Garden Centre gives children a magical grotto experience
Dobbies Garden Centres is unveiling a magical line up of festive experiences for all the family to enjoy this Christmas at its Edinburgh store, including the much-loved Grotto which is back with a brand-new look.
Santa will take residency at the new Little Seedlings train-themed Grotto this November and December at the Edinburgh store, spreading the joy of Christmas to families in the area.
After a warm welcome from the elves at Sleighbell Station, children will get to experience snowy scenes, spot woodland characters, find hidden nutcrackers, all culminating in the chance to tell Santa what they would like for Christmas. Here, families will have the chance to capture the moment with a photograph of Santa, making a lasting memory of the experience.
Dobbies will also offer a sensory-friendly Quiet Grotto experience at its Edinburgh store on Friday 6 December, designed to help reduce anxiety and provide a customised environment for children with additional needs. Lighting, sound and visual effects will be minimised, giving kids that cherished moment with Santa. Session times are extended to allow for a slower, relaxed experience.
Dobbies’ Events Programme Manager, Ayesha Nickson is looking forward to welcoming kids along to the brand-new Little Seedlings train-inspired Grotto at the Edinburgh store.
She said: “Whether little ones are meeting Santa and his elves for the first time, or it’s a family tradition, our Grotto and Quiet Grotto experiences aim to create magical moments that can be treasured for years to come.
“There’s the chance to gather the whole family for a range of our festive experiences including our delicious Festive Afternoon Tea, charity Christmas Shopping Night in aid of Teenage Cancer Trust, or a paw-dorable picture moment at Santa Paws. A visit to Dobbies will really be a treat for all the senses this Christmas.”
Customers are encouraged to book in advance for Dobbies’ Christmas events to avoid disappointment.
Santa’s Grotto runs from 28 November until 24 December, £12.99 per child
Santa’s Quiet Grotto takes place on 6 December, £12.99 per child
To learn more about the Christmas events at Dobbies’ Edinburgh store and make a booking, visit dobbies.com/events.
The Scottish Schools Pipe Band Championships 2025 is open to entries, and has announced a new bumper prize of £2,500 for the popular Freestyle category, with runner up prizes totalling £3,250.
All eight competitions within the championships offer generous prizes, but the popular Freestyle event tops the lot.
The Scottish Schools Pipe Band Championships is the largest event of its kind in the world. A record 73 youth pipe bands from across Scotland took in the last event, as well as 8 quartets and 17 freestyle ensembles for a day of inspiring musicianship, camaraderie and competition.
Hundreds of young musicians from 99 schools gave 83 performances. In addition to the Freestyle event, the Championships offer six graded competitions for pipe bands, for those new to competition right up to bands at the top of their game.
Scottish Schools Pipe Band Championships
Piping quartets are also welcome. Next year’s event takes place on Sunday 9 March at the William McIlvanney Campus in East Ayrshire.
Although there are generous prizes for all the pipe band competitions, the Freestyle event offers the biggest incentive with winners taking away £2,500 and runners up receiving attractive increases in prizemoney with £1500, £1000, £750, £500 respectively.
The Freestyle welcomes school band and group performances of any musical genre, contemporary or traditional, with any combination of instruments and vocalists, as long as they include the pipes. It is designed to showcase the versatility of the pipes and to encourage their inclusion in mainstream music-making in schools.
Scottish Schools Pipes and Drums Trust, the charity that organises the Championships, believes in the transformative power of music, and in the wider achievement that pupils can experience by being part of a pipe band.
The charity helps state schools to sustain and set up piping and drumming tuition for their pupils, and lends pipes to pupils free of charge.
Chief Executive Alex Duncan said, “The Freestyle event celebrates the fact that pipers can play music of all genres, traditional and contemporary, along with other instruments. For schools wanting to give this ago, we can lend concert chanters free of charge, so that the pipes can be tuned to the same pitch as other instruments.”
“We thank East Ayrshire Council for hosting the Championships at the fabulous William McIlvanney campus in Kilmarnock again. With an impressive modern main stage arena that seats an audience of over 400 people, two more large performance spaces, 50 classrooms for changing, easy access for transport and parking, and excellent catering and exhibition space, the venue surpasses anything that we have seen in Scotland.”
