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Scottish International Storytelling Festival: Jack and Beggar’s Island

The most powerful freedom story of Scottish oral tradition is recreated at the Scottish Storytelling Centre on 25th October.

Scottish International Storytelling Festival: Jack and Beggar’s Island

About Scottish International Storytelling Festival: Jack and Beggar’s Island

With the spark of divinity and the flaring forth of humanity, Jack begins his journey to forge the connection between Heaven and Earth. The most powerful freedom story of Scottish oral tradition is recreated by international storytellers Jimmy Williamson, Claire McNicol and Linda Williamson. Voices from Scotland, Ireland and America connect with the musical fusion of Toby Shippey and friends, as folk hero Jack helps the blind, the oppressed and the reprehensible king.

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2024 marks the 35th anniversary of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival, coinciding with the 35th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. Since 1989, SISF has been building bridges between cultures, artists and audiences all over the world through the power of storytelling – connecting past, present and future. This year’s theme is ‘Bridges Between’. At a time where literal, figurative and societal walls continue to be constructed, we invite everyone to look beyond these boundaries and to celebrate the last and the next 35 years of storytelling with us.

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Easy Sundays: Festive Family Ceilidh

8th December 2024

Come with family and friends to dance Scottish dances and sing well-known songs with the Minnow Ceilidh Band on 8th December at The Scottish Storytelling Centre!

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Táin

11th December 2024

Young Edinburgh Storytellers Mark Borthwick and David Hughes weave together music and myth, blood and laughter, gender and magic, to explore the dark delights of the Táin Bó Cúailnge!

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Vote Christmas

13th December 2024 - 14th December 2024

The most divisive, most controversial, most hotly contested referendum of the century is upon us – a vote on the future of Christmas! Performed by the Strange Town 11-14 Friday group.

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The Last Wolf

13th December 2024 - 14th December 2024

Performed by the Strange Town 11-14 group, The Last Wolf is a new thriller taken from the fairy tales of wolves gone by.

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Wish Upon Wish

14th December 2024 - 15th December 2024

Every year, the Spirits of Christmas gather to grant one aggressively average child a special Christmas wish. Except they didn’t count on Bertha!

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Tell Me a Story for Christmas

14th December 2024 - 15th December 2024

Join storytellers Linda Williamson, Jane Mather and Heather Yule for an hour of stories and songs inspired by and drawing from Tell Me a Story for Christmas: Traveller Tales!

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Stories on the Way: Darkness and Light

18th December 2024

Join some of the Scottish Storytelling Centre's amazing apprentice storytellers as they venture into the dark winter nights in search of stories to share.

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Macastory’s Robin Hood and the Golden Arrow

21st December 2024 - 23rd December 2024

Sherwood Forest comes to the Scottish Storytelling Centre for this season's fun-filled festive Macastory Panto!

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Through the Shortbread Tin

8th April 2025 - 9th April 2025

The National Theatre of Scotland is touring in 2025 with a brand new show 'Through the Shortbread Tin' and stops off at the Scottish Storytelling Centre on 8th & 9th April!

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