Storytelling Clubs
Storytelling clubs give you the chance to enjoy live storytelling or, if you are a budding storyteller, to practice telling tales in a supportive and informal environment alongside professional tellers.
If there are no clubs in your area, you or your organisation may wish to consider introducing storytelling to the activities of an existing club, or setting up a new club. The Scottish Storytelling Centre is happy to offer advice on setting up clubs to appropriate contacts in the community.
Storyteller Development Groups give adult storytellers an opportunity to meet regularly in small groups to practice telling stories, focus on specific areas that need improvement, and give and take constructive criticism in a structured and supportive way.
If you are an apprentice storyteller and would like to set up a Storyteller Development Group in your area please contact us for advice |
 Ceilidh Culture? Sourcing the art of story
If you visit Scotland today and see a 'ceilidh' advertised it is likely to be an evening of participative dancing with singing and music led by a 'ceilidh' band. However, ceilidh originally means 'visiting': a gathering of neighbours in a house to tell stories, sing and perhaps, but less often, to dance, if the evening went that way!
Over the last decade the Scottish Storytelling Network, based at its centre in Edinburgh, has revived ceilidhing in the old sense - as a format for intimate storytelling events with a strong social dimension. A leading example of this is Edinburgh's storytelling club - The Guid Crack - which meets on the last Friday evening of the month in the top room of The Waverley Bar in St Mary's Street, just off the Royal Mile.
The structure of these evenings follows tradition. There is a host or hostess for the evening who welcomes everyone and contributes the first story or song. There may also be a designated guest storyteller who contributes at a few points in the evening, but it is open to all those attending to contribute and it is the role of the host to draw people in if they wish. Socialising goes on around this central core.
Tradition extends to payment. There are no tickets or booking - a hat is passed around for contributions (£3.00 recommended) to pay the guest storyteller and support the organisation. |
BORDERS |
Borders Bards
A monthly storytelling session hosted by the ‘Borders Guid Crack Club’, creating a friendly and informal setting encouraging the Bard within us all. In 2011 we are running extra sessions themed around animals of the Celtic year. Last December we successfully ran ‘The Bear of Winter’ and in February ’The Wolves of Spring’ arrived. We meet the second Tuesday, monthly, 7.30pm at the County Inn, Peebles – donation £3/2. All are welcome, new or experienced! For information contact Daru McAleece david@mcaleece.com |
Music, Verse and Stories
Music, Verse and Stories is compèred monthly by local poet Howard Purdie, with a magic formula of traditional arts combined with a comfortable, welcoming venue. All are welcome to come and have a go and we have a monthly Guest Performer, usually a band, a well-known singer, or visiting poet or storyteller. Following last year’s exciting acts, including Maasai Warriors, we started 2011 with an alternative Burn’s evening and a surprise storyteller for March. We meet monthly on the first Sundayat at 8pm, at the Traquair Arms Hotel, Innerleithen – suggested donation, £3. Includes a free light supper and a raffle. For more info contact Daru McAleece david@mcaleece.com |
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DUMFRIES AND GALLOWAY |
Storytelling Cafe
7.30 pm, The CatStrand, High Street, New Galloway, DG7 3RN
A relaxed and informal storytelling, music and poetry evening in a comfortable cafe atmosphere for anyone interested in the live oral tradition. Audience participation will be encouraged. This will be a regular event on the first Thursday of the month. Cakes and coffee will be available. Eat, drink and let your imagination run away with you! No booking necessary.
Entry by donation. For information contact the CatStrand, tel: 00 44 (0)1644 420 374 or email info@catstrand.com |
Play It By Ear
1.30 pm - 2.30 pm, The CatStrand,
High Street, New Galloway, DG7 3RN
A monthly song, music and storytelling workshop for pre-school children and their carers. These workshops give young children an introduction to rhythm, instruments and singing and are run by the writer, storyteller and musician Tony Bonning. Play it By Ear is suitable for children from birth onwards and will take place on the second Monday of every month, from November 2007. In October 2007 the date will be Monday 1st October due to the school holidays. No booking necessary, just turn up.
