Talking headspace -
October events at the Scottish Storytelling Centre
"We never had so
much need of storytelling and its healing powers."
George Mackay Brown,
poet, storyteller and patron founder of the
Scottish Storytelling Centre
The Scottish Storytelling Centre is proud to present a season of
events to promote health, wellbeing and sharing. As part of the Scottish Mental Health Arts and Film
Festival, the weekend programme features storytelling events, theatre and a training
workshop to provide a diverse and
engaging programme for all.
Stories play a crucial role in our ability to relate to each other
and the world around us.
In an ever-changing world, storytelling provides an invaluable
vehicle for the creative sharing of thoughts, experiences and feelings.
Storytelling is a useful tool for building confidence, communication skills and
resilience, and facilitating personal and community development and
transition. From traditional folktales to contemporary urban legends, we
find solace, strength and inspiration in stories, characters from all
walks of life with whom we can identify, and a safe environment
in which to explore our hopes, fears and dreams.
On Friday 2nd October, the Centre hosts three free drop-in events under the title ‘Tales to Relax By',
that build on the idea that
engaging in the arts is good for wellbeing regardless of age.
Musical
Dreams at 10am is a chance for storytellers Claire Hewitt and Margaret
Smith to help you and your wee ones explore the magic of tales and music in a
fun, playful atmosphere. For those bogged down in the dreary day job, allow
everyday pressures to drift away and escape into the Centre's light and
airy Court at Lunchtime
Tales (12.30-2pm). Lesley
O'Brien and Allison Galbraith transport you into expressive and
enchanting worlds with their tales. Therapists from Napiers are on hand to help
melt away the stresses with a relaxing 5-minute massage.
For parents and
school children, the day
rounds off with Story Games, from 2.30pm to 4pm. Kids can unwind after school and parents can refresh
for the weekend as Wendy Woolfson and Jean Edmiston guide you through fun and
interactive storytelling activities and games.
On Saturday 3rd October, mental
health is addressed in a highly physical solo theatre performance, The
YelloWing. PEST, a Scottish company who deliver community arts workshops using forum
theatre techniques to raise awareness and challenge attitudes on issues such as
racism, immigration, domestic violence and mental health, have devised The
YelloWing in homage
to Charlotte Perkins Gilmans' classic 1913 short story ‘The Yellow Wallpaper'. PEST's 60-minute
piece focuses on the
central character's journey
through post-natal depression, using AV projections and incorporating shadow play
with object manipulation. This visual storytelling theatre performance takes a contemporary look at the source material to
interrogate our culture of prescription and ideas about
creativity and mental health, and will be followed by a panel discussion with
the creators and Scottish songwriter Karine Polwart.
Finally, a major
training and development event at the Scottish Storytelling Centre on Saturday
3rd October, looks at what role storytelling can play in positive
mental health. The Storytelling and Mental Health workshop explores
the specific benefits of storytelling for wellbeing and what storytelling can
do uniquely to provide a secure, inclusive and open setting. This is an
inimitable opportunity to explore how tales can be used across age groups and
health contexts, led by storytellers, professional staff and carers.
For further information, contact:
Esther Blackburn [email protected] or 0131 652
3273 or
Lindsay Corr [email protected]
The Scottish Storytelling Centre is the national body for the support and development
of the storytelling artform. The organisation is a partnership between the
Scottish Storytelling Forum and the Church of Scotland, and is supported by the
Scottish Arts Council, the City of Edinburgh Council and a wide range of charitable donations. SCO: 11353
VAT www.scottishtorytellingcentre.co.uk
Scottish Mental Health Arts and
Film Festival
NHS Lothian, local
authorities, arts and mental health organisations across Lothian are working
together to produce the Lothian Mental Health Arts and Film Festival. The
Feel Good Festival, which runs from 1 to 22 October, includes film screenings
at the Cameo, theatre performances, visual arts at various city centre venues,
poetry and storytelling events and workshops at a range of venues throughout
the Lothians. Events are either free or low cost, and there are events for
young people, families, adults and older people.
