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Through the Shortbread Tin

The National Theatre of Scotland is touring in 2025 with a brand new show 'Through the Shortbread Tin' and stops off at the Scottish Storytelling Centre on 8th & 9th April!

Through the Shortbread Tin

About Through the Shortbread Tin

The story of the greatest literary hoax of all time.

1760. Scottish poet James Macpherson sets the world ablaze with stories of the third-century Scottish bard, Ossian. This tartan-trimmed tale of Highland history spreads far and wide, capturing the imagination of thousands– but is it built on deceit?

2025. Scottish poet Martin O’Connor reads Macpherson’s epic and questions his own relationship with Scottish culture. The sporrans, the stags, the shortbread – do these ‘gift-shop’ images of Scotland hold us back or bring us forward? What does it mean to be authentic, and is the truth sometimes better told in a lie?

Through The Shortbread Tin is a brand-new show, performed in Scots with Gaelic songs, which explores Scottish culture, myths, history and identity. Join Martin and Macpherson on an oral odyssey spanning centuries of Scottish history, exploring the myths we tell each other and the stories we tell ourselves. Because it takes a lot ae imagination tae tell a true story.

A National Theatre of Scotland Production. Written and performed by Martin O’Connor. Directed by Lu Kemp.

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This exhibition at the Scottish Storytelling Centre is a captivating compilation of night photography highlighting the beauty, geology and compelling history of Edinburgh and beyond.

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In a Class of Their Own

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In a Class of Their Own is San Cassimally's adaptation of Citadel Arts Group co-founder Millie Gray's first novel, based on Millie's real-life wartime experiences.

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Cafe Ceilidh: Celebrating Burns

20th January 2026

Join friends from the Scots Music Group for an afternoon session of traditional songs, music, poems and stories as we celebrating Robert Burns!

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Workshop: Along the Banks o’ Nith with Emily Smith

24th January 2026

Join award-winning singer Emily Smith at the Scottish Storytelling Centre and learn some of the songs Burns wrote while living at his inspirational Dumfriesshire home of Ellisland Farm.

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Delivered with Mairi Campbell's trademark wit and unparalleled musical ability, this funny and heartfelt show at the Scottish Storytelling Centre resonates with wider universal truths.

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Celebrate Burns' birthday with family and friends and dance Scottish dances and sing well-known songs with the Minnow Ceilidh Band on Sunday 25th January!

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Selected dates between 29th January 2026 - 20th November 2026

Following a sold-out, standing-ovation premiere at the Scottish Storytelling Centre in 2025, Balancing in Freedom returns to the stage in 2026.

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Join the Scottish Storytelling Centre for another fun and friendly session of Edinburgh's monthly storytelling club, Guid Crack, held upstairs in the Waverley Bar!

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Join the Scottish Storytelling Centre on Saturday 31st January for their quarterly series of full-moon celebrations, this time celebrating Imbolc and the full Snow Moon!

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