland’s Culture Minister in an Edinburgh Festival Fringe mishap. This year’s Fringe is unfortunately not going to go ahead as planned – may it soon be back! Gussie McCraig evokes our worst Brexit nightmares, and they are … Continued