What is the Scottish International Storytelling Festival?
The Scottish International Storytelling Festival brings together Scottish and international storytellers and musicians. The first Scottish International Storytelling Festival took place in 1989 and welcomed 700 attendees.
The festival takes place in October each year and celebrates the traditions of oral storytelling and cultural diversity. They could be stories of mystery and magic, folklore and fairies, travel or adventure or just a rip-roaring romp with a few laughs along the way.
2024 marks the 35th anniversary of the festival – taking place from 18 - 31 October - coinciding with the 35th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. The theme of the 2024 Festival is ‘Bridges Between’ where storytellers will look beyond the literal, figurative and societal walls that continue to be built.
The main venue is the Netherbow Theatre on the Royal Mile, in the heart of Edinburgh’s Old Town, and the programme always offers something for adults and children and is inspired by Scotland’s ceilidh traditions, its sense of camaraderie, and a wider community held together by shared tales, music, songs and ballads.
The programme provides a range of events for emerging storytellers to professional development talks and workshops. The programme also includes the Festival on Tour stand, which brings international storytellers and their stories to Scottish regions and islands.
Find out more about the Scottish International Storytelling Festival