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(Fri 24 Jul-Mon 31 Aug) The Craigmillar Tapestry Project is a community initiative to create a series of tapestry panels representing the rich history of Craigmillar. Designed and stitched by local people with artwork and guidance from artist Andrew Crummy, there are now twenty panels stitched by over five hundred contributors. The panels are stitched to an incredibly high standard by local residents in Craigmillar and Niddrie, incorporating elements of their own stories from traditional Syrian stitching to names of local activists and important landmarks. On Sun 26 July, drop-in to find out more about the story of the tapestry, meet some of the contributors and learn some of the techniques yourself!
Scottish Storytelling Centre Fringe
Storytelling Court
(Wed 5-Sun 16 Aug) Ah, new shoes... Delightful on the feet. Soft dancing slippers, swarthy pirate boots, silver buckles and silken soles; no-one makes shoes like an elf. This well-known and well-loved tale has been re-heeled and polished by Theatre of Widdershins in their own inimitable style. Beautifully crafted set and puppets, sublime music, a kaleidoscope of miniature shoes and a comic mouse make this show a magical must-see. Suitable for all ages and shoe sizes. 'A triumph of intimacy, imagination and enchantment' (CorrBlimey.com, for Snow White Rose Red Bear Brown) Touch Tours are available by appointment for this show, please email Reception reception@scottishstorytellingcentre.com at least 24 hours in advance to book.
Scottish Storytelling Centre Fringe
Netherbow Theatre
(6-31 Aug: 4:45pm) Returning to venues across Scotland following a critically-acclaimed tour in 2025, National Theatre of Scotland’s Through the Shortbread Tin is a poetic, poignant and playful show which explores the story of the greatest literary hoax of all time. 1760: Scottish poet James Macpherson sets the world ablaze with stories of the third-century Scottish bard, Ossian - but is it built on deceit? 2026: Martin O’Connor questions his own relationship with Scottish culture. Sporrans, stags, and shortbread; do these gift-shop images hold us back or bring us forward? Performed in Scots with Gaelic songs, Through the Shortbread Tin returns to explore the myths we tell each other and the stories we tell ourselves. A National Theatre of Scotland production. Part of the Made In Scotland Showcase 2026.Written by Martin O'ConnorRemount directed by Joanna BowmanOriginal production directed by Lu Kemp 'Witty and provocative' ★★★★ (Guardian)'A tartan-wrapped gift of a show' ★★★★ (Herald)'Fierce, funny and challenging' ★★★★ (Scotsman) BSL interpreted Tue 25 & Sat 29 Aug.Captioned Thu 13 & Sat 22 Aug.Audio described Fri 14 & Mon 24 Aug.Chilled Thu 20 & Sun 30 Aug.
Scottish Storytelling Centre Fringe
Netherbow Theatre
(Thu 6-Sun 16 Aug) The diagonal of the square is incommensurable with its side. Few words, but with unexpected implications: a number like this – neither whole nor fraction, thinkable but unknowable, wild, irrational – is a chaos element threatening the very order of things. The step from mathematics to heresy is short, and in Pythagoras’ time, mathematics could even cost you your life. A performance balancing mathematics and storytelling, where the story of Hippasus of Metapontum becomes an occasion to reflect on the role of mathematics in Western culture. Touch Tours are available by appointment for this show, please email Reception reception@scottishstorytellingcentre.com at least 24 hours in advance to book.
Scottish Storytelling Centre Fringe
George Mackay Brown Library
(Thu 6-Tue 18 Aug) An incendiary retelling of Homer’s Iliad, sung through the voice of Thetis, Achilles’ mother. Two performers fluidly shifting: god/mortal, mother/warrior, goddess/lover, masculine/feminine, collapsing the boundaries of gender, power and fate. Love – maternal, erotic, spiritual – collides with the brutal machinery of war. Developed through international residencies and informed by artistic exchange with Lebanese and Palestinian artists working amid ongoing conflict, the production refuses nostalgia. Olympus is not distant; it is political, volatile, human. Nearly three millennia later, the epic burns with the same question: who wages war, and who pays the price?
Scottish Storytelling Centre Fringe
Netherbow Theatre
(Sat 7-Sun 23 Aug) Award-winning storyteller Brooke Dunbar brings an immersive, theatrical, comical version of the love story of Romeo and Juliet. Bringing another of the Bard’s plays to the bairns – there's nothing tragic about this story! Back by popular demand after sell-out shows of Macbeth For Bairns at the Edinburgh Fringe 2024 and 2025. Get ready to hit the dance floor at the House of Capulet and get down with the Montagues! Featuring level 2 BSL at performances 21-23 Aug. 'An hour of pure wonder' (CorrBlimey.uk)'Pulls out all the stops for an action-packed, playful, sensory retelling' (EdinburghFestivalsForKids.com) Touch Tours are available by appointment for this show, please email Reception reception@scottishstorytellingcentre.com at least 24 hours in advance to book.
Scottish Storytelling Centre Fringe
George Mackay Brown Library
(Fri 7-Tue 11 Aug) On a blustery hilltop, a girl has a big secret to share. Following an ancient tradition, she must "tell the bees" that everything has changed. Step into a world of silver-saddled kelpies, mischievous brownies, and the beautiful song of the selkie, as award-winning Hoglets Theatre brings folk legends to life. Packed with gorgeous puppetry, original music and a hive full of interaction, Telling the Bees is a warm, witty, and imaginative show for ages 5+ about brave hearts, new beginnings, and the magic we carry with us.
Scottish Storytelling Centre Fringe
George Mackay Brown Library
(Fri 7-Sun 30 Aug) Fair fa’ your honest, sonsie face... Where better to hear Robert Burns' famous poem Address to a Haggis than at The Haggis Box Café in the Scottish Storytelling Centre! Drop in to hear a different surprise performer each day deliver a rousing rendition of Burns' ode to the Great Chieftain o’ the Puddin-race. Traditional, vegan and vegetarian haggis, neeps and tatties will be available to purchase all day with gluten-free options available. Haggis for all!