£2 per adult/child, 50p additional child.
For information contact the CatStrand, tel: 00 44 (0)1644 420 374 or email info@catstrand.com |
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EDINBURGH AND LOTHIANS |
Edinburgh's Guid Crack Club
meets at 7.30pm at The Waverley Pub in St Mary's Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1SY. The club usually meets on the last Friday of the month but dates vary in July and December. Entry by donation £3.00. For information contact the Scottish Storytelling Centre on +44 (0)131 652 3272 |
BagaTelle
The group is based in Midlothian and welcomes storytellers/developing storytellers and those with a healthy curiosity about storytelling. Bring along a story, poem or song or simply bring yourself – you won’t be disappointed. We have guest speakers, visit other groups, run workshops and mutually support each other in the context of storytelling. We currently meet at the Laird and Dog pub, Lasswade on the first Monday of the month at 8pm. For further details contact Lea Taylor on 0774862406. |
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FIFE AND TAYSIDE |
Kingdom Krack
Our aim as a group has been to support individuals on their own journeys into the world of storytelling. We meet on a the first Monday of the month, in winter at The Inn on the Park in Dunfermline and our summer venue is the Earthship and Yurt at Craigencalt Ecology Centre Kinghorn.
At meetings we focus on stories for specific occasions, helping members with projects and on one occasion we spent some time working on suitable endings for stories. It’s relaxed, fun and all about story. Contact Andrew Elston: apelston@btinternet.com |
Blether Tay-Gither - Dundee's Storytelling Group
Our storytelling group continues to meet on the last Tuesday of the month, 7–9.30pm, throughout the year, as well as organising some special family events and workshops. As we are still seeking a suitable regular home, keep checking our website for venue details.
www.blethertaygither.org.uk |
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STRATHCLYDE & WEST |
Glasgow Better Crack Club
The club meets at Tchai Ovna Tea House, 42 Otago Lane, 7.30pm on the third Friday of the month. Anyone is welcome to come along for stories, music, song and much more and each month features a guest storyteller. For more information phone Frances Logan on 0141 574 4136 |
Glasgow Even Better Crack Club
Lansdowne Church Hall, Kelvinbridge, Glasgow. For children. For more information phone Frances Logan on 0141 574 4136
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NORTH EAST |
GAS – Grampian Association of Storytellers
The Grampian Association of Storytellers meets on the second Friday of most month at Queen's Cross Church in Aberdeen at 7.30pm. Please check the website for further details..
Contact Anna Fancett on 07841 715 447, or gas_story@hotmail.com
Website: www.grampianstorytellers.org.uk |
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PERTHSHIRE |
Silver Branch
The Silver Branch Storytelling Group meets once a month in Highland Perthshire and is a place where people interested in the oral tradition/folktales/life stories can come to listen, share and have a blether. We are a small, intimate group and welcome a few more to sit round the fire and continue this wonderful tradition. We are a semi-nomadic group at the moment, and being small can rove from one fireside to another.
Contact Claire Hewitt: www.clairehewitt.co.uk or 01887 820339 or 07765166034 |
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HIGHLANDS AND ISLANDS |
Stories and Ballads Club
The Munlochy Hotel, 54 Millbank Road, Munlochy, Highlands, IV8 8NL. Meets on the first Monday of each month at 8 pm. A warm welcome awaits you. Contact Madelaine Thorley on 00 44 (0)1381 621073 or Ian MacBeth on 00 44 (0)1349 864312. |
Claik and Clype Storytelling Circle
Greg Dawson Allen plans to revive this Inverness group for 2011. There is no fee and all tellers and listeners, writers wishing to read material and musicians are all welcome to listen and enjoy a remarkable view over the River Ness.
Contact Greg Dawson Allen on 01463 233729 or greg@telliesperie.co.uk |
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