Tag: storytelling

Woman with sight loss to take part in Portobello story-telling event

Anne Dignan, an Edinburgh woman who is blind, will take part in a story-telling session in Portobello on Saturday, March 11th.

‘Tales of Gallus Women’ will feature six women telling anecdotes, chronicles and yarns ranging from the far north of Scotland to the shores of East Lothian – “Tales of real life, fantasy, intrigue and witchcraft,” says Anne (68).

“I’ve always loved telling stories to the children I taught at school before I had to take early medical retirement due to my sight loss,” says Anne. “I missed reading books, and being able to tell and to listen to stories again meant so much to me.”

A former primary-school teacher, Anne (68) joined a local group called the Burgh Blatherers three years ago after a friend told her about them.

“Through the Burgh Blatherers, I discovered the art of traditional oral story-telling,” she goes on. “This art has been going for centuries where stories, customs and traditions were handed down from generation to generation, as well as being a form of social interaction amongst people who couldn’t read or write.

“The Burgh Blatherers share a very keen interest in ensuring the skill of story-telling continues to enjoy its relatively recent revival over the last 20 or so years. There will be six of us taking part on Saturday evening. All are acclaimed storytellers in their own right, most with many professional years of experience – Rona Barbour, Beverley Casebow, Linda Portula, Elaine Robertson, Emilie Barr and myself.”

Anne, herself, has won one of the story-telling movement’s most prestigious awards, the Tall Tales Oscars. “I was up against several professional contenders who all had many, many years of experience. I am highly delighted, and proud of the award.

Her own tale this Saturday will be the true story of woman born into a Gaelic-speaking community on Skye in 1821. “My story is self-penned and extensively researched,” she enthuses. “It’s about Mairi Mohr Nan Oran, or ‘Great Mary of the Stories’ as she became famously known by her native Gaelic-speaking community. Her real name was Mairi MacPherson (nee MacDonald).

“She was instrumental in rallying people to effect a change in the legislation affecting crofters, the Crofters Holdings Act, which secured land tenure for crofters who had who had undergone the ravages of the later Highland Clearances. She wrote many songs and poems railing against landlords and persons of authority.

“She taught herself to speak and write English so she could help Gaelic-speaking emigrés who, like her, lived in slum conditions whilst they sought work in Glasgow. Her poems and stories were created when she was imprisoned.

“To this day, she has left an indelible mark and even Gaelic choirs are still named after her in the islands.”

* ‘Tales of Gallus Women’ will take place in Bellfield Community Hub in Portobello on Saturday, March 11th, from 6.30 to 8.30pm.

Tickets are from £8.00 – £10.00 available on the door or from Eventbrite – https://www.eventbrite.com/e/472783838187.

Light refreshments will be provided during the interval. Gallus men are very welcome, too!

Charity brings stories to life at Royal Hospital for Children and Young People for Christmas

Children and their families at Edinburgh’s Royal Hospital for Children and Young People were visited by storytelling and performance duo Macastory as part of the Scottish Friendly Children’s Book Tour on Friday (9 December). 

Macastory shared songs and stories in an interactive event for the children in attendance. The tour is run by Scottish Book Trust, the national charity changing lives through reading and writing, and sponsored by Scottish Friendly.

Alongside the event, children at the hospital and their families were gifted books by Scottish Book Trust to keep and enjoy. These were gifted as part of Scottish Book Trust’s Christmas appeal, which is fundraising to help gift and distribute books to families across Scotland during the festive period through food banks, hospitals, and other community spaces. Books bring comfort, joy, and escapism, and the initiative aims to bring the magic of books to families most in need this Christmas – especially in light of the ongoing cost-of-living crisis.

The Scottish Friendly Children’s Book Tour takes brilliant authors and illustrators to schools in all areas of Scotland for fully-funded events that hope to inspire a lifelong love of reading and writing in pupils.

Marc Lambert, CEO of Scottish Book Trust, said: ‘We’re delighted to have been able to return to Edinburgh Children’s Hospital with the Scottish Friendly Children’s Book Tour, this time for a fun-filled event with Macastory in time for Christmas.

‘Bringing the magic of stories and books to children in hospital is hugely important – books can provide comfort and pleasure as well as improve overall wellbeing. Alongside today’s event, we were glad to be able to gift books to children in hospital and their families thanks to the generous support of the public.’