For more
information about the Festival please contact either Sheena Lowrie or Rachel
King on 0131 536 9411. www.mentalhealthfestival.dreamhosters.com
Julia Taudevin was brought up in Indonesia by her Isle of Lewis mother and Australian father,
moving to London in 1997 to train as an actress at Webber Douglas.
She has performed in theatres nationally and internationally. As a writer and
AV artist she has collaborated with STV, The Traverse, The Arches and Poorboy.
She works as a freelance community drama worker delivering workshops for such
organisations as The Princes Trust, Women's Aid, The Scottish Refugee
Council and she co-runs LINKES women's Group which supports women living
in and around the high flats of Lincoln Avenue in west Glasgow. http://www.spotlight.com/interactive/cv/1696-6755-9231
Scots songwriter Karine Polwart combines the economy and universality of the
folk storytelling tradition with a probing intellect and compassionate
lyricism. Twice winner of "Best Original Song" at the UK-wide BBC
Folk Awards, the former children's rights worker allows images, narratives,
questions and wry comic asides to do much of her work offering a sideways,
allegorical approach to contemporary living that you might expect from someone
with a Masters degree in philosophy. http://www.karinepolwart.com
Listings information:
Fri
2 Oct, 10am-11.45am, Children aged 1-5 and accompanying adults, Free
Musical Dreams
Play, relax and
refresh with storytellers and musicians who'll help you and your wee ones
explore magical tales and have fun together. With Claire Hewitt and Margaret
Smith. Throughout the day, professional storytellers share stories alongside
playful, gentle activities to celebrate wellness and wellbeing as part of the
Scottish Mental Health Arts and Film Festival 2009.
Free refreshments
provided.
Storytelling
Fri 2 Oct, 12.30pm-2pm, Free
Lunchtime Tales
Be transported to different
worlds with a taste of enchanting live storytelling, or forget the worries of
the day with a relaxing 5-minute massage. With storytellers Allison Galbraith
and Lesley O'Brien. Throughout the day, professional storytellers share
stories alongside playful, gentle activities to celebrate wellness and
wellbeing as part of the Scottish Mental Health Arts and Film Festival 2009. Free refreshments provided.
Storytelling
Fri
2 Oct, 2.30pm-4pm, School-age children & families, Free
Story Games
Wind down after school
and recharge your imagination for the weekend with fun story-making games and
activities! With storytellers Jean Edmiston and Wendy Woolfson. Throughout the
day, professional storytellers share stories alongside playful, gentle
activities to celebrate wellness and wellbeing as part of the Scottish Mental
Health Arts and Film Festival 2009.
Free refreshments
provided.
Storytelling
Sat 3 Oct, 7.30pm (60mins plus post show discussion) £7/£5, Group
ticket £16 (4 people)
The
YelloWing
PEST
Jane is making a
professional comeback in an unfamiliar city. Far from home and husband, she has
spent her nights locked in a hotel room with incomprehensible wallpaper.
Tonight Jane will make a decision that may mean her family never get
‘mummy back like she used to be'.
The YelloWing is a
contemporary response to turn-of-the-century feminist short story The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman.
Gilman's ground-breaking work explores powerful ideas about women's
wellbeing and the relationship between mental health and creativity. A highly
physical solo performance using visual art, AV projection, shadow play and
object manipulation.
Theatre
Sat 3 Oct, 10.30am
(6hrs), £32/£26
Storytelling and Mental Health
Join storytellers,
professional staff and carers in a full day event exploring storytelling across
a range of health and wellbeing contexts. Share and discover ideas, best
practice examples and innovative and exciting approaches to stories and
storymaking with children, young people, adults and older people. Led by a
creative team from the Scottish Storytelling Centre, including Millie Gray and
Lesley O'Brien.
Workshop
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