Storytelling Clubs
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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. |
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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 |
Telling Forth
7.00 pm, The Peacock Inn, Pier Place, Newhaven, Edinburgh
A new storytelling club for 2007 based in Newhaven. Meets every third Wednesday of the month. All welcome. Enquiries to Jenny Mackenzie on +44 (0) 131 552 3286. |
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STRATHCLYDE & WEST |
Glasgow Better Crack Club
Tchai Ovna, Otago Lane, Glasgow. Mainly for adults. Meets third Friday of the month at 8pm.
Admission by donation £2. Contact Frances Logan on 00 44 (0)141 574 4136 |
Glasgow Even Better Crack Club
Lansdowne Church Hall, Kelvinbridge, Glasgow. For children. Meets on the second Saturday of the month at from 10 am - 12 noon. Admission by donation £1 (includes crisps). Contact Frances Logan on + 44 (0)141 574 4136.
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NORTH EAST |
GAS – Grampian Association of Storytellers
The Grampian Association of Storytellers meets on the first Friday of every month at Queen's Cross Church in Aberdeen at 7.30pm, with the exception of January, July and August when we do not meet, and November when we move our meeting to coincide with Halloween and hold it at Archeolink pre-history park.
Contact Anna Fancett on 07841 715 447, or gas_story@hotmail.com
Website: www.grampianstorytellers.org.uk
Blether Tay-gither - Dundee's Storytelling Group
Meets on the last Tuesday of the month from 7-9 pm. Admission by donation (£3 suggested). Contact Debbie Maxwell for venue and more details on +44 (0)7884 018 724 or debbie@blethertaygither.org.uk, or visit the Group’s website – www.blethertaygither.org.uk |
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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 an' Clype Storytelling Circle
The Circle meets on the first monday of each month at the Waterfront restuarant and bar, Huntly Street, Inverness, at 7.30pm. 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 07840 692766 or 01463 233729 greg@telliesperie.co.uk |
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