Fiona O’Sullivan, Director of Children’s Wellbeing at Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity, said: “It was wonderful to welcome Macastory to the hospital for this fantastic event. Storytelling is so powerful; being transported to another time or place can be so beneficial for children when they are unwell.

“No one wants to be in hospital at any time, but at Christmas it can be especially hard, so we are enormously grateful to Macastory for bringing lots of fun and distraction to the wards and waiting areas.’

Macastory, comprising storytellers Ron Fairweather and Fergus McNicol, said before the event: ‘We are delighted to have been invited by the Scottish Book Trust to be involved in the Christmas programme at Edinburgh Children’s Hospital.

“It’s a great way for us to bring our Christmas storytelling to kids who otherwise might miss out on this type of fun at this time of year. So we’ve picked our favourite Christmas tales to bring to the kids, families and staff at the hospital and we can’t wait to create some Christmas cheer for everyone to enjoy!’

Photography project inspires West African women to tell their stories at the Scottish National Portrait Gallery

A mentorship programme at the National Galleries of Scotland (NGS) has given six West African women the opportunity to tell their unheard life stories through the medium of photography.

Charting their individual physical, mental and spiritual journeys, the photographs will be on display at the Scottish National Portrait Gallery until 8 January 2023.

Today (5 December), the mentees celebrated the publication of a brand-new book. Titled Putting Ourselves in the Picture, the book includes a compelling selection of their photographs created during the mentorship programme.

Designed to develop the skills and confidence of six women, the mentorship programme involved using photography as a means of storytelling, learning how to make photographs using cameras and experimenting with photographic techniques such as collage and photograms.

The weekly sessions were coordinated by workshop leader Sam Rutherford and photographer Wendy McMurdo along with Chief Curator Anne Lyden.

The group took part in a series of workshops held every Monday at North Edinburgh Arts in Autumn 2021. Working with guest facilitator, Morwenna Kearsley, they learned how to use their new DSLR cameras, which they continue to use in their photographic practice.

Now settled in Scotland and residents of North Edinburgh, the mentees who took part chose a subject close to their heart to capture on camera.

The diverse themes explored by the mentees include:

  • Lovelin’s battle with bureaucracy to obtain settled status in the UK.
  • Maureen’s adjustment to high-rise living and comparing her new life in Scotland to her home country, Nigeria.
  • Linda, from Ghana, examined the challenges she overcame in learning how to drive, which was essential for her independence in Scotland.
  • Grace, an Evangelist from Nigeria, captured her experience of preaching about Jesus in Edinburgh.
  • Nwanyi’s motivation and study toward the establishment of her law career in Scotland.
  • Hannah’s weight-loss journey through walking, which helped improve her mental wellbeing during the pandemic.

The photographs along with statements from each of the women are on display in the exhibition You Are Here.

NGS’ mentorship programme was part of a pioneering nationwide project, Putting Ourselves in the Picture. Led by Professor Anna Fox, director and founding member of Fast Forward: Women in Photography, the programme was funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council, part of the UK Research Initiative. 

Putting Ourselves in the Picture is driven by women from communities around the UK. Alongside NGS, it has enabled several organisations—Impressions Gallery, Bradford; Autograph, London; Women for Refugee Women and WorkShowGrow to support marginalised women and non-binary individuals through the means of photography. The mentees were also the subjects of films and podcasts commissioned by Putting Ourselves in the Picture.

The new hardback publication Putting Ourselves in the Picture brings together photographs and creative writing produced by NGS’ mentorship group, alongside work created by sixteen other women working with our project partners across the UK. The powerful narratives and inspiring images that emerge from the pages of this book confront gender discrimination and the marginalisation of women in our societies. 

Running throughout 2022 at the Scottish National Portrait Gallery, You Are Here amplifies the ways in which communities can engage with art to benefit their health and wellbeing. Drawing upon collaborative projects between NGS and partner organisations across Scotland, identity and belonging are at the forefront of this exhibition.

Anna Fox said: “This is a storytelling project of immense value and importance. I am bowled over by the powerful stories on display at the Scottish National Portrait Gallery, which also feature in this new book.