Scottish Storytelling Centre Fringe
Storytelling Court
(Fri 7-Fri 29 Aug) Respected by ancient cultures but the archetypal villain in European fairy tales, wolves were hunted to extinction in Scotland by the 18th century. Ancient myth, mesmeric imagery and dreamlike soundscapes open a liminal space where Norse gods, Irish shapeshifters and Siberian wolf-children traverse Scottish moors and Transylvanian mountains. Live music stirs the soul. Shadow puppetry and animation portray terror and playfulness. Stories about our oldest ally ask: in the absence of the wolf, what is lost? Originally commissioned by the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2024. 'I was so mesmerised I had abandoned taking notes' ★★★★★ (Snack)'Powerful and magical' ★★★★ (List)'Richly textured' ★★★★ (CorrBlimey.uk) BSL interpreted Sun 9 Aug. Interpretation by Sarah Forrester.
Scottish Storytelling Centre Fringe
Netherbow Theatre
(Fri 7-Sat 22) One chair. One question. Sit with us for a moment. In this gentle one-to-one encounter, you’re invited to share an idea you’ve always wanted to try, but haven’t yet. Step One is a quiet participatory artwork by Short Supply, exploring the moment before something begins. Each meeting lasts a few minutes and unfolds differently depending on who sits down. In the middle of the Edinburgh Fringe, this piece offers a pause from the noise – a space to reflect, speak freely and acknowledge the ideas we carry but rarely say out loud.
Scottish Storytelling Centre Fringe
Storytelling Court
(Fri 7-Sun 30 Aug) Leaping salmon, fishtail women, mythical raves and sacred springs – these legends celebrate those who question the fixed and find their own flow. Troubled Waters transports audiences into a world where ancient folklore intertwines with contemporary themes. Whether you come for the laughs or the watery wisdom, you'll dip your toes into vital waters and explore what moves beneath the surface. Described by audiences as ‘delicious’, ‘captivating', ‘sexy’ and ‘brilliant’, this storytelling show explores our connection to waterways, wetlands and their inhabitants. 'Genuinely very funny... A masterful storyteller’ (BackstageBristol.com) BSL interpreted Thu 13 Aug. Interpretation by Sarah Forrester.Touch Tours are available by appointment for this show, please email Reception reception@scottishstorytellingcentre.com at least 24 hours in advance to book.
Scottish Storytelling Centre Fringe
George Mackay Brown Library
(Fri 7-Mon 31 Aug: 2:45pm) Common Tongue is a play aboot imperfect Scots. A fast-paced, riotous one-person show exploring the impact of language, identity and their intersections in Scotland. Bonnie’s life has been defined by words; the right ones, the wrong ones and the ones used against her. Now, Bonnie has a chance to speak about it. But she’s not really sure what she’s going to say, or how she’s going to say it. Written and directed by Fraser Scott (director, Athens of the North), this ‘quick-witted, damning, and gorgeous’ (★★★★★ CorrBlimey.uk) play is delivered with deft humour and big heart. Touch Tours are available by appointment for this show, please email Reception reception@scottishstorytellingcentre.com at least 24 hours in advance to book.
Scottish Storytelling Centre Fringe
Netherbow Theatre
(Fri 7-Mon 17 Aug) Hamlet has the questions. Do you have the answers? A prince of Denmark needs your help. Take on the roles, journey through the play and resolve the great questions of life together, immersed in the story as never before. From multi award-winning Brite Theater, creators of Richard III (a one-person show) and Deliverance. Starring Emily Carding, directed by Kolbrún Björt Sigfúsdóttir. ‘Sigfusdottir’s adaptation and Carding’s sensitive interpretation provide a shortcut to the empathy that many Hamlets crave but seldom achieve’ ★★★★ (Stage)‘Will leave you feeling closer and more empathetic to Hamlet than ever before’ ★★★★★ (TheFrontRowCenter.com).
Scottish Storytelling Centre Fringe
George Mackay Brown Library
(Fri 7-Tue 18 Aug) Returning to the Edinburgh Fringe, to the venue where it won a Herald Angel Award and built a reputation as a smash hit of modern Scottish theatre, Thunderstruck is the tragic, comic and epic tale of the greatest bagpiper that ever lived. The story of a Pitlochry bin man who rocked tradition, flew beyond the summit of his art and changed Scottish music forever. Whatever notions you have of bagpipes, leave them at the door. 'A stunning, staggering piece of modern Scottish folk theatre' ★★★★★ (BritishTheatreGuide.info)'Elucidating, charming and rip-roaringly inspirational' ★★★★★ (TheQR.co.uk)'Masterful' ★★★★ (BroadwayWorld.com)★★★★ (Fest)
Scottish Storytelling Centre Fringe
Netherbow Theatre
(Fri 7-Thu 27 Aug) Enlightenment Edinburgh. Robert Burns and Walter Scott meet only once, at a salon in the Sciennes home of Adam Fergusson. Or so history tells us. In the School of Scottish Studies archives, a Scottish Traveller recounts another version; a fantastical gathering of 'all the great writers', locked in poetic flyting – until tragedy strikes. Scots folksinger Kirsty Law weaves together documented fact, imagined rivalry and a childhood memory of hearing the tale in the very building where it happened. A meditation on truth and fiction, and on the ordinary people who quietly carry on Scotland's living tradition.
Scottish Storytelling Centre Fringe
George Mackay Brown Library
(Sat 8-Sun 30 Aug) To celebrate 20 years of the Scottish Storytelling Centre, join some of our amazing tellers as they share their favourite traditional tales from around the world. Expect folk tales, fairie tales, myths and legends, stories handed down to inspire and entertain across generations. A relaxed session with a different storyteller each day sharing wonderful, wise and occasionally wild stories of their choosing! Performer Schedule
Scottish Storytelling Centre Fringe
George Mackay Brown Library
(Sat 8-Sat 29 Aug) Multi-instrumentalist Tom Oakes returns with Forge. Traditional music is set against live composition and improvisation, threaded with archive broadcast and new writing by Kolbrún Björt Sigfúsdóttir. Stories of resistance surface in sound and speech, carried in music that changes from night to night. Forge is a new work building the 2024 hit The Hearth, which was nominated for Best New Work at the MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards and premiered at the Edinburgh Fringe before appearing at major festivals including Celtic Connections in Glasgow.
