This week sees the 14th Storytelling Week – held annually to celebrate the sharing of stories that enrich us and tales that are passed down from generation to generation. In East Lothian, we are blessed with talented storytellers such as Tim Porteous (Prestonpans), Anne Anderson (Longniddry), Angie Townsend (Wallyford) and Heather Yule (East Linton) who can bring a story to life and fire up the imaginations of their audience.
If you want to arrange a visit from a storyteller to your school, gala day or community group, you might want to apply for funding from the Scottish Book Trust’s Live Literature Fund (the fund can be used for visits from authors, illustrators, playwrights and poets too) – but be quick, the deadline is February 3.
If you have pre-school aged children, you might enjoy a Book Bug session (held weekly at East Lothian libraries) which includes storytelling, rhymes and singing.
Aspiring young storytellers can learn their craft at a variety of classes offered by The Drama Mill.
The Scottish Storytelling Centre in Edinburgh’s High Street offers a range of courses and workshops for those withing to develop their storytelling skills.