“The wonderful book is the result of an 18 month-long project which saw five amazing partner organisations, a dozen photographers and educators, and 21 mentees, come together in collaboration.”

Anne Lyden said: “The mentees shared their experiences as African immigrants to Scotland with us, trusting us with their stories and offering insight into a vital community located in North Edinburgh.

“It is a huge privilege to celebrate the culmination of the mentorship programme today with Lovelin, Maureen, Linda, Grace, Nwanyi, and Hannah.”

PICTURES: Neil Hanna

South African Heritage Sunday Braai

Edinburgh Multicultural Festival are delighted to share to be partnering with Edinburgh Shisanyama and Vetkoek Paleis Scotland to jointly present our 2022 programme at Philly’s Edinburgh on 25 September!

Book your places to enjoy a great programme of world entertainment and South African spread!

Everyone is welcome!

Big announcement Edinburgh Shisanyama is partnering with Edinburgh Multicultural Festival for the South African heritage Braai.

They have prepaid prepaid for some Braai packs for some lucky customers, these are limited so first come first serve

There will be Performances form the Edinburgh Multicultural Festival from 15:00, the performances will ranging from Dance, singing, story telling and more

PLEASE NOTE We have a limited amount of tables available, so reserve your tables as soon as you can.

To Reserve you table, simply text/call/WhatsApp 07527909134 and pay on the day.

Date : 25/09/2022

Time 13:00 – 20:00

Location

Philly’s Edinburgh

2 Lochside Place

Edinburgh

EH12 9DF

Scotland

Don’t miss out on the LAST Edinburgh Shisanyama of the Year, Let’s close the summer with a bang.

#ShisanyamaSundays#OneSudayAMonth#braai#Shisanyama#edinburgh#PapNvleis#heritage

See you there

Trinity Community Gala tomorrow

Sunday 28th August is the date for the bi-annual Trinity Community Gala.

Lots to see and do! Go along and support what is always a great local event!

See below for more details:

https://trinitycommunitycouncil.wordpress.com/…/trinit…/

Fringe 2022: Dan Kelly – How I Came Third in the North Korean Marathon 

What happens when you try to run 26.2 miles in the most secretive nation on earth?

In 2018 Dan Kelly came third in the North Korean Marathon. That means he beat over 1,000 other runners to get on the winner’s podium.

To achieve that he had to negotiate a voluminous application and vetting process to gain access to the country. He also discovered what happens when you run out of malt loaf the night before the big race, and, what happens when you hit the wall in front of 50,000 North Koreans who are enthusiastically cheering you on. There may even have been some physical training involved too.

Dan created an event team with four friends, each with their own area of specialism: meet Mark (nutrition), Tarek (communication), Martin (numbers) and Hugh (speed).

This fast-paced hour of unique, intelligently comic storytelling incorporates video from the race (official North Korean government provided footage) and real-life scenes of BBQ clams and last-minute flapjack shortages.

Marvel as Dan and his team discover the answers to the burning questions of the day like:

‘How do you convert miles into kilometres…and then back into miles!?’

‘What’s North Korean for ‘is that a real gun?’’

‘Just how much voltarol gel is too much voltarol gel?’

How I Came Third in the North Korean Marathon is directed by Joseph Morpurgo, co-creator of smash-hit improvised comedy Austentatious (winner of multiple 4 and 5 star reviews) and Comedy Award nominee.

Dan said ‘As a keen runner I’ve run marathons in places like Marrakech, Snowdonia, Madeira and Valencia but entering North Korea’s was one of the more unusual experience and was my toughest challenge yet.

“For a start, are flapjacks even allowed in North Korea? This show is an attempt to tell audiences about the thrills, spills and downright absurdities of running a race in the most secretive nation on earth”.

One-time Edinburgh University student Dan is no stranger to international travel. In his day job he travels the world to investigate the cost of living in different countries, checking and recording prices of day-to-day goods.

If you want to know the price of a box of tea bags in Belarus or a pack of pasta in Peru, Dan’s your man. He has visited supermarkets in over 140 countries. Any unusual finds?

