A fabulous night of storytelling to launch the Burgh Blatherers’ first, and hopefully not last, book of wonderful tales…
📍Scottish Storytelling Centre, Edinburgh
📅17 Oct
💷 From £5
🕖 8:00pm
🕖 Running time (approx.): 2 hours (with interval)
🗣️ Performers: Burgh Blatherers
🎂 Parental discretion
🎭 Wheelchair Accessible Venue, Wheelchair Accessible Toilets. Audio Induction Loop
Current Chair of the Burgh Blatherers’ storytelling group, Bob Mitchell was in fine fettle as compere of an evening of storytelling from that vibrant local group of yarn-weavers. In essence a cabaret of distinct voices, each bringing a tale of a very different flavour, there was no telling what would come next, and what adventures were in store.
There was plucky young islander Donald, stranded on a lonely isle thanks to a broken boat, and yet finding himself whisked away for an adventure in 19th century Edinburgh thanks to some magical hospitality. There was Miseryguts chasing thieves, young and old, from her apple tree on Blackford Hill, her ire withheld from none, including death himself. There was a loch, delighting in its natural glory, and fleeing (quite literally) before the polluting depredations of humanity. That’s but a sample of the variety on offer, on that night, and in their new book.
I’d love to namecheck each contributor, but to my shame I have no list to hand! Suffice to say each acquitted themselves brilliantly, so that every tale was a highlight in and of itself. Clearly those years of shared practice have borne fruits of confidence, feel, and pace for everyone involved.
There was just such flavour to each teller’s performance, a particular joy in the story they had inherited, or written, and brought to the published book. The book itself is structured as per one of their regular meets or ceilidhs, ending with a bonny song to commemorate the experience as a unique moment in the lives of all involved, story-weaver and listener alike. Where most singalongs can tend to the cringeworthy, that charming wee song certainly made for a lovely end to the evening.
What a grand way to launch a book: and The QR wishes it every success!
(Featured Photography Credit: Scottish Storytelling Festival)
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As someone in the process of launching the second book in my mainstream trilogy, my ears perk up when I hear a report of a new way of getting attention.
Alas, short stories (except for the prequel short story) will have to wait until the trilogy is finished – and I see where that leaves the drama. Dorothy L. Sayers gave us only two short stories with Peter and Harriet and their children, and most fans would have loved to have more.