Festival runs until 31 October 2024
This week, storytellers and audiences are invited to gather at the Tree of Memory in the Storytelling Centre to hear stories of our great tradition bearers, and add a leaf to honour their elders and celebrate their own memories of lives well lived.
The Tree of Memory by artist Katie Warner is created from willow and forms the centrepiece to four Tree of Memory events during this year’s Scottish International Storytelling Festival:
Mon 28 Oct, 4pm
Edinburgh-based storyteller Claire McNicol hosts a celebration of Irish and Scots storyteller Audrey Parks who has been described as the founding mother and grandmother of Scotland’s storytelling renaissance.
Tues 29 Oct, 4pm
Liz Tulloch hosts a celebration of her father, well-known Shetland storyteller Lawrence Tulloch who was a familiar voice on BBC Radio Shetland and wrote for many magazines and newspapers.
Wed 30 Oct, 4pm
Storyteller Tim Porteous and Festival Director Donald Smith host a celebration of Edinburgh storytellers Jack Martin and John Fee.
Jack Martin who died in 2023, became a storyteller after a lifetime as an entertainer, puppeteer, and stand up comedian.
John Fee who died aged 80 was known as a master of storytelling and performed regularly at the Waverley Bar’s Guid Crack Club and on the Netherbow stage.
Thu 31st Oct, 4pm
Douglas Mackay hosts a celebration of David Campbell with a basket of blessings to all absent friends.
David Campbell is a writer, broadcaster, poet and an acclaimed international storyteller whose repertoire ranges from ancient Celtic epics of Ireland and Scotland through stories of adventure, romance, faith, love and quirky comic tales.
Donald Smith, Director of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival, said: “Stories are passed between the generations. Our Tree of Memory honours the elders – those who are preciously still with us, and those who have passed on.
“We invite everyone who wishes to honour a storyteller in their life to add a leaf to our Tree.”
The Tree of Memory events are presented in partnership with To Absent Friends and Good Life, Good Death, Good Grief and are supported by the Scottish Storytelling Forum.
The Scottish International Storytelling Festival runs until Thursday 31 October. 2024 marks the 35thanniversary of the festival and its packed programme of events take place in venues in Edinburgh and across Scotland thanks to support from the Scottish Government’s Festivals EXPO Fund and Creative Scotland.
For details of the full programme, visit sisf.org.uk
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