‘Last year, on the top shelf in a tiny, run down corner shop in Burundi I saw a very dusty, and most unexpected bottle of Newcastle Brown Ale…’

Listings information: 

How I Came Third in the North Korean Marathon 

Venue: Just the Tonic @ The Caves, Venue 88

Dates: 4-28 (not 15) First review date 4 Aug

Time: 16.10 (55 mins) 

Tickets: £5 advance or pay what you can on door

Venue Box Office: 0131 226 0000

www.justthetonic.com/edinburgh-festival 

The Amplify Project podcast launched in Black History Month

Black British Writers In Their Own Words

The Amplify Project podcast has been launched to celebrate and highlight the importance of Black British writers across stage, page and screen in the UK. 

Hosted by award-winning writers; playwright, author and director, Patricia Cumper MBE and writer and creative producer, Pauline Walker, each episode is an in-depth conversation with a Black British author, delving into their backgrounds and inspirations, the art and craft of writing, and what it means to be a Black British writer and how it has impacted their writing, and more. 

Listeners are invited to join in the conversation. Listen to the trailer here.

Funded by the Arts Council England, this ground-breaking new podcast is dedicated to addressing the undervaluing of Black British writers by promoting and examining the Black British literary canon, exploring the history and ideas of some of Britain’s most influential and innovative writers. 

Each week Patricia and Pauline speak to a different guest, about their own unique experience of being an author, and deep dive into the topics that impacted their lives and their writing. 

Guests include Alex Wheatle MBE (author profiled in Steve McQueen’s award-winning BBC drama Small Axe), Colin Grant (author, independent historian & producer for BBC radio), Diana Evans FRSL (London based award-winning, bestselling author), Hafsa Zayyan (winner of Stormzy’s inaugural #Merky Books new writers’ prize), Juliet Gilkes Romero (award-winning writer for stage and screen,) Nick Makoha, (award-winning author) and Oladipo Agboluaje (winner of the 2009 Alfred Fagon Award). 

Pauline Walker, co-creator of the podcast said, “We started talking about this project in May 2020, wanting to find a way to profile the careers and work of Black British writers, something we felt was lacking. 

“When you read something like “Publishers claim that they would like to reach more diverse audiences but do not know how to, or are reluctant to expend resources on doing so” in a report [Re:Thinking ‘Diversity’ in Publishing] it’s quite disheartening because Black British writers and their work is no less valuable or vital than non-Black writers and we wanted to change that and I’m so thrilled that we’ve been able to bring the project to life with the support of Arts Council England. 

“One of my favourite things about the podcast is listening to our guests’ stories of how they found their way to writing and what it means to them to be a writer”. 

Patricia Cumper MBE, co-creator of the podcast, continued: “There is no one Black British identity. More than anything else, that is what I’ve learned from making these podcasts. 

“The range of life stories and the many routes that Black writers have found into making work and viable careers for themselves is astonishing. What comes through in all of the interviews is the power of storytelling: to entertain, to educate, to heal, to reveal hidden worlds and new stories, and the sheer bloody-mindedness and determination to speak out that it takes to be a successful storyteller whatever your genre.  And it was was fun: challenging, surprising, riveting but most of all fun.  I am deeply grateful to the writers for these conversations”. 

Season one of The Amplify Project will feature twelve episodes, with episodes 1-4 readily available on the Amplify Project website here. 

Episodes will be released fortnightly. 

*Episodes of the podcast are available to listen to here * 

Edinburgh Multicultural Festival to showcase capital’s diverse cultures through creative arts

Edinburgh Multicultural Festival, funded by the City of Edinburgh Council, promotes local and international multicultural artists.

It engages local audiences through music, dance, poetry, storytelling and visual arts that represent Edinburgh’s diverse cultures, including African, Asian and Eastern European.

The aim of the festival is to better engage local, both BAME and indigenous, residents with local multicultural arts provision as well as promote diversity through shared experiences.

It is also to create a platform for BAME artists to share their talent, culture and artistic endeavours with other local artists and local audiences. It is seen as a unique opportunity for multicultural artists based in Edinburgh to share stages and experiences as well as encourage greater collaboration across arts disciplines.

The festival takes place across different venues in the North of Edinburgh, which is recognised as one of the most diverse areas in Edinburgh.

Edinburgh Multicultural Festival is produced by African Connections CIC is a community interest company based in Scotland. It provides benefit to African and UK-based artists and communities as well as African and UK-based arts and culture groups and organisations.

