Drawing on his family’s Holocaust history, his own experience of disability, and Rudolf Steiner’s Philosophy of Freedom, Iddo Oberski weaves a deeply personal journey with his onstage puppet counterpart, Svjetlana, a dialogue that constantly surprises and reveals new layers of understanding. In Balancing in Freedom, Iddo fuses storytelling, movement, puppetry, visual art, music, spoken word, magic, and philosophy into a living artwork that shifts between intimacy and spectacle, exploring what it means to be human, and our ongoing search for freedom, connection, and meaning. Just as you think you know where it’s heading, the performance transforms again, surprising, thought-provoking, and always engaging.

A meeting of Celtic & Nordic cultures! Exploring the very early historical to contemporary interactions between Celtic & Nordic cultures will feature in the Northern Streams Festival of Nordic & Scottish Music, Song & Dance 2026 in Edinburgh. A Performance and concert lecture by historical music specialist, Christine Kammerer, will convey material researched for a Danish museum late last year in its first presentation in the UK. Whilst Cuath a Tuan with Chris Amer will be performing and teaching recent Nordic and Celtic crossovers. The other artists participating in the festival, taking place 17-19 April, will bring other varieties of interactions through concerts, workshops (including a Family friendly one), a ceilidh and session in the Festival’s 21st year. The following artists are appearing on the Festival programme: - Cuan a Tuath: Kristina Leesik & Séamus Ó’Baoighill (Fiddle, Song & Pipes) + Chris Amer (Guitar) – Sweden/Scotland Glasgow based band drawing influence from the Nordic and Scottish traditional styles, mixing old Swedish songs & polskas, with Highland Strathspeys and Reels. Winners of a Danny Kyle award at Celtic Connections 2025. - Christine Kammerer (Song, Story, Lyre) – Denmark Celebrated for her fusion of Nordic & Celtic folk music, blending symphonic elements with ancient songs and cross-cultural storytelling Christine also specialises in early music/Viking Age music. - Outi Karhu & Glasgow’n Laulu Finnish Women’s Choir (Song, Piano) – (Finland/Scotland) Outi Karhu is a Finnish singer and pianist, whose restless feet and a curious heart led her to Scotland. Hopping between styles and genre, her debut album, Let the Light In, was released in late 2025. She leads the Glasgow’n Laulu Finnish Women’s Choir who have been singing together for over 10 years. - Joss Cameron & Amy Dudley (Song, Story & Piano) – Scotland Local singer, Joss Cameron has a Traveller background as well as being related to a pirate Queen! Teaming up with Amy they will present songs of the sea, fisherfolk and other themes with haunting melodies and audience participation – a celebration of our heritage. Described as “…something out of the ordinary” by The Herald, throughout the years Northern Streams seeks to showcase ‘up and coming’ performers often new to Scottish audiences, offering opportunities to learn about different cultures around the North Sea through a mixed programme of events. The Northern Streams festival is organised on a voluntary basis by the Edinburgh & Lothians Branch of the Traditional Music & Song Association of Scotland (TMSA) and is part of the TMSA’s 60th anniversary celebrations this year. The Branch acknowledges support from the National Lottery through Creative Scotland in Traditional Arts & Culture Fund (TACF) administered by TRACS.

a unique opportunity for families, teachers, librarians, authors, publishers and many others to share knowledge around how to make books and stories accessible for children with additional needs.

Join friends from the Scots Music Group for an afternoon session of traditional songs, music, poems and stories, held in the relaxed setting of the Storytelling Court. All welcome to listen or bring a tune for a turn.

Join us for fist-thumping, pint-drinking, side-tickling, award-winning poetry! Loud Poets invite poets to share their work at their regular open mic, now taking place at the Scottish Storytelling Centre in the relaxed surroundings of the Storytelling Court. All styles of poetry are welcome and with a different feature performer every time, this event offers a supportive, creative environment for all. Doors will open at 6:30pm for a 7pm start with two short intervals, wrapping up around 9.30pm. Loud Poets will be managing sign-ups. To sign up to perform, please fill out the sign-up form for the date on which you'd like to perform. This form will close one week before the event, after which they will email you to let you know if you have a guaranteed performance spot. Two spots are always left open to be filled by random draw from poets who sign up on the door. Slots are five minutes and poets are welcome to perform as many or few poems as you would like within that time. You are welcome to go under the five minutes, but please do not go over out of respect to your fellow performers. A message from Loud Poets about this event: "At our open mic and all of our events, we endeavour to create a safe, welcoming space for all to attend and share their work. We ask performers to be respectful of the diversity of our experiences. We do not tolerate any forms of discrimination and harassment. Don't punch down. Performers and attendees who violate this policy will be asked to leave."

Stories gathered in the Scottish Highlands made visible using scraps of discarded fabric by storyteller and artist Lizzie McDougall. It has been a long and winding, sometimes windy, sometimes wondrous road that has led to this exhibition. The Quilts illustrate stories gathered in the Highlands from the people who live there; old stories that connect places with people, patching together a timeless but fragile sense of community. The artist says: "I wanted to make this more visible in the hope of giving some strength and presence to this delicate strand of our heritage. One wild and windy night I saw in my minds eye old stories being blown and scattered, some caught in the trees like the strips of cloth left out for Bride on the eve of Imbolc or gifts to the fairies around Clooty Wells. So I began gathering scraps of discarded fabric too. This was how the idea to make the Quilts began. The practice of making them has been very varied, some I have created alone and sometimes I have invited others to join the process. I am incredibly grateful to everyone who has in one way or another contributed to all the special pieces that make up the StoryQuilts from hosting sessions, gifting stories or fabric, embroidering, stitching, ironing or bringing tea and baking." ~~~~~ Lizzie McDougall grew up in Edinburgh and attended to Edinburgh College of Art. As a child she was lucky enough to hear Highland stories from Mrs Dunlop the Barrel Organ Lady and Compton MacKenzie, which inspired Lizzie to travel the Highlands listening out for stories. For many years her artistic practice included promoting all art forms and running festivals and community events in the Highlands. After the Seer Festival in 2001, she felt a need to go back to Art College and combined Art with a BA in the Cultural Studies of the Highlands and Islands at UHI. Since then she has focused more on Storytelling and Art inspired by stories and visits museums, libraries, schools and historic buildings sharing Highland stories. She has been making the Highland StoryQuilts for over a decade to make visible and give presence to the rich but delicate tradition of Highland storytelling.

Heavens above! Do you long to fly? Or to travel beyond the stars? Bring us stories of birds, clouds, constellations and the inhabitants of the heavens high above our earthbound feet. Join the Burgh Blatherers for a series of regular open-floor storytelling nights taking place throughout the year, a cosy gathering in the relaxed surroundings of the Storytelling Court with refreshments available from the Haggis Box Café. Hosted by Bob Mitchell and members of Edinburgh's own storytelling club who will transport you with their own stories and imaginative weavings while offering you the chance to tell your own tales!

A hands-on, practical introduction to live storytelling and the associated skills. Storyteller Alice Fernbank leads this participatory session for anyone curious about discovering and developing their own storytelling talent. Let out your inner storyteller and learn to craft your skills. For new and aspiring storytellers. Alice Fernbank has been an active part of the Scottish storytelling community for over a decade, appearing in school events, theatres, and festivals including SISF and Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Her work has taken her abroad to festivals in Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and most recently to Palabras al Vuelo Festival on Lanzerote. She regularly leads story walks around Edinburgh, sharing the legends and histories of the city with travellers from across the globe. Nurturing others in the art of storytelling is a passion of Alice’s and she has acted as mentor and story coach to many emerging storytellers. Listening closely and responding with energising feedback to reveal a storyteller’s unique, authentic expression is key to Alice’s approach. ~~~~~~~~~~ Presented by the Scottish Storytelling Forum, these participatory sessions are designed to help you improve your skills and share your experiences with fellow storytelling enthusiasts. This carefully curated workshop programme offers you the chance to work with highly-skilled and experienced artists, giving you guidance on improving your practice and discovering your own talent.

Spring sunshine? Wild winds? April showers? Whatever the weather, gather into the Story Circle with Sarah Wedderburn-Ogilvy for splashy and sunny stories of spring. This event is part of Easy Sundays, a fortnightly session of stories, music, community and friendship with a