Scottish Storytelling Centre Fringe
George Mackay Brown Library
(Mon 10-Sun 23 Aug) The greatest stories have always opened our eyes, pricked our ears and loosened our tongues; not easy when the chaos makes us want to bury our heads. When faced with injustice, oppression and tyranny how long can we afford compliance? How long do we excuse the beast once it has learned to bite? Two traditional storytellers rally myths, legends and folk songs in this rousing call to arms. Now is the time to pull our heads from the sand, look darkness in the eye and make a stand.
Scottish Storytelling Centre Fringe
George Mackay Brown Library
(Wed 12 Aug) Following acclaimed performances at Adelaide Fringe and sell-out shows at Edinburgh Fringe, Morna Burdon brings Bonnie Fechters home to the Scottish Storytelling Centre as part of A Triptych for Our Times, a ten-year celebration of her acclaimed one-woman shows. Bonnie Fechters stand up for themselves or what they believe in. Morna weaves an inspiring tapestry of songs and stories, shedding light on remarkable women whose courage, love, inventiveness and human spirit ripple through time to affect us all – whether we know it or not. ‘Deeply moving... mellow singing... charismatic’ ★★★★ (BroadwayBaby.com) Two thirds of the artist's net income will be donated to Peace Direct and ActionAid.
Scottish Storytelling Centre Fringe
Netherbow Theatre
(Wed 12, Wed 19 & Wed 26 Aug) The 5-star, award-winning hit LGBTQ+ storytelling show returns for its fourth Fringe; camper, fruitier and queerer than ever! Host Turan Ali takes time out from his BBC shows to scour the Fringe for the best queer talent, creating a diverse line-up of artists to share hilarious, surprising, sobering tales, songs and epic poems. Expect jaw-dropping insights into LGBTQ+ lives past, present and future. 'Edinburgh's most vibrant, authentic and exciting storytelling event' ★★★★★ (TheWeeReview.com)'Utterly fabulous' ★★★★★ (TheQR.co.uk)★★★★ (BroadwayBaby.com)'[A] rich fruitcake of an evening' Must See Show 2025 (FringeReview.co.uk)'Triumphant' ★★★★★ (AllEdinburghTheatre.com)
Scottish Storytelling Centre Fringe
Netherbow Theatre
(Thu 13, Thu 20 & Thu 27 Aug) Loud Poets have been bringing the very best live poetry to the Fringe for over a decade. Their fist-thumping, pint-drinking, side-tickling, heart-wrenching fusion of spoken word and live music thrills poetry lovers and turns sceptics into fans. Catch the Loud Poets themselves – Katie Ailes, Mark Gallie and Kevin Mclean – with musical accompaniment from Jack Hinks and a different guest every show. 'Joyous smorgasbord of words' ★★★★★ (AllEdinburghTheatre.com)'Funny, fierce and finely-tuned' ★★★★★ (CorrBlimey.uk)'Astonishing range of spoken-word talent' ★★★★★ (BingeFringe.com)'The most reliably entertaining spoken word night at the Fringe' ★★★★ (TheWeeReview.com)★★★★★ (EdFringeReview.com)★★★★★ (EdinburghGuide.com) BSL interpreted Thu 27 Aug. Interpretation by Sarah Forrester.
Scottish Storytelling Centre Fringe
Netherbow Theatre
(Sat 15 & Sun 23 Aug) Allow me to give you some advice, Billy... Alan Bissett, award-winning creator of Fringe hit The Moira Monologues, performs as two Scottish cultural giants, asking what (might’ve!) happened when Billy Connolly attended the launch for Alasdair Gray’s 1981 masterpiece, Lanark. Bissett unearths the origin stories of these Glasgow geniuses, exploring their struggles in an uplifting tale of triumph against the odds. Directed by Kirstin McLean. Mervyn Stutter’s Pick of the Fringe 2025. Longlisted for Sir Billy Connolly Spirit of Glasgow Award 2025.★★★★★ (BritishTheatreGuide.info)★★★★★ (National)★★★★★ (NorthWestEnd.co.uk)★★★★ (Herald)
Scottish Storytelling Centre Fringe
Netherbow Theatre
(Tue 18-Sat 22 Aug) Atop a far-off mountain, birds gather to perch on the fate-shaping hands of an old mountain man – stories stirring in the murmuration, waiting to glide into the human world. In this Harebell Tellers production, traditional storytellers Ailsa Dixon and Ffion Phillips follow the flight paths of bird mythology across ancient Britain; oceans, forests, in and out of this world and that. Weaving together Welsh and Scots language, music and story into a meditative hour of storytelling magic, breathing new life into ancient myths and re-enchanting old folktales. 'A captivating hour of bardic wonder' ★★★★★ (AllEdinburghTheatre.com)
Scottish Storytelling Centre Fringe
George Mackay Brown Library
(Wed 19 Aug) Courage, creativity and resilience are celebrated as Morna Burdon highlights women worldwide who have found inventive, daring ways to rebel against war and take a stand for peace. Threaded through with songs and punctuated with humour, this moving spoken word show also looks at how war affects the loved ones of these brave women. Part of A Triptych for Our Times, a celebration marking ten years of Morna's acclaimed one-woman Fringe shows. ★★★★ (ScotsGayArts.com)'a powerful and moving performance' ★★★★★ (NorthWestEnd.com) Two thirds of the artist's net income will be donated to Peace Direct and ActionAid.