African Connections CIC celebrates diversity and creates connections between African and other communities by means of sharing cultures, creative ideas, skills and experiences.

The company plans to establish information, guidance, events and trading centres showcasing quality African products and creatives productions with the aim of creating opportunities for all communities in Scotland and beyond to share and engage in cultural experiences.

The Grand Reveal Part 1 | Literary and Visual Art

1 October 2021 | granton:hub

Join us for an art exhibition featuring the work of Harriet Mould, Jose Luis Cote and Kate Soltan and creative writing and visual literacy workshops.

12:00-13:30 The Land of Punt: Reading and Creative Writing Workshop with Joan Hephzibah and Ebony Pollard (ages 7-12)

13:45-15:30 Imagination in Motion: Visual Literacy Workshop with Kate Soltan and Magda Adamow (all ages)

16:00-17:00 Person Behind Picture: Exhibition and Panel Discussion with Visual Artists Harriet Mould, Jose Luis Cote and Kate Soltan (all ages)

All events are free but ticketed.

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/…/edinburgh-multicultural…

The Grand Reveal Part 2: Edinburgh Multicultural Festival LIVE!

Programme 2 OCTOBER 2021: DANCE, POETRY AND NEW WRITING FOR STAGE & FILM – PASS

Acting, Musical Theatre, Technical Theatre & Costume for Stage (PASS) Theatre at Edinburgh College (Granton Campus) will be home to exciting dance, theatre, poetry and stand-up comedy work presented by Scotland-based diverse artists on 2 October 2021.

With this programme we would like to present the work of artists at different stages of their creative careers and promote collaboration and exchange of skills and practice. Join us for three showcase events with the focus on DANCE, POETRY and NEW WRITING for THEATRE, FILM and STAND-UP featuring Divine Tasinda, Tuflamencoo with Inma Montero and Danielo Olivera, Fronteiras Theatre Lab, Lubna Kerr, Sean Wai Keung and Jinling Wu, and Raheema Sayed.

The Grand Reveal Part 3: Edinburgh Multicultural Festival LIVE!

Programme 3 OCTOBER 2021: MUSIC

Starbank Park nestled in the Newhaven Harbour area of Edinburgh will be a stage for Scotland’s diverse MUSIC stars on 3 October 2021!

Let’s celebrate the festival finale day with intimate instrumental music experiences and big band and sound performances on the main stage.

The Edinburgh Multicultural Festival is delighted to present Mio Shudo, Alec Cooper and Roo Geddes followed by The Spinning Blowfish, Mother All Mighty, Los Chichanos and Shona the Musical Choir.

12:00 – 13:30 Musical Musings feat. instrumental music performed by harpist Mio Shudo, sitarist Alec Cooper and fiddler Roo Geddes will soothe your soul and take you on a journey into the sounds and stories of sea-bound people of Japan, South Asia and Ireland. [Entrance: Upper Grounds at Laverockbank Road]

14:00 – 19:00 StarDome21: Edinburgh Multicultural Festival Finale at Starbank Park with big bands and bigger sound. The Spinning Blowfish, Mother All Mighty, Los Chichanos and Shona the Musical – Band and Choir will grace the StarDome21 Finale Stage with an eclectic mix of Trad and Folk to Neo Soul / Hip Hop / R’n’B.

From Africa to South America, and back to Scotland, the finale concert will satisfy your music buds and fill your heart with joy. Not all goodbyes should be sad! [Entrance: Lower Grounds at Starbank Road]

Book your tickets in advance!https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/…

Join Stepping Stones at The Carnival of Venice!

(It’s in Granton Community Garden!)

Join Stepping Stones North Edinburgh next week for a lovely workshop as we venture to Venice.

@cynthiaws Starcatchers @starcatchersuk #Storytelling#SensoryPlay

Lead by Cynthia Cheung and Marion Geoffray, the workshop/outdoor activities involve multisensory creative play for the aged 2-5 to explore different festival traditions and stories.

In the workshop, we explore the children’s reaction and interest in the objects, the smell and the sound related to the festival. Meantime, the facilitators explore new ideas and skill involve the children’s behaviour and experiment with the artistic practice to develop the work-in-progress performance.

The workshop will also help Niroshini Thambar, the music designer, to explore insight and ideas to create a new interpretation soundtrack for the performance.