The Scottish Schools Pipes and Drums Trust is a registered charity promoting the playing of pipes and drums in Scottish state schools.
The charity offers cash grants for tuition and other related band costs, free bagpipe and b-flat concert chanter loans, paid trainee internships, and organises the Scottish Schools Pipe Band Championships – the biggest schools piping competition in the world.
More details on the Championships can be found at:
Police Scotland led a multi-agency day of action in Kirkcaldy in relation to an ongoing human trafficking and modern slavery investigation.
One male aged 18 was arrested for human trafficking and modern slavery offences and has been released pending further enquiry.
A 52-year-old woman and a 46-year-old man were arrested for immigration offences and enquiries are ongoing.
Officers visited a business in the area on the morning of Thursday, 10 October, 2024, following intelligence received.
Representatives from Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC), Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), the Gangmasters and Labour Exploitation Authority (GLAA) and Justice and Care were also in attendance.
Detective Inspector Scott Wilson from Dumfries CID said: “Human trafficking and modern slavery are happening in our communities and this operation demonstrates our commitment to tackling this issue.
“We work closely with our partners to identify situations where this criminality is taking place and provide appropriate support to victims. However we cannot do this alone, and it is important that we increase awareness of the warning signs so that reporting can increase.
“Signs that someone could be being exploited at work can include being paid no legal wage and having little or no money, living in poor conditions and having their time on and off duty controlled by their employers.
“If you suspect modern slavery is happening in your community it is vital that you report this and enable us to protect victims and take action against those responsible for this exploitation.”
Anyone with information can contact Police Scotland on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
On 29th October, Royal Bank of Scotland, in collaboration with the Supply Chain Sustainability School, will host an open webinar session to help businesses in Scotland to take advantage of the opportunities presented by the local transition towards net zero.
The free-to-attend webinar is part of Royal Bank’s education programme to provide practical support and guidance for business. The webinar will share insight into the fast-growing net zero opportunities across the built environment and follows the recent provision of retrofit training classes for the UK construction industry.
The session will offer commentary from industry experts who will highlight the significant opportunities available in Scotland by demonstrating key policy and sector standards creating the need for change, as well as outlining key pipelines of work in net zero built environment in the region.
Speakers include a keynote from Sean Smith, Director of Future Infrastructure at University of Edinburgh, followed by contributions from Nick Ribbons from Zero Waste Scotland, Angela Pllu, Senior Environmental Sustainability Manager, Balfour Beatty and Callum Scott, Senior Sustainability Manager, Multiplex.
The sessions will also help local businesses understand the change happening in their region around net zero, how businesses and pipelines of work are reacting to this and what these opportunities mean for them.
Laura Capper, Head of Manufacturing & Construction at NatWest Group said:“As a key supporter of UK business, NatWest Group aims to back proactive and ambitious businesses that are committed to developing their environmental credentials and achieving growth goals alongside making meaningful differences for customers and communities alike.
“We are launching this session to help Scottish businesses take advantage of the changes impacting the local landscape. Sustainability is becoming an essential part of everyday business, and we want to help leaders to understand and embrace the opportunities presented.”
Launched in 2012, the Supply Chain Sustainability School is a free virtual learning platform around sustainability, with the aim to upskill those working within, or aspiring to work within, the built environment sector.
Holly Hansen-Maughan, Sector Manager for Retrofit and Future Workforce at SCSS, said: “The transition to a net zero built environment is a significant challenge. However, it is also a massive opportunity for businesses across the country.
“That is why it is so important businesses understand the opportunities being taken, and created, in their regions”
Callum Scott, ESG Lead – Scotland, Multiplex said:“In this crucial decade of climate action it is imperative that businesses step up as a force for good. In doing so, there is a significant opportunity to generate new value propositions and create a more resilient value chain.
“The supply chain is often where the largest impact can be made, which is why Multiplex are delighted to be supporting the Supply Chain Sustainability School and Royal Bank’s efforts to provide accessible and tangible resources to those looking to seize the net zero opportunity.” Professor Sean Smith, Director, Centre for Future Infrastructure, Edinburgh Futures Institute; Chair of Future Construction, University of Edinburgh said:“Net zero is heavily dependent on business and industry sectors working closely with their supply chains.
“The collective positive actions from so many working together has a positive legacy far beyond our current generations.”