Scottish Storytelling Centre Fringe
Netherbow Theatre
(Wed 19-Sun 30 Aug) Niall Moorjani (Fringe First winner) and Ailsa Dixon (★★★★★, Scotsman) present an evocative and moving exploration of what it is to be human, as they lyrically synthesise storytelling with live music and Orcadian folk song. Come for the music, stories and songs, stay for the deep exploration of trans experience in Scotland today, through three queered and reimagined selkie stories set in past, present and future. BSL interpreted Fri 21 Aug. Interpretation by Sarah Forrester.Captioned Sat 22 Aug. Open captioning by Claire Hill. Image credit Binski
Scottish Storytelling Centre Fringe
Netherbow Theatre
(Fri 21-Sat 22 Aug) Across northern England, roads wend their way through picturesque countryside. Ancient dry stone walls hold the ghostly stories of the dead that were carried past on these secret and haunted trails. The Corpse Road follows the rise and fall, the twists and turns of these paths to tell the tale of characters that were carried to their final resting place. Storyteller Daniel Serridge and musician Heather Cartwright weave together story and song in this evocative and unnerving folkloric journey to the grave. 'Captivating storytelling' ★★★★ (BingeFringe.com)'A Fringe must-see' ★★★★★ (CorrBlimey.uk, for Orpheus/Orfeo) Captioned Sat 22 Aug. Open captioning by Claire Hill.
Scottish Storytelling Centre Fringe
Netherbow Theatre
(Sat 22, Sun 23, Sat 29 & Sun 30 Aug) When a young girl moves to a new home, her extraordinary bed comes alive and carries her through dreamy worlds of music, play and imagination. Together they discover friendship, courage and the joys of growing up. With playful audience participation, original songs, enchanting visuals and multilingual storytelling with integrated BSL, the audience are invited to dream, laugh and explore in this wonderful musical adventure. Ideal for ages 5+ and their grown-ups, but open to all. Touch Tours are available by appointment for this show, please email Reception reception@scottishstorytellingcentre.com at least 24 hours in advance to book. Image credit Alexandra Borghino
Scottish Storytelling Centre Fringe
Netherbow Theatre
(Sat 22-Sun 30 Aug) Or, Benjamin Franklin’s Scottish Enlightenment. The Founding Father loved Edinburgh. He visited in 1759 and made pals with David Hume and Adam Smith. But what does Auld Reekie have to do with America's Declaration of Independence? Exactly 250 years after the Declaration, Rick Conte retraces his countryman's steps in a warm, funny and historically grounded account of how Enlightenment Edinburgh influenced a nation, and how a native of that nation found a home here centuries later. 'Delightful' ★★★★★ (NorthWestEnd.com)'A beguiling show' ★★★★ (Scotsman)'Storytelling at its best!' ★★★★ (ScotsGayArts.com)'Heartwarming' ★★★★ (AllEdinburghTheatre.com) Captioned Mon 24 Aug. Open captioning by Claire Hill.
Scottish Storytelling Centre Fringe
Netherbow Theatre
(Sat 22-Sun 30 Aug) Witch! Hag! Spinster! Words are powerful – even one can tell a whole story. This storytelling show welcomes you into the spinster's cottage, but what will you find there? A financially independent woman with a honed skill and craft, or an evil-doing hag waiting to snatch your child? Journey through three Scottish folktales that illustrate the change in the meaning of the word spinster, and thus the changing role of women in the Middle Ages. Spin together the threads of ancient tales and unpick the tapestry of the demonisation of women with storyteller Frankie Regalia.
Scottish Storytelling Centre Fringe
George Mackay Brown Library
(Sun 23-Mon 24 Aug) A young girl wears her heart on her sleeve. Her father struggles to support the family and accepts a devastating offer from a strange figure... Can a woman without hands reach into a pool of dark memories to reclaim her own future? Based on the Grimm story of the Handless Maiden, this storytelling show explores disability and resilience in the face of trauma and societal expectations. Cara Silversmith has lived with a chronic condition for most of her adult life. Her storytelling celebrates diverse identities, the environment and the creation of a better world.
Scottish Storytelling Centre Fringe
George Mackay Brown Library
(Mon 24-Sun 30 Aug) Shetland storyteller and comedian Marjolein Robertson travels across the sea to the UK’s most northerly isles for an hour of immersive tales – beautiful, sad, funny and magical. Told with Marjolein's signature mix of Shetlandic and English, enjoy the mother tongue of the once-Nordic lands on your escape to another world. 'Robertson is simply outstanding' ★★★★★ (TheQR.co.uk)'Hauntingly lyrical storytelling' ★★★★★ (List)
Scottish Storytelling Centre Fringe
Netherbow Theatre
(Wed 26 Aug) Artificial intelligence, Thatcher's children, Gaza, the actions of the homed, the voices of the homeless, Scots language and the joy of blowing raspberries. A critically-acclaimed combination of personal and political poetry and song. Morna Burdon's unique perspectives and observations offer incisive, gentle, provocative, poetic contributions to the wider story we all share. Interspersed with stories and songs ranging from climate change and immigration to that need we all have sometimes to just scream! Part of A Triptych for Our Times, a celebration marking ten years of Morna's acclaimed one-woman Fringe shows. ★★★★(NorthWestEnd.com) Two thirds of the artist's net income will be donated to Peace Direct and ActionAid.
Scottish Storytelling Centre Fringe
Netherbow Theatre
(Wed 26-Sun 30 Aug) England, 1945. The lives of two strangers are changed forever by a chance meeting at a railway station. But this isn't Brief Encounter... We're all extras in the lives of others, but the stars of our own. What happens when you pan the camera away from the leading players? Mark Kydd’s solo show turns the spotlight onto a supporting artist with his own surprising tale of first, forbidden love. Our Martin in the Background is the queer love story Noël Coward didn't write. ★★★★ (Scotsman)★★★★ (QueerGuru.com)
Scottish Storytelling Centre Fringe
George Mackay Brown Library
(Fri 24 Jul-Mon 31 Aug) The Craigmillar Tapestry Project is a community initiative to create a series of tapestry panels representing the rich history of Craigmillar. Designed and stitched by local people with artwork and guidance from artist Andrew Crummy, there are now twenty panels stitched by over five hundred contributors. The panels are stitched to an incredibly high standard by local residents in Craigmillar and Niddrie, incorporating elements of their own stories from traditional Syrian stitching to names of local activists and important landmarks. On Sun 26 July, drop-in to find out more about the story of the tapestry, meet some of the contributors and learn some of the techniques yourself!
