Heather Yule

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Traditional Scottish folktales and Traveller tales form the basis of Heather Yule’s repertoire. A fine musician, her storytelling is often enriched by music from the clarsach (Scottish traditional harp). She has performed and led workshops all over Scotland and abroad, including Iceland, Norway and the USA.

Heather grew up surrounded by storytelling, literature, theatre and music. When she was eight years old her mother, Dr Barbara McDermitt, began her PhD on folk narrative at the School of Scottish Studies at Edinburgh University. Heather was very fortunate to be taken by her mother on many recording trips over the following years. These included visiting the Gaelic tradition bearer Nan MacKinnon on the Island of Vatersay in the Outer Hebrides; the master storytellers from the Scottish Traveller tradition, such as Stanley Robertson and Betsy Whyte; and the Appalachian storyteller Ray Hicks in the USA. These early experiences showed Heather the importance of the folktale within different cultures.

Since then, through her own work, and observing the exciting work being done by colleagues, she has seen how the medium of story can not only entertain and educate but also heal emotional wounds and nurture inclusion, while reaching out to all ages and backgrounds. All of this has led to her interest in archetypes, which had already been inspired by a lifelong friendship with the eminent Jungian analyst, playwright and storyteller, Dr. Leland Roloff.

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