We just celebrated the summer solstice–the longest day of the year–on Sunday, and we’re enjoying the longer daylight hours that summer brings. On Wednesday 24 June, we will celebrate midsummer in Scotland. Midsummer has its roots as a Celtic fire festival, blessing the crops for a fruitful summer harvest with bonfires and using torches to … Continued

The Scottish Storytelling Centre, supported by Scotland’s Winter Festivals event fund, honours the legacy of Robert Burns through a series of cross-generational celebrations, bringing people together home and away. Whether it’s ringing in the New Year with “Auld Lang Syne”, book titles, pop music, or featuring on banknotes – the ploughman’s poet as he’s often … Continued

Tell us an interesting feature of traditional storytelling in your country. I live in the city of Toronto, one of the greatest crossroads cities in the world. It’s in the traditional territory of the Haudenosaunee people, the First People to live here before others came. The Toronto Storytelling Festival, which began in 1978, has become … Continued

Name of your show: The Golden Fly How would you describe your show in one sentence?  An epic tale of a shapeshifting Goddess who journeys across worlds in search of a golden awakening. Is this the first time that you are performing at the Fringe? No. What do you think sets your show apart from … Continued

Name of your show: (Can This Be) Home How would you describe your show in one sentence? Poetic and musical journey through the personal impact of Brexit so far. Is this the first time that you are performing at the Fringe? It is for Kolbrun, she usually doesn’t perform but writes or directs, but as … Continued

Name of your show: The Night With… Evenings How would you describe your show in one sentence? An evening of interesting, new classical music mainly by Scottish composers and performers. Is this the first time that you are performing at the Fringe? No, I presented The Night With… Wooden Elephant last year who performed string … Continued

Name of your show: The Man Who Planted Trees How would you describe your show in one sentence? Some of your kids weren’t even born when this show started out thirteen years ago and – assuming they’re over seven – they’re still not too old to enjoy a story that is more relevant than ever. … Continued

Name of your show: Sing Me A Song: The Robert Louis Stevenson Show How would you describe your show in one sentence? Dive into the adventurous life of Edinburgh’s favourite son, as told through his letters, published writings and poems (set to music by Neil Adam) – you’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll learn heaps. Is … Continued

Name of your show: Wee Seals & Selkies How would you describe your show in one sentence? Let award-winning children’s author and storyteller Janis Mackay take the whole family on a heart-warming journey to the sea, to meet a brave wee seal, and a magical selkie, accompanied by fiddle music. Is this the first time … Continued

A copy of The People’s Friend is sold somewhere in the world every 3.44 seconds. Not bad for a bespoke magazine that first hit the shelves on 13 January 1869, which has managed to cultivate a readership by promoting fiction amongst history, nature, science, recipes, games, puzzles and tips for housewives, and retain a loyal … Continued