Scottish Storytelling Centre Programme for the Fringe
Scottish Storytelling Centre
There is a strong story thread running throught this year's Fringe shows at the Scottish Storytelling Centre. Old tales and new tales are explored in innovative ways to fascinate, entertain and charm the whole family, from children to adults.
Theatre of Widdershins and Puppet State Theatre Company are back to the Storytelling Centre after last year's sell-out runs with two award-winning shows. Rapunzel and the Tower of Doom is a fresh, modern take on a classic fairytale, while in The Man Who Planted Trees is the enchanting telling of a modern tale that is already a cult.
Coming alive from the printed page, The Princess' Blankets and It Was a Dark and Stormy Night are two shows that promise to make imagination fly far far away. The richness of Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy's voice will create enchanting worlds inhabited by colourful and mysterious characters, while the adventure of brave Antonio will take specatators to the most remote caves of the Italian mountains, where dangerous brigands lurk.
Fringe 2008 emerging talent award winner Paper Cinema will turn words into images before the audience, with their visual and musical re-telling of Arthur Conan Doyle's The Lost World. Originally commissioned as a 35 minute piece for The Lost World Read 2009, this highly original adaptation has been developed into a full length piece for the Edinburgh Fringe 2009.
In addition to this outstanding programme for children and adults, we're premiering Theatre Objektiv's new work based around the story of Jane Haining, Scotland's Schindler, and for the first time ever, hosting lively storytelling and spoken word cabaret evenings in a special Storytelling Café series.
For further information and for individual shows press packs, contact
Esther Blackburn
esther@scottishstorytellingcentre.com or 0131 652 3273
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
Listings:
Fri 7 - Sun 30 Aug (Not Mondays), 11am (50mins), Age 4+ (Not suitable for under 4s), £7.50/£5
Rapunzel and the Tower of Doom
Theatre of Widdershins
Bad hair day? Pity poor Rapunzel: a mad witch climbing her locks everyday. Ouch! With a clever balance of visual magic, verbal puns and sparkling, energetic stage presence, the 50-minute tangled tale is a treat for children over 4, and the adults they bring with them.
'Very wonderful, beautiful puppets' - ***** List. 'Fantastic' - ***** Three Weeks.
Wed 12 - Mon 31 Aug (Not Tuesdays), 3.30pm (45mins), Age 8-adult, £7.50/£5
Lost World
The Paper Cinema & Kieron Maguire
A film is created before your very eyes as The Paper Cinema retell Conan Doyle's classic tale of bravery and skullduggery through puppetry and music. Experience unique live cinema created from intricate paper puppets that inhabit surreal paper worlds.
'Fragile and beautiful' **** Guardian.
Sat 15 - Mon 24 Aug, 1pm (1hr45mins), Age 8-adult, £7.50/£5
The Princess' Blankets
Carol Ann Duffy & John Sampson
A magical, musical poetry show with Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy, spectacularly talented musician John Sampson and young performer Ella Duffy. Meet hilarious Queens, ancient rock'n'rollers, Mozart, Peggy Guggenheim and a sad Princess who is always cold. A modern environmental folk tale of music and magic.
Tue 18 - Mon 31 Aug, 5.30pm (55mins), Age 7-adult (Not suitable for under 5s), £7.50/£5
The Man Who Planted Trees
Puppet State Theatre Company
Equally captivating both adults and children, this tale of one man's dedication in changing the world is a parable for our times told with humour, beauty and skill. The enchanting, multi-sensory adaptation of Jean Giono's environmental cult fable returns to the Scottish Storytelling Centre after a sell-out Fringe in 2008.
‘Laughs, heartbreak, war, regeneration, scented breezes, sparkling wit, the best dog puppet ever. Perfect for children and adults. Terrific.' Guardian.
***** Scotsman. A Made in Scotland showcase show. www.scottishtheatre.org/madeinscotland www.puppetstate.com
Audio described and BSL interpreted performance Tue 25th August
Fri 7 - Fri 14 Aug, 1pm (50mins), Age 6+, £7.50/£5
It Was a Dark and Stormy Night
Wizard Presents
Talented storytellers Danya Miller and Louise Coigley tell the story of brave Antonio. Captured by brigands in the Italian mountains, how will he escape? A witty, playful retelling of Janet and Allan Ahlberg's well-loved book that will captivate children as much on bright, sunny days, as on dark and stormy nights.
11-13, 18-20, 25-27 Aug, 7pm (1hr 45mins), £4
Storytelling Café
Relaxed company, talented performers, intriguing tales: perfect ingredients for cabaret-style evenings of entertaining live storytelling from Scotland and beyond. Listen or join in with fables for grownups, at Edinburgh's award-winning venue. Cash bar.
Thu 20 - Sat 29 Aug, 7.30pm (1hr20mins), Not suitable for under 12s, £7.50/£5
A Promised Land
Theatre Objektiv
Post-Holocaust, Britain continues its war against Jewish insurgents in Palestine. Rivka Feldman, Holocaust survivor, friend to Jane Haining, Scottish missionary murdered in Auschwitz, enters Scotland illegally, carrying a gun. A tense psychological drama by Raymond Raszkowski Ross, from Scottish company Theatre Objektiv. www.theatreobjektiv.co.uk
Audio described performance Wednesday 26th August
café | shop | free exhibitions | fully accessible to wheelchair users | baby changing facilities
Scottish Storytelling Centre | 43-45 High Street | Edinburgh EH1 1SR | 0131 556 9579 | www.scottishstorytellingcentre.co.uk | SCO 11353