Scottish Storytelling Centre Fringe
Storytelling Court
(Wed 5-Sun 16 Aug) Ah, new shoes... Delightful on the feet. Soft dancing slippers, swarthy pirate boots, silver buckles and silken soles; no-one makes shoes like an elf. This well-known and well-loved tale has been re-heeled and polished by Theatre of Widdershins in their own inimitable style. Beautifully crafted set and puppets, sublime music, a kaleidoscope of miniature shoes and a comic mouse make this show a magical must-see. Suitable for all ages and shoe sizes. 'A triumph of intimacy, imagination and enchantment' (CorrBlimey.com, for Snow White Rose Red Bear Brown) Touch Tours are available by appointment for this show, please email Reception reception@scottishstorytellingcentre.com at least 24 hours in advance to book.
Scottish Storytelling Centre Fringe
Netherbow Theatre
(6-31 Aug: 4:45pm) Returning to venues across Scotland following a critically-acclaimed tour in 2025, National Theatre of Scotland’s Through the Shortbread Tin is a poetic, poignant and playful show which explores the story of the greatest literary hoax of all time. 1760: Scottish poet James Macpherson sets the world ablaze with stories of the third-century Scottish bard, Ossian - but is it built on deceit? 2026: Martin O’Connor questions his own relationship with Scottish culture. Sporrans, stags, and shortbread; do these gift-shop images hold us back or bring us forward? Performed in Scots with Gaelic songs, Through the Shortbread Tin returns to explore the myths we tell each other and the stories we tell ourselves. A National Theatre of Scotland production. Part of the Made In Scotland Showcase 2026.Written by Martin O'ConnorRemount directed by Joanna BowmanOriginal production directed by Lu Kemp 'Witty and provocative' ★★★★ (Guardian)'A tartan-wrapped gift of a show' ★★★★ (Herald)'Fierce, funny and challenging' ★★★★ (Scotsman) BSL interpreted Tue 25 & Sat 29 Aug.Captioned Thu 13 & Sat 22 Aug.Audio described Fri 14 & Mon 24 Aug.Chilled Thu 20 & Sun 30 Aug.
Scottish Storytelling Centre Fringe
Netherbow Theatre
(Thu 6-Sun 16 Aug) The diagonal of the square is incommensurable with its side. Few words, but with unexpected implications: a number like this – neither whole nor fraction, thinkable but unknowable, wild, irrational – is a chaos element threatening the very order of things. The step from mathematics to heresy is short, and in Pythagoras’ time, mathematics could even cost you your life. A performance balancing mathematics and storytelling, where the story of Hippasus of Metapontum becomes an occasion to reflect on the role of mathematics in Western culture. Touch Tours are available by appointment for this show, please email Reception reception@scottishstorytellingcentre.com at least 24 hours in advance to book.
Scottish Storytelling Centre Fringe
George Mackay Brown Library
(Thu 6-Tue 18 Aug) An incendiary retelling of Homer’s Iliad, sung through the voice of Thetis, Achilles’ mother. Two performers fluidly shifting: god/mortal, mother/warrior, goddess/lover, masculine/feminine, collapsing the boundaries of gender, power and fate. Love – maternal, erotic, spiritual – collides with the brutal machinery of war. Developed through international residencies and informed by artistic exchange with Lebanese and Palestinian artists working amid ongoing conflict, the production refuses nostalgia. Olympus is not distant; it is political, volatile, human. Nearly three millennia later, the epic burns with the same question: who wages war, and who pays the price?
Scottish Storytelling Centre Fringe
Netherbow Theatre
(Sat 7-Sun 23 Aug) Award-winning storyteller Brooke Dunbar brings an immersive, theatrical, comical version of the love story of Romeo and Juliet. Bringing another of the Bard’s plays to the bairns – there's nothing tragic about this story! Back by popular demand after sell-out shows of Macbeth For Bairns at the Edinburgh Fringe 2024 and 2025. Get ready to hit the dance floor at the House of Capulet and get down with the Montagues! Featuring level 2 BSL at performances 21-23 Aug. 'An hour of pure wonder' (CorrBlimey.uk)'Pulls out all the stops for an action-packed, playful, sensory retelling' (EdinburghFestivalsForKids.com) Touch Tours are available by appointment for this show, please email Reception reception@scottishstorytellingcentre.com at least 24 hours in advance to book.
Scottish Storytelling Centre Fringe
George Mackay Brown Library
(Fri 7-Tue 11 Aug) On a blustery hilltop, a girl has a big secret to share. Following an ancient tradition, she must "tell the bees" that everything has changed. Step into a world of silver-saddled kelpies, mischievous brownies, and the beautiful song of the selkie, as award-winning Hoglets Theatre brings folk legends to life. Packed with gorgeous puppetry, original music and a hive full of interaction, Telling the Bees is a warm, witty, and imaginative show for ages 5+ about brave hearts, new beginnings, and the magic we carry with us.
Scottish Storytelling Centre Fringe
George Mackay Brown Library
(Fri 7-Sun 30 Aug) Fair fa’ your honest, sonsie face... Where better to hear Robert Burns' famous poem Address to a Haggis than at The Haggis Box Café in the Scottish Storytelling Centre! Drop in to hear a different surprise performer each day deliver a rousing rendition of Burns' ode to the Great Chieftain o’ the Puddin-race. Traditional, vegan and vegetarian haggis, neeps and tatties will be available to purchase all day with gluten-free options available. Haggis for all!
