VisitShetland

Storytelling Festival - Options

There are many options and combinations of participation to this festival, workshops, storytelling trips, concerts and of course the festival club. Pick and choose the event to suit yourself.

Practical sessions for the storyteller and prospective story teller

Each day you can take part in a workshop that can help you as a storyteller, how to craft a story, presentation techniques, story telling for children, festivals, theatres and small spaces.

Seminar /Talk

Friday afternoon’s seminar is a chance for Story tellers and all those interested in Storytelling to look at where Shetland stands in the world of storytelling and how storytellers can improve international links. It will also look at the importance of Storytelling to Shetland’s economy. This coincides with the first ever European Federation of Storytellers conference in Stavanger and it is hoped that we can link in with this by video link.

Cultural Trips (in conjunction with Fiddle Frenzy)

In the afternoons you can enjoy a trip round various parts of Shetland hosted by our storytellers and soak up a bit of Shetland culture including the folklore and tales of historical and contemporary characters.

Example;- Wednesday afternoon A trip to Sandness Woollen Mill where you can see the full process of creating a garment, wool brought from the croft, carded, spun, dyed and machine knitted into garments for the Japanese market. This will be followed by the story of Siggurd of Gord, a classic Trowie tale with well known Davy Cooper in the Sandness hall.

If the Friday talk is not for you, visit the Island of Unst with us and share in a day of Tunes and tales and the obligatory late night dance (not for the faint hearted, arrival back in Lerwick may be around 2.30am)
Saturday morning’s trip takes you to Eshaness with raconteur Charlie Simpson. Eshaness is the birthplace of Dr Tom Anderson one of the main instigators in survival and revival the Shetland fiddling traditions.

The Concerts (in conjunction with Fiddle Frenzy)

Every evening there is a concert showcasing the best of Shetland’s Traditional musicians and Storytellers. Most performances are in the Garrison Theatre in Lerwick, however on Wednesday following on from the Sandness trip the concert will be in the nearby Walls Hall  for an “Evening with…….” will give you the chance to share in an informal concert and late night dance with the local community.

Friday’s concert in Lerwick’s Garrison Theatre will unite storytellers from Shetland and further afield.

The Club (Grand Hotel)

Each evening after the concerts in the Grand Hotel in Commercial Street, Lerwick why not share in the social side of the combined festivals - the festival’s club is open for you to enjoy music and stories alike through three dedicated areas, one for the story tellers and two for the fiddler’s sessions, fast and furious tunes in one space or the slow jam in the other.

Tall Tales Competition Tuesday 5th 10.30pm Grand Hotel Lerwick. Hosted by……..
An open competition judged by three panellists. Each entrant will get precisely 7 minutes to recount the most fantastic tale they can create.

Ghost Stories Wednesday 6th at 9pm Grand Hotel Lerwick. Hosted by……..
Come and hear and share some ghost stories

The Story Box Thursday 7th 10.30pm Grand Hotel Lerwick. Hosted by……..
Create a story from the box of props alternatively sit back and listen to the creative talents of the local story tellers.

Open evenings –
Friday 8th 9pm Grand Hotel Lerwick.  Hosted by….
Saturday 9th 10.30 pm Grand Hotel Lerwick. Hosted by….
Share and enjoy the atmosphere of the club along with the Fiddle Frenzy visitors

Download Pogramme (PDF)

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