The webinar will take place on 29th October at 12 – 1pm.
Businesses interested in attending can register through the following link with Royal Bank of Scotland here.
Versus Arthritis, the leading charity supporting those with arthritis and other musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions in Scotland, is marking World Arthritis Day tomorrow (Saturday 12 October) with a call for greater community-based support for children, young people and adults living with arthritis.
Marking the day, Versus Arthritis has published the report, Putting the Pieces Together in Drumchapel, which shows how tackling MSK conditions is about ‘more than just healthcare’ and that support within and by communities is vital in improving the lives of Scots living with arthritis.
A staggering one in three people in Scotland are affected by musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions like arthritis, which includes problems that affect our bones, joints and muscles. Unfortunately, MSK conditions will remain one of the leading causes of disease and injury in Scotland over the next 20 years.
Arthritis is often debilitating, isolating and can dramatically impact people’s quality of life. In fact, those with arthritis are 20% less likely to be in work and around one in five people with arthritis experiences anxiety and depression. The impact can also be felt by businesses, as MSK conditions are the third most common cause of sickness absence, with over 20 million working days lost per year.
MSK conditions are also more common in areas of greater poverty, and with Scotland facing some of the worst health inequalities in Europe, according to Public Health Scotland, the challenge is to ensure that care and support across the country is equitable and meets the needs of people locally.
Drumchapel is one such area where there are high levels of deprivation and associated health problems, and where there are gaps in supporting people with arthritis. But crucially, as this report points out, it is also an area of mutual support, community organisation, partnership and networks. There are opportunities to make a real difference.
In line with this year’s World Arthritis Day theme (Informed Choices, Better Outcomes), the conclusion of the Versus Arthritis report is that MSK conditions must be understood in terms of the places where people live, meet and interact, including how they access and use information about support and care.
Alan McGinley, Policy and Engagement Manager Scotland, said: “This Versus Arthritis report highlights that ‘softer services’, such as community and peer support groups, matter greatly, and that alternatives to formal care that support wellbeing are important in living well with arthritis.
“That is why Versus Arthritis is calling for a ‘whole community’ approach in looking after the wellbeing and health of those with MSK conditions. We firmly believe that by ensuring our healthcare services are understood in the context of community networks and support, we can build a future where people with arthritis can live the lives they choose.”
Emergency legislation will be introduced to Parliament to contribute to the sustainable long-term management of Scotland’s prison population, Justice Secretary Angela Constance told MSPs.
The Bill, to be introduced in November, will propose a change to the release point for short-term prisoners serving sentences of less than four years. At present they are released at the halfway point of their sentence. Under these new proposals they will be released after serving 40% of their sentence, with prisoners serving sentences for domestic abuse or sexual offences excluded from the changes.
The Justice Secretary said the wellbeing of victims and the safety of communities will be a priority when implementing the measures, and the Scottish Government will engage directly with victims organisations.
The proposals, scheduled to come into effect from February next year, would apply to both those currently in prison and those sentenced in future. If backed by Parliament, it is estimated the changes could result in a sustained reduction to the prison population of between 260 and 390.
The proposals in the legislation would also give Ministers powers to change the point of release under licence conditions for long-term prisoners serving sentences of four years or more. This follows the recent public consultation on long-term prisoner release, which highlighted various areas requiring more in-depth consideration with partners.
While not currently proposed, contingency planning for the emergency early release of short-term prisoners is being undertaken, should it be needed to ensure the health and welfare of prison staff and prisoners during a continuing rise in the prison population.
In her Parliamentary statement, Ms Constance underlined the importance of public safety and putting in place a sustainable long-term strategy to tackle the rising prison population.
Speaking after delivering her statement, the Justice Secretary said: “I am prioritising actions that can deliver a sustained reduction to the prison population. Public safety remains paramount, which is why I am focusing on short-term prisoners only and with built-in exemptions.
“I recognise the concerns that may arise from victims and their families and I am committed to working closely with victim support organisations on key issues.
“The measures I have outlined are necessary to support prisons to continue to function effectively and I remain grateful to Scottish Prison Service staff for their continued resilience. We must ensure that we have a prison estate which houses those who pose a risk to the public and provides the full range of support needed for people to leave on a better path and never turn back.”
