The one and only Scottish International Storytelling Festival (SISF) is coming back to Edinburgh this October with the brand new theme Right To Be Human, 75th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, bringing the art of telling stories to one place. With over 240 events overall and 145 free events, the festival is bringing back the stories forgotten, with the hopes of helping ease the difficult year. SISF will be opening its doors on October 13 and last until just before Halloween, October 29.
The festival opens on Friday, 13 October with its storyteller Gauri Raje with Tales of Exile and Sanctuary sharing stories from Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran, India and the Horn of Africa, woven together to question the beauty and horrors of exile from across the world.
Scottish International Storytelling Festival Director, Donald Smith said: “All over the world human and environmental rights are under threat. But against that there is an activist and creative tide building towards a different future. The Storytelling Festival is part of that wave.”
Minister for Culture Christina McKelvie said: “Right to be Human is inspired by the 75th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and could not be more timely. During the coming parliamentary year, the Scottish Government will introduce an ambitious new Human Rights Bill for Scotland. This will be a significant milestone in Scotland’s human rights journey, building on past work to embed a human rights culture across Scotland.”
“This year’s Scottish International Storytelling Festival, supported by £120,000 of Scottish Government Festivals Expo funding, celebrates and explores all aspects of our common humanity in a challenging world.”
The wide range of events will also include cosy evening sessions with storytellers and musicians at Netherbow Theatre. And all around Edinburgh, examining our landscape and the climate emergency, rekindling lost myths and celebrating women’s position in Scotland’s oral storytelling tradition.
If this sounds like a festival for you, you can get your tickets and browse the programme here.