Scottish Storytelling Centre Fringe
Storytelling Court
(Fri 7-Fri 29 Aug) Respected by ancient cultures but the archetypal villain in European fairy tales, wolves were hunted to extinction in Scotland by the 18th century. Ancient myth, mesmeric imagery and dreamlike soundscapes open a liminal space where Norse gods, Irish shapeshifters and Siberian wolf-children traverse Scottish moors and Transylvanian mountains. Live music stirs the soul. Shadow puppetry and animation portray terror and playfulness. Stories about our oldest ally ask: in the absence of the wolf, what is lost? Originally commissioned by the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2024. 'I was so mesmerised I had abandoned taking notes' ★★★★★ (Snack)'Powerful and magical' ★★★★ (List)'Richly textured' ★★★★ (CorrBlimey.uk) BSL interpreted Sun 9 Aug. Interpretation by Sarah Forrester.
Scottish Storytelling Centre Fringe
Netherbow Theatre
(Fri 7-Sat 22) One chair. One question. Sit with us for a moment. In this gentle one-to-one encounter, you’re invited to share an idea you’ve always wanted to try, but haven’t yet. Step One is a quiet participatory artwork by Short Supply, exploring the moment before something begins. Each meeting lasts a few minutes and unfolds differently depending on who sits down. In the middle of the Edinburgh Fringe, this piece offers a pause from the noise – a space to reflect, speak freely and acknowledge the ideas we carry but rarely say out loud.
Scottish Storytelling Centre Fringe
Storytelling Court
(Fri 7-Sun 30 Aug) Leaping salmon, fishtail women, mythical raves and sacred springs – these legends celebrate those who question the fixed and find their own flow. Troubled Waters transports audiences into a world where ancient folklore intertwines with contemporary themes. Whether you come for the laughs or the watery wisdom, you'll dip your toes into vital waters and explore what moves beneath the surface. Described by audiences as ‘delicious’, ‘captivating', ‘sexy’ and ‘brilliant’, this storytelling show explores our connection to waterways, wetlands and their inhabitants. 'Genuinely very funny... A masterful storyteller’ (BackstageBristol.com) BSL interpreted Thu 13 Aug. Interpretation by Sarah Forrester.Touch Tours are available by appointment for this show, please email Reception reception@scottishstorytellingcentre.com at least 24 hours in advance to book.
Scottish Storytelling Centre Fringe
George Mackay Brown Library
(Fri 7-Mon 31 Aug: 2:45pm) Common Tongue is a play aboot imperfect Scots. A fast-paced, riotous one-person show exploring the impact of language, identity and their intersections in Scotland. Bonnie’s life has been defined by words; the right ones, the wrong ones and the ones used against her. Now, Bonnie has a chance to speak about it. But she’s not really sure what she’s going to say, or how she’s going to say it. Written and directed by Fraser Scott (director, Athens of the North), this ‘quick-witted, damning, and gorgeous’ (★★★★★ CorrBlimey.uk) play is delivered with deft humour and big heart. Touch Tours are available by appointment for this show, please email Reception reception@scottishstorytellingcentre.com at least 24 hours in advance to book.
Scottish Storytelling Centre Fringe
Netherbow Theatre
(Fri 7-Mon 17 Aug) Hamlet has the questions. Do you have the answers? A prince of Denmark needs your help. Take on the roles, journey through the play and resolve the great questions of life together, immersed in the story as never before. From multi award-winning Brite Theater, creators of Richard III (a one-person show) and Deliverance. Starring Emily Carding, directed by Kolbrún Björt Sigfúsdóttir. ‘Sigfusdottir’s adaptation and Carding’s sensitive interpretation provide a shortcut to the empathy that many Hamlets crave but seldom achieve’ ★★★★ (Stage)‘Will leave you feeling closer and more empathetic to Hamlet than ever before’ ★★★★★ (TheFrontRowCenter.com).
Scottish Storytelling Centre Fringe
George Mackay Brown Library
(Fri 7-Tue 18 Aug) Returning to the Edinburgh Fringe, to the venue where it won a Herald Angel Award and built a reputation as a smash hit of modern Scottish theatre, Thunderstruck is the tragic, comic and epic tale of the greatest bagpiper that ever lived. The story of a Pitlochry bin man who rocked tradition, flew beyond the summit of his art and changed Scottish music forever. Whatever notions you have of bagpipes, leave them at the door. 'A stunning, staggering piece of modern Scottish folk theatre' ★★★★★ (BritishTheatreGuide.info)'Elucidating, charming and rip-roaringly inspirational' ★★★★★ (TheQR.co.uk)'Masterful' ★★★★ (BroadwayWorld.com)★★★★ (Fest)
Scottish Storytelling Centre Fringe
Netherbow Theatre
(Fri 7-Thu 27 Aug) Enlightenment Edinburgh. Robert Burns and Walter Scott meet only once, at a salon in the Sciennes home of Adam Fergusson. Or so history tells us. In the School of Scottish Studies archives, a Scottish Traveller recounts another version; a fantastical gathering of 'all the great writers', locked in poetic flyting – until tragedy strikes. Scots folksinger Kirsty Law weaves together documented fact, imagined rivalry and a childhood memory of hearing the tale in the very building where it happened. A meditation on truth and fiction, and on the ordinary people who quietly carry on Scotland's living tradition.
Scottish Storytelling Centre Fringe
George Mackay Brown Library
(Sat 8-Sun 30 Aug) To celebrate 20 years of the Scottish Storytelling Centre, join some of our amazing tellers as they share their favourite traditional tales from around the world. Expect folk tales, fairie tales, myths and legends, stories handed down to inspire and entertain across generations. A relaxed session with a different storyteller each day sharing wonderful, wise and occasionally wild stories of their choosing! Performer Schedule
Scottish Storytelling Centre Fringe
George Mackay Brown Library
(Sat 8-Sat 29 Aug) Multi-instrumentalist Tom Oakes returns with Forge. Traditional music is set against live composition and improvisation, threaded with archive broadcast and new writing by Kolbrún Björt Sigfúsdóttir. Stories of resistance surface in sound and speech, carried in music that changes from night to night. Forge is a new work building the 2024 hit The Hearth, which was nominated for Best New Work at the MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards and premiered at the Edinburgh Fringe before appearing at major festivals including Celtic Connections in Glasgow.