These prison management measures follow yesterday’s announcement that victims of crime will receive improved support, advice and information under reforms to the Victim Notification Scheme that entitles victims or close relatives of homicide victims to certain information about the person responsible for the crime.
There’s just one week to go before the world’s largest celebration of storytelling begins.
The 35th Scottish International Storytelling Festival’s packed programme of over 130 events, taking place in Edinburgh and across Scotland, kicks off next Friday 18 October thanks to support from Creative Scotland and the Scottish Government’s Festivals EXPO Fund.
Since it began in 1989, the festival has been building bridges between cultures, artists and audiences through the power of storytelling. This year, to mark its 35th year, which coincides with 35 years since the fall of the Berlin Wall, the festival has invited international storytellers from the Storytelling Arena in Berlin to join them, and share stories and films from their divided and reunified city.
Other international guests also invited to perform this year include Jeeva Raghunath who will be sharing stories from the folk lands of India, and Irish guest storyteller and broadcaster Nuala Hayes who founded the Dublin Storytelling Festival.
Nuala will be joined by Irish musician Aoife Granville for two events celebrating the life of storyteller, seanchaì and author Peig Sayers who lived most of her life on The Great Blasket Island off the coast of south-west Kerry.
They will also be entertaining audiences with Stories and Songs from Ireland at the Aberdeen & Beyond Storytelling Festival (22 Oct); in Edinburgh as part of the main programme (23 Oct); and as guests at the Wild Goose Festival in Dumfries (18-25 Oct); thanks to support from Culture Ireland.
Storyteller James MacDonald Reid who performs Cath Gailbheach nan Eòin The Desperate Battle of the Birds with electric cellist Ryan Williams in Edinburgh (22 Oct) and Tobermory (25 Oct) this festival. Photo credit Neil Hanna.
Unmissable Gaelic highlights this festival include, the premiere of Cath Gailbheach nan Eòin The Desperate Battle of the Birds told by Scottish storyteller James MacDonald Reid in English and Gaelic throughout.
This classic Gaelic folk tale will be shared in the traditional manner by James but with a contemporary twist, as it will be intertwined with live electric cello music by Scottish-Korean musician Ryan Williams.
Plus, experimental folk duo Burd Ellen will premiere their new multi-media performance Òran Mhòirwhich explores the Gaelic lore of the intertidal zone and mixes costume, film, folk song, electronic sounds and field recordings, with stories told by Eileen Budd from Angus.
Eileen will also be in Angus as part of the festival’s Go Local programme in November, for a weekend of crafts from the glens, Halloween history and folklore, and fireside ghost tales at Balintore Castle.
Performers from The Dream of Al-Andalus with L/R Omar Afif, Inés Álvarez Villa, Danielo Olivera, Director Jelena Bašić and Sef Townsend – premieres Sat 19 Oct at 8pm
Other events not to miss include The Dream of Al-Andalus, told by Sef Townsend and Inés Álvarez Villaand accompanied by flamenco guitarist Danielo Olivera and Moroccan musician Omar Afif. Al-Andalus was a vibrant era of cultural diversity in mediaeval Spain, where the interplay of Muslim, Christian and Jewish cultures sparked an artistic and intellectual renaissance. These cultures are fully represented by this group of artists who aim to evoke Al-Andalus, not as a relic of the past, but as an inspiration for a more tolerant future.
The Festival’s opening weekend also coincides with the October school holidays and there are plenty of family friendly events for children this year including; face painting, crafts, storytelling and songs presented by the Beltane Fire Society for Samhuinn; the premiere of a new sensory version of the traditional tale The Bouncy Billy Goats Gruff, suited to children with additional needs, their families and friends with storyteller Ailie Finlay and artist Kate Leiper;A Jaunt Round Auld Reekie with the Ceilidh Crew n’ Co performed with stories, music, comedy and puppetry; and a retelling of an ancient border ballad in Into the Woods: In the Footsteps of Thomas the Rhymer narrated by celebrated actor Julia Munrow and with music composed by multi-instrumentalist John Sampson and played by Pete Baynes.
