For many years Hebridean storyteller and writer Ian Stephen has combined his travels on land and sea with listening to stories along the way. Join Ian as he presents his new book, asking if the narratives and motifs in tales connect us more reliably than treaties and physical bridges.
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2024 marks the 35th anniversary of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival, coinciding with the 35th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. Since 1989, SISF has been building bridges between cultures, artists and audiences all over the world through the power of storytelling – connecting past, present and future. This year’s theme is ‘Bridges Between’. At a time where literal, figurative and societal walls continue to be constructed, we invite everyone to look beyond these boundaries and to celebrate the last and the next 35 years of storytelling with us.
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Want to be the first to hear about what's happening in Edinburgh? Follow us on Facebook and join the What's On Scotland Group!Loud Poets invite poets to share their work at their regular open mic, taking place monthly at the Scottish Storytelling Centre.
READ MOREThe exhibition by Jill de Fresnes is centred around filmed interviews with 12 Scottish women who worked as herring gutters from the 1920s through to the 1960s.
READ MOREA Wheen o’ Wimmin present Singing Our Stories, featuring five celebrated Scots singers who’ve shared many a stage both great and small.
READ MOREJoin Hands Up for Trad on 18th November for an intimate celebration marking two decades of the Scottish Traditional Music Hall of Fame, with David Francis and Louis DeCarlo!
READ MOREWelcome to the Scottish Storytelling Centre's Hearth Fire Sessions with Dougie Mackay, Alastair Blain, Chandra Mather & Tim Porteus on Thursday 20th November!
READ MORECatch Susanna Orr Holland, an experimental world folk singer-songwriter, at the Scottish Storytelling Centre on 21st November for the launch of her second album!
READ MORETo accompany the launch of Susanna Orr Holland’s new album Return of the Swallows, Chris Booth will offer a Work That Reconnects workshop.
READ MOREThrough storytelling, poetry and prose, four widely published Italian Scottish women writers will describe their diverse journeys of navigating, rooting and belonging.
READ MOREActor and writer Paul Case's nightmarish solo horror theatre piece explores the intersection of class, race and sexuality during the violent beginnings of Australian history.
READ MORECome along to the home of Scottish storytelling for a drop-in session of traditional tales with storytellers Mark Borthwick and Alice Fernbank on Saturday 29th November!
READ MOREWelcome to Queer Folks’ Tales, the Scottish Storytelling Centre's hugely popular bi-monthly storytelling series where queer storytellers share stories of LGBTQ+ lives, past, present and future.
READ MOREJoin human rights organisation Amos Trust at the Scottish Storytelling Centre for a powerful night of music, dance, poetry, film and conversation that celebrates Palestinian culture and resilience.
READ MORECome with family and friends to dance Scottish dances and sing well-known songs with the Minnow Ceilidh Band on 7th December at The Scottish Storytelling Centre!
READ MOREGather round the Scottish Storytelling Centre's Christmas tree for an hour of stories, songs and live harp music on 13th December!
READ MOREJoin us at the Scottish Storytelling Centre on 16th December for a seasonal miscellany of stories, poetry, music, and readings from Yuletide and beyond!
READ MOREIt’s time to shout “Oh yes it is!” because Macastory are bringing their Panto for wee ones and big ones back to the Scottish Storytelling Centre – and you’re invited!
READ MOREHave you got what it takes to sit through the most tedious show ever and receive a certificate verifying your extraordinary willpower?
READ MOREFour of Scotland’s leading magicians come together for an evening like no other — minds will be read, laws of nature will be defied, and dad jokes will be told.
READ MOREBack by popular demand! Scotland’s favourite trickster is jingling all the way into the festive season with a brand-new magic and comedy spectacular.
READ MOREIn this exciting hands-on workshop, young people aged 12+ will explore the world of card magic — not just the techniques, but the theatre behind it.
READ MOREInsane Magic finally make their MagicFest debut, ending the year with a bang in a Christmas special packed with festive wonder, jaw-dropping illusions, and a sprinkle of fan-favourite classics!
READ MOREAfter a hugely successful 2025 Edinburgh Fringe run with five-star reviews, Jamie Leonard returns with his most exciting hour yet: Wonder Boy!
READ MOREJoin us at the Scottish Storytelling Centre for this world premiere performance of an enthralling new work, written and performed by Iddo Oberski!
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Many authors have been inspired to pick up their pen to write about the Palace of Holyroodhouse. These sessions will explore these literary works followed by a hearty discussion!
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You are warmly invited to join us at the German Church for our Rhyme Time for Under 5s, once a month during term time!
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On Sunday 16th November, The Palmerston will host a pop-up by Flora Shedden, writer and owner of renowned Aran Bakery in Dunkeld, to coincide with the launch of Flora's new cookbook.
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Come along and meet British comics artist and writer Bryan Talbot at the Institut français d’Écosse on Saturday 22nd November.
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Join Bruce Peter as he discusses the rapid changes in British Interior Design at Dovecot Studios on 27th November. The event includes entry to IKEA: Magical Patterns.
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Join the youngest-ever Nobel Peace Prize laureate and bestselling author Malala Yousafzai as she takes audiences through her deeply personal new memoir, Finding My Way.
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The Cookbook Shop is a new, independent culinary bookshop coming to Edinburgh in 2026. Before we open, we'd like to welcome you to our festive pop-up event at Curioso on Leith Walk.
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New York Times bestselling author Matt Dinniman and legendary voice actor Jeff Hays will bring their highly anticipated Dungeon Crawler Carl LIVE TOUR to the EICC on Friday 20th March!
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David Sedaris returns to the Usher Hall on Saturday 4th July to read new and unpublished stories, take questions, sign books and meet his audience!
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