Scottish Storytelling Centre Fringe
George Mackay Brown Library
(Mon 10-Sun 23 Aug) The greatest stories have always opened our eyes, pricked our ears and loosened our tongues; not easy when the chaos makes us want to bury our heads. When faced with injustice, oppression and tyranny how long can we afford compliance? How long do we excuse the beast once it has learned to bite? Two traditional storytellers rally myths, legends and folk songs in this rousing call to arms. Now is the time to pull our heads from the sand, look darkness in the eye and make a stand.
Scottish Storytelling Centre Fringe
George Mackay Brown Library
(Wed 12 Aug) Following acclaimed performances at Adelaide Fringe and sell-out shows at Edinburgh Fringe, Morna Burdon brings Bonnie Fechters home to the Scottish Storytelling Centre as part of A Triptych for Our Times, a ten-year celebration of her acclaimed one-woman shows. Bonnie Fechters stand up for themselves or what they believe in. Morna weaves an inspiring tapestry of songs and stories, shedding light on remarkable women whose courage, love, inventiveness and human spirit ripple through time to affect us all – whether we know it or not. ‘Deeply moving... mellow singing... charismatic’ ★★★★ (BroadwayBaby.com) Two thirds of the artist's net income will be donated to Peace Direct and ActionAid.
Scottish Storytelling Centre Fringe
Netherbow Theatre
(Wed 12, Wed 19 & Wed 26 Aug) The 5-star, award-winning hit LGBTQ+ storytelling show returns for its fourth Fringe; camper, fruitier and queerer than ever! Host Turan Ali takes time out from his BBC shows to scour the Fringe for the best queer talent, creating a diverse line-up of artists to share hilarious, surprising, sobering tales, songs and epic poems. Expect jaw-dropping insights into LGBTQ+ lives past, present and future. 'Edinburgh's most vibrant, authentic and exciting storytelling event' ★★★★★ (TheWeeReview.com)'Utterly fabulous' ★★★★★ (TheQR.co.uk)★★★★ (BroadwayBaby.com)'[A] rich fruitcake of an evening' Must See Show 2025 (FringeReview.co.uk)'Triumphant' ★★★★★ (AllEdinburghTheatre.com)
Scottish Storytelling Centre Fringe
Netherbow Theatre
(Thu 13, Thu 20 & Thu 27 Aug) Loud Poets have been bringing the very best live poetry to the Fringe for over a decade. Their fist-thumping, pint-drinking, side-tickling, heart-wrenching fusion of spoken word and live music thrills poetry lovers and turns sceptics into fans. Catch the Loud Poets themselves – Katie Ailes, Mark Gallie and Kevin Mclean – with musical accompaniment from Jack Hinks and a different guest every show. 'Joyous smorgasbord of words' ★★★★★ (AllEdinburghTheatre.com)'Funny, fierce and finely-tuned' ★★★★★ (CorrBlimey.uk)'Astonishing range of spoken-word talent' ★★★★★ (BingeFringe.com)'The most reliably entertaining spoken word night at the Fringe' ★★★★ (TheWeeReview.com)★★★★★ (EdFringeReview.com)★★★★★ (EdinburghGuide.com) BSL interpreted Thu 27 Aug. Interpretation by Sarah Forrester.
Scottish Storytelling Centre Fringe
Netherbow Theatre
(Sat 15 & Sun 23 Aug) Allow me to give you some advice, Billy... Alan Bissett, award-winning creator of Fringe hit The Moira Monologues, performs as two Scottish cultural giants, asking what (might’ve!) happened when Billy Connolly attended the launch for Alasdair Gray’s 1981 masterpiece, Lanark. Bissett unearths the origin stories of these Glasgow geniuses, exploring their struggles in an uplifting tale of triumph against the odds. Directed by Kirstin McLean. Mervyn Stutter’s Pick of the Fringe 2025. Longlisted for Sir Billy Connolly Spirit of Glasgow Award 2025.★★★★★ (BritishTheatreGuide.info)★★★★★ (National)★★★★★ (NorthWestEnd.co.uk)★★★★ (Herald)
Scottish Storytelling Centre Fringe
Netherbow Theatre
(Tue 18-Sat 22 Aug) Atop a far-off mountain, birds gather to perch on the fate-shaping hands of an old mountain man – stories stirring in the murmuration, waiting to glide into the human world. In this Harebell Tellers production, traditional storytellers Ailsa Dixon and Ffion Phillips follow the flight paths of bird mythology across ancient Britain; oceans, forests, in and out of this world and that. Weaving together Welsh and Scots language, music and story into a meditative hour of storytelling magic, breathing new life into ancient myths and re-enchanting old folktales. 'A captivating hour of bardic wonder' ★★★★★ (AllEdinburghTheatre.com)
Scottish Storytelling Centre Fringe
George Mackay Brown Library
(Wed 19 Aug) Courage, creativity and resilience are celebrated as Morna Burdon highlights women worldwide who have found inventive, daring ways to rebel against war and take a stand for peace. Threaded through with songs and punctuated with humour, this moving spoken word show also looks at how war affects the loved ones of these brave women. Part of A Triptych for Our Times, a celebration marking ten years of Morna's acclaimed one-woman Fringe shows. ★★★★ (ScotsGayArts.com)'a powerful and moving performance' ★★★★★ (NorthWestEnd.com) Two thirds of the artist's net income will be donated to Peace Direct and ActionAid.