Actor Julia Munrow narrates a new take on the ancient Border ballad of Thomas the Rhymer, with Pete Baynes and John Sampson
This year there is also a great selection of Edinburgh 900 events to look forward to, including a visit to St Catherine’s ‘Oily Well’ in Gracemount, known for its healing properties with storyteller Jane Mather, and an opportunity to join storytellers Jan Bee Brown and Beverley Casebow at the National Library’s exhibition exhibition Renaissance: Scotland and Europe, 1460-1630to hear true and traditional tales ofStars, Secrets and Sea Monsters.
In addition, Edinburgh will celebrate 20 years since its designation as the world’s first UNESCO City of Literature, with a conference from 22-25 October, which aims to bring together all the subsequent cities of literature in the network, and connect them to writers and literary organisations in the city.
Global Lab returns with four online workshops exploring intangible cultural heritage; present day Gaza through the voices of children and young people; stories from India; and Scotland as a slaver nation.
In addition, the festival’s in person workshop programme kicks off in week one with Emotional Literacy with Storytelling with Peter Chand, adult ADHD through the lens of folktales with Jacqueline Harris in Slowing Down to the Speed of Light which is also part of the Festival’s latest podcast series Another Story; and how stories can break down inhibitions, build cooperation and celebrate difference in Telling Across the Divide with storyteller Sef Townsend.
The Scottish International Storytelling Festival runs from Friday, 18 October to Thursday 31 October. Tickets to family events cost just £5 per ticket.
For those planning on attending multiple events, the Festival Supporter Pass offers discounted tickets to many live festival events, online and at the Scottish Storytelling Centre, as well as a discount at the Scottish Storytelling Centre’s bookshop, Haggis Box Café and an invitation to the Festival launch event.
To purchase tickets and browse the full programme, visit sisf.org.uk
This month marks the twenty year anniversary of Edinburgh becoming the world’s first UNESCO City of Literature
On 13 October 2004, Edinburgh was designated the world’s first UNESCO City of Literature, a permanent title celebrating Edinburgh’s status as a literary capital and pioneer in the UNESCO Creative Cities network, which now has 350 member cities.
The concept of a City of Literature was devised in Edinburgh by the Trust’s founding members Jenny Brown OBE, Catherine Lockerbie, James Boyle and Lorraine Fannin, trailblazing the way – there are now 53 UNESCO Cities of Literature across the world.
To mark the occasion, over 60 representatives from Cities of Literature destinations across the global network will come to Edinburgh in October (21-25 Oct 2024) for a four-day conference to mark the achievements of the past two decades and to make plans for the future – ensuring that Edinburgh continues to stay firmly on the literary map.
Gerald Richards Interim Chair for Edinburgh City of Literature Trust, said:‘The Edinburgh City of Literature Trust believes that literature in its broadest sense transforms lives, and that it is a true way to understand and celebrate ourselves, Edinburgh city and our nation.
“We will use the opportunity of hosting the UNESCO City of Literature conference to build new international programmes for Scottish writers, share best practice, develop new collaborative projects in the capital and it’s a great opportunity to celebrate Edinburgh’s vast cultural and literary output.’
As part of the four day international conference, newly appointed Edinburgh Makar, Michael Pedersen curated a public event with help from Dublin City of Literature and the Goethe Institut which has already sold out.
Edinburgh Makar, poet and author, Michael Pederson, said: “Edinburgh is a literary behemoth, bubbling up with lustre & lore – now, then and every epoch in-between. What a thrill to be made Makar at such a salient moment in its formidable history.
“I’ll be using my Makarship to ensure poetry remains within the heartbeat of this extraordinary, complicated, quirky, shapeshifter of a capital city, always punching above its weight. Here’s to its gothic splendour, here’s to this glorious work.’’
The Trust’s Words on the Street campaign (2016) saw a major public-private partnership which secured £25,000 for a community engagement project which included collaboration with international screenwriter, filmmaker and artist Terry Gilliam.
Over the last twenty years, The Trust has worked with more than 250 partners to deliver approximately 300 stand-alone and multi-session events and projects, reaching an audience of at least 325,000 and millions more through their on-street installations and online programmes.
The Trust’s Words on the Street in campaign saw a major public-private partnership which secured £25,000 for a community engagement project which included collaboration with international screenwriter, filmmaker and artist Terry Gilliam. A 10-metre long illuminated light installation featuring a quote selected by Gilliam and inspired by Miguel de Cervantes’ book Don Quixote was installed on Jeffrey Street in the heart of Edinburgh’s Old Town for 28 days.
