“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

To mark the 700th anniversary of the Declaration of Arbroath, we are launching Scotland the When, a series of satiric or surreal stories about Scotland’s politics and culture. The first story Destiny Stane recounts the rediscovery of the real – again – Stone of Destiny, in the midst of the Brexit stramash, hidden beneath the … Continued

We love to share stories and to connect with our visitors and audiences across the traditional arts, so we thought we would ask TRACS and SSC staff to give you a sneak peek behind the scenes of their lockdown life and office spaces. From attention-seeking pets, coded poetry, creative things like knitting and drawing, to … Continued

Dear Friends, It is with heavy heart that as of today (Wed 18 Mar) we have decided to close the Scottish Storytelling Centre and John Knox House to the public and suspend our events programme until further notice. The safety and wellbeing of our staff, visitors and performers is at the forefront of our thoughts. … Continued

At the Scottish Storytelling Centre we are monitoring the COVID-19/Coronavirus situation very closely. The safety and well-being of our visitors, participants and staff remain our number one priority and we are closely monitoring the latest advice from the Scottish Government, UK Government and Public Health Scotland. We will continue to update our plans based on … Continued

With The Children’s Forest, a beautiful book – co-authored by Dawn Casey, Anna Richardson and Helen Ascoli – Hawthorn Press have scaled fresh heights in its vocation to put inspiring storytelling resources into our hands. There is a practical aim at work in providing ‘stories and songs, wild food, crafts and celebrations all year round’, … Continued

Soon on our bookshelves, Nancy Mellon’s Healing Storytelling: The Art of Imagination and Storymaking for Personal Growth, is an updated version by the superb Hawthorn Press of her classic book The Art of Storytelling. Healing Storytelling is not a primer in narrative therapy, nor a guide for medical specialist. It is about the creative release … Continued

The centenary of Hamish Henderson, song-maker, poet, folklorist, activist and radical educator has mushroomed into a huge celebration. His life’s work was to transform Scotland’s view of itself, from the bottom up, and to re-affirm an outward-looking nation, through international solidarity. On 4th September, the Scottish Parliament resounded to Henderson’s words, and one could only … Continued