Scottish Storytelling Centre Fringe
Netherbow Theatre
(Wed 19-Sun 30 Aug) Niall Moorjani (Fringe First winner) and Ailsa Dixon (★★★★★, Scotsman) present an evocative and moving exploration of what it is to be human, as they lyrically synthesise storytelling with live music and Orcadian folk song. Come for the music, stories and songs, stay for the deep exploration of trans experience in Scotland today, through three queered and reimagined selkie stories set in past, present and future. BSL interpreted Fri 21 Aug. Interpretation by Sarah Forrester.Captioned Sat 22 Aug. Open captioning by Claire Hill. Image credit Binski
Scottish Storytelling Centre Fringe
Netherbow Theatre
(Fri 21-Sat 22 Aug) Across northern England, roads wend their way through picturesque countryside. Ancient dry stone walls hold the ghostly stories of the dead that were carried past on these secret and haunted trails. The Corpse Road follows the rise and fall, the twists and turns of these paths to tell the tale of characters that were carried to their final resting place. Storyteller Daniel Serridge and musician Heather Cartwright weave together story and song in this evocative and unnerving folkloric journey to the grave. 'Captivating storytelling' ★★★★ (BingeFringe.com)'A Fringe must-see' ★★★★★ (CorrBlimey.uk, for Orpheus/Orfeo) Captioned Sat 22 Aug. Open captioning by Claire Hill.
Scottish Storytelling Centre Fringe
Netherbow Theatre
(Sat 22, Sun 23, Sat 29 & Sun 30 Aug) When a young girl moves to a new home, her extraordinary bed comes alive and carries her through dreamy worlds of music, play and imagination. Together they discover friendship, courage and the joys of growing up. With playful audience participation, original songs, enchanting visuals and multilingual storytelling with integrated BSL, the audience are invited to dream, laugh and explore in this wonderful musical adventure. Ideal for ages 5+ and their grown-ups, but open to all. Touch Tours are available by appointment for this show, please email Reception reception@scottishstorytellingcentre.com at least 24 hours in advance to book. Image credit Alexandra Borghino
Scottish Storytelling Centre Fringe
Netherbow Theatre
(Sat 22-Sun 30 Aug) Or, Benjamin Franklin’s Scottish Enlightenment. The Founding Father loved Edinburgh. He visited in 1759 and made pals with David Hume and Adam Smith. But what does Auld Reekie have to do with America's Declaration of Independence? Exactly 250 years after the Declaration, Rick Conte retraces his countryman's steps in a warm, funny and historically grounded account of how Enlightenment Edinburgh influenced a nation, and how a native of that nation found a home here centuries later. 'Delightful' ★★★★★ (NorthWestEnd.com)'A beguiling show' ★★★★ (Scotsman)'Storytelling at its best!' ★★★★ (ScotsGayArts.com)'Heartwarming' ★★★★ (AllEdinburghTheatre.com) Captioned Mon 24 Aug. Open captioning by Claire Hill.
Scottish Storytelling Centre Fringe
Netherbow Theatre
(Sat 22-Sun 30 Aug) Witch! Hag! Spinster! Words are powerful – even one can tell a whole story. This storytelling show welcomes you into the spinster's cottage, but what will you find there? A financially independent woman with a honed skill and craft, or an evil-doing hag waiting to snatch your child? Journey through three Scottish folktales that illustrate the change in the meaning of the word spinster, and thus the changing role of women in the Middle Ages. Spin together the threads of ancient tales and unpick the tapestry of the demonisation of women with storyteller Frankie Regalia.
Scottish Storytelling Centre Fringe
George Mackay Brown Library
(Sun 23-Mon 24 Aug) A young girl wears her heart on her sleeve. Her father struggles to support the family and accepts a devastating offer from a strange figure... Can a woman without hands reach into a pool of dark memories to reclaim her own future? Based on the Grimm story of the Handless Maiden, this storytelling show explores disability and resilience in the face of trauma and societal expectations. Cara Silversmith has lived with a chronic condition for most of her adult life. Her storytelling celebrates diverse identities, the environment and the creation of a better world.
Scottish Storytelling Centre Fringe
George Mackay Brown Library
(Mon 24-Sun 30 Aug) Shetland storyteller and comedian Marjolein Robertson travels across the sea to the UK’s most northerly isles for an hour of immersive tales – beautiful, sad, funny and magical. Told with Marjolein's signature mix of Shetlandic and English, enjoy the mother tongue of the once-Nordic lands on your escape to another world. 'Robertson is simply outstanding' ★★★★★ (TheQR.co.uk)'Hauntingly lyrical storytelling' ★★★★★ (List)
Scottish Storytelling Centre Fringe
Netherbow Theatre
(Wed 26 Aug) Artificial intelligence, Thatcher's children, Gaza, the actions of the homed, the voices of the homeless, Scots language and the joy of blowing raspberries. A critically-acclaimed combination of personal and political poetry and song. Morna Burdon's unique perspectives and observations offer incisive, gentle, provocative, poetic contributions to the wider story we all share. Interspersed with stories and songs ranging from climate change and immigration to that need we all have sometimes to just scream! Part of A Triptych for Our Times, a celebration marking ten years of Morna's acclaimed one-woman Fringe shows. ★★★★(NorthWestEnd.com) Two thirds of the artist's net income will be donated to Peace Direct and ActionAid.
Scottish Storytelling Centre Fringe
Netherbow Theatre
(Wed 26-Sun 30 Aug) England, 1945. The lives of two strangers are changed forever by a chance meeting at a railway station. But this isn't Brief Encounter... We're all extras in the lives of others, but the stars of our own. What happens when you pan the camera away from the leading players? Mark Kydd’s solo show turns the spotlight onto a supporting artist with his own surprising tale of first, forbidden love. Our Martin in the Background is the queer love story Noël Coward didn't write. ★★★★ (Scotsman)★★★★ (QueerGuru.com)
Scottish Storytelling Centre Fringe
George Mackay Brown Library
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