In 2014, to mark the 10th anniversary of our UNESCO City of Literature designation, The Trust launched Great Scott! – Covering the floors, walls and windows of Edinburgh’s Waverley Station – the only railway station named after a novel. The public response to the installation was so positive that the station owners have preserved the installation, presenting that work daily to an annual footfall of 23 million people at the train station.
Great Scott! (2014)
Readers and writers across Scotland benefited from previous projects such as the formation of Robert Louis Stevenson Day, citywide reading initiatives and the Trust has also transformed public urban spaces with inscriptions of literary works as well as projections of poetry onto Edinburgh Castle rock.
Douglas Dunn quote projected onto Edinburgh Castle Rock, (2016)
The Trust collaborated with partners to publish the first Scots and Gaelic graphic novels and through reading campaigns, have given away over 93,000 free books through schools and community programmes.
The City of Literature Trust also worked with Visit Scotland to create the world’s first UNESCO trail, bringing together some of Scotland’s most iconic, diverse and culturally significant sites.This digital trail connects the 13 UNESCO sites, and is hosted on Visit Scotland’s website. It has won three awards, with over 75,000 active users of the microsite.
In 2022, Edinburgh City of Literature Trust partnered with the Scottish Storytelling Centre to run a series of cross-artform literary events. Figures of Speech brought together writers and artists that explored Scottish literature via six universal themes and also saw newly commissioned work by contemporary artists and writers.
Figures of Speech, (2022)
Other projects have ranged from international exchanges to local residencies; from one-off conferences to monthly literary salons; and from literary heritage promotions to community funds. The Trust also uses some of UNESCO’s key international days to raise the profile of aspects of Scotland’s literary activity to a global level.
Current projects include professional development programmes, creative commissions, international writer residencies and The Dr Gavin Wallace Fellowship offers mid-career and established writers time to develop creative work during a year-long residency.
Cllr Val Walker, Culture and Communities Convener at City of Edinburgh Council said:“It is exciting that it’s been two decades since Edinburgh was first given the title, City of Literature.
“It’s even more exciting to think where it will be two decades from now, as the network continues to grow. We are, as always, extremely proud of being the founding city of this international cohort of UNESCO Cities of Literature and look forward to continue working in partnership with Edinburgh City of Literature.”
Many organisations have marked the occasion with public shout-outs, book lists and collaborative projects such as the Scottish Book Trust’s Twenty Brilliant Edinburgh Novels which offers top twenty reads of Edinburgh novels across the years.
One Square, The Sheraton Grand Hotel & Spa’s award-winning bar and brasserie is running a unique Afternoon Literary Tea to mark Edinburgh City of Literature Trust’s milestone and the Scottish Storytelling Centre will also host their four-day conference as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival programme.
Edinburgh City of Literature Trust birthday also contributes to the on-going Edinburgh 900 celebrations; marking the 900 year anniversary of Edinburgh – a city-wide celebration of Edinburgh’s history, culture and future.
Well-known faces from Harry Potter, Sex Education, Game of Thrones, The Bear, His Dark Materials and more star in new films showcasing Booker Prize 2024 shortlist.
Produced by globally renowned Merman Television, the films are directed by one of UK television’s fastest-rising stars – writer, director, and producer Sebastian Thiel.
Previous films showcasing the Booker Prizes’ shortlisted novels have been viewed over 50 million times and high-profile performers include Dua Lipa, David Harewood, Caitriona Balfe and Alfred Enoch.
Novels written by authors from five countries feature on this year’s shortlist and five of the six are written by women, a first in the prize’s 55-year history.
For the fifth time in three years, the Booker Prizes have partnered with Sharon Horgan and Clelia Mountford’s production company Merman Television on a series of short films featuring well-known performers reading extracts from the shortlisted books.
Their release has become one of the most highly anticipated moments in the Booker Prizes’ calendar, with some of the UK’s leading acting and filmmaking talent keen to take part. The previous set of films, published in April, were viewed over 32 million times across the Booker Prizes’ social media channels.
The new films, which showcase the 2024 shortlist for the Booker Prize, the world’s most influential award for a single work of fiction, are directed by writer, director and producer Sebastian Thiel, one of UK television’s fastest-rising stars. His directing credits include the International Emmy-nominated BBC Three comedy Dreaming Whilst Black, and the recent Netflix series Supacell.
The performers featured are: Adelayo Adedayo (The Responder, Some Girls), Nonso Anozie (Sweet Tooth, Game of Thrones), Chipo Chung (Silo, His Dark Materials), Jason Isaacs (Harry Potter, The Death of Stalin), Will Poulter (Dopesick, Midsommar) and Tanya Reynolds (Sex Education, The Decameron).
The films will premiere at a Booker Prize shortlist event at the Times and Sunday Times Cheltenham Literature Festival at 10.30am on Saturday, 12 October, and will be published on the Booker Prizes website (thebookerprizes.com) and social channels (@thebookerprizes) the same day. They will also be shown at the Booker Prize 2024 ceremony, which will be held at Old Billingsgate, London, on Tuesday, 12 November.
Gaby Wood, Chief Executive of the Booker Prize Foundation, says:‘Over the past three years the films we make with Merman have become not only one of the highlights of the Booker year, but works of art in their own right: a project that world-class actors and filmmakers want to be a part of.
‘We couldn’t be more grateful to everyone involved for the impact they have in inspiring more people to read some of the century’s greatest books.
‘Watching extraordinary actors bring fragments of the Booker shortlisted books to life is a huge thrill, and seeing the love the films get from the public once they’re out in the world proves how vivid these stories can be for everyone. We receive countless comments from people saying they want to buy and read the whole book as a result.
‘This time round the six films have been conjured by the artistry of Sebastian Thiel and his talented crew, including Director of Photography Evelin van Rei. Along with the brilliant producers and casting director at Merman, a true dream team!
‘We hope you enjoy these films as much as we have.’
Sebastian Thiel, Director of the film, adds:‘It was a privilege to direct Booker’s latest videos and be part of a project that celebrates such great literature.
“Working with these remarkable texts and talented actors in an intimate setting inspired me creatively, allowing me to focus on simple yet meaningful visuals. It’s been a truly rewarding experience, bringing these powerful stories to life.”
More about the shortlist
The £50,000 Booker Prize is awarded annually to the best sustained work of fiction written in English by authors from anywhere in the world and published in the UK and/or Ireland.
The 2024 shortlist features five women for the first time, and authors representing five countries, including the first Dutch writer to be shortlisted and the first Australian in a decade. It features stories which transport readers around the world and beyond the Earth’s atmosphere: from the battlefields of the First World War to a spiritual retreat in rural Australia; from America’s Deep South in the 19th century to a remote Dutch house in the 1960s; from the International Space Station to a cave network beneath the French countryside.
The six books – and the performers reading extracts from them in the films – are as follows:
The winner will be announced on Tuesday, 12 November 2024. The announcement will be broadcast live in a special edition of BBC Radio 4’s Front Row at 9.30pm, and livestreamed on the Booker Prizes’ social channels.
More about the Booker Prizes’ films
The Booker Prizes have worked with Merman on its shortlist films since 2022. The previous sets of films were directed by Charlotte Hamblin, Hannah Berry George and Kevin Thomas, and featured performances from Dua Lipa, Eleanor Tomlinson, David Jonsson, Tobias Menzies, Anya Chalotra, Antonia Thomas, Anna Friel, Jarvis Cocker, David Harewood, Nikki Amuka Bird, Prasanna Puwanarajah, Sharon Horgan, Adjoa Andoh, Aisling Bea, Jessica Brown Findlay, Toby Stephens, Michelle de Swarte, Osy Ikhile, Caitríona Balfe, Alfred Enoch, Bel Powley, Paterson Joseph, Susan Lynch and Nina Wadia.
The most recent set of films, produced for the International Booker Prize 2024 and directed by Charlotte Hamblin, was viewed over 32 million times across the Booker Prizes’ Instagram and TikTok accounts. The films produced for the Booker Prize 2022, directed by Kevin Thomas, won in the Culture category of The Drum Awards for Marketing EMEA 2023.
The director of photography for the new films is Evelin van Rei, a Dutch autistic artist working in photography and cinematography. Evelin is a full member of BAFTA and the Netherlands Society of Cinematographers, and received the Angénieux Special Encouragement Award at Cannes Film Festival in 2022. The executive producer is Joshua Buckingham.
