An information pack for anyone interested in starting or running a storytelling club for children or adults. Where you begin will depend on what you already know and do. If storytelling as a concept is new to you then look at Sections 1 and 5, where you will find general descriptions and explanations, guidelines and … Continued

‘I had been working in the woodlands of Perthshire and beyond on storytelling projects which help children to connect with these wild places, weaving in local folk, plant lore and place-specific stories. At the end of each day’s session the children would become storymakers and storytellers, with each tale created coming from the children’s response … Continued

Stories of place are often telling of events that happened a long time ago, handed down generation after generation, which might have acquired some bizarre or supernatural elements along the way, turning them into legends. Other times the original story was an invention itself, a mythical, superstitious or hyperbolic explanation of why an unusual place … Continued

‘Choosing the best stories to tell about a certain place can be a storyteller’s biggest challenge. However, if you want to create an event that is grounded in a location, or specific culture and you are willing to give some time to investigation and research, then you will find this type of storytelling venture one … Continued

‘On Knockfarrel hill above Strathpeffer are the remains of a vitrified Iron Age fort. Its stones were fused together by intense heat around 2000 years ago. The renowned Irish warrior Finn MacCoul once lived there, together with his warriors and their wives and children. One fine day, when Finn and his men were away hunting, … Continued

This is a short traditional Czech tale translated by Barbora Voráčová as part of her internship at the Scottish Storytelling Centre, who states: ‘I really like this fairy tale which my grandmother used to tell me. I have so many nice memories attached to it! ‘I chose this story because it contains examples of the … Continued

This is a traditional Indian teaching tale suitable for use with a wide age range, including special needs. With small children (nursery to lower primary), the simple structure of this tale fairly begs to be acted out. The story builds is founded on prediction and suspense: can we work out what will happen next? At upper primary level, … Continued

A short pirate tale from Anne Pitcher, suitable for primary school children (4-5 yrs): ‘This is a pirate tale I heard from Angie Townsend which I have adapted. Angie is an absolutely amazing storyteller who knows so much about Scottish Pirates, both real and imaginary. There were indeed many pirates who sailed the seas in … Continued

Bearskin is an original translation of the German Grimm Brothers tale Bärenhäuter by Helena Weinberg, carried out as part of her internship at the Scottish Storytelling Centre, and she states: ‘I chose this story because it is not very well known, but very representative of the style of the tales collected by the brothers Grimm. … Continued

This is a short and simple story from Japan, with suggested activities for children over the age of 8. Contributed by storyteller Senga Munro, who states: ‘I first came across this story in a collection of bedtime stories and this is my retelling. I like this story because it shows how knowledge in the past … Continued