Fabulous Folklore and Family Fun at the 2018 Storytelling Festival

This year’s Scottish International Storytelling Festival begins in Edinburgh on Friday 19 October, heralding two weeks of thrilling and timeless tales with some of Scotland’s and the world’s greatest live storytellers.

Under the banner Growing Stories, and across 66 events in Edinburgh and a further 27 across Scotland, the 30th Storytelling Festival will deliver another round of truly authentic experiences, as audiences are caught up in the magic of the spoken word.

The Festival offers a way to escape the complex modern world through the simpler traditions of the past; the dark and cold of autumn outside, the warmth and atmosphere of a communal gathering within, and the absorbing pleasure of a good tale well told.

The 2018 Storytelling Festival will celebrate the Celtic traditions which bond Scotland and Ireland, through a series of events provoked by the potential implications of Brexit for the island’s still-recent peace process.

Elsewhere, traditional folklore and the collectors of stories will feature in one of the programme’s strands, while another will look at the connections between spoken and written forms of storytelling.

The Festival also features opportunities to meet storytellers and discuss the artform itself, plus a number of guided tours around Edinburgh's historic streets and closes.

There’s lots for families to enjoy too, with 12 great events aimed at adding back a touch of tradition to Halloween and Samhuinn. From a look through the vibrant world of children’s literature through the ages, to an afternoon of learning how to go guising properly, followed by a parade and performance, young and old are sure to have a feast of fun. And best of all, most of the events are free!

Fiona Hyslop, Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Tourism & External Affairs (above, centre) said:

The 2018 Scottish International Storytelling Festival is an excellent opportunity to celebrate the great Scottish storytelling tradition and to showcase Scotland’s talent on the global stage.

Visitors to Edinburgh can expect a fortnight of wonderful live storytelling which celebrates and reinvigorates the traditions of past and present, through a Festival full of community spirit and charged with softly-spoken magic.

The Scottish International Storytelling Festival runs from Friday 19 to Wednesday 31 October 2018. Tickets and full programme information are at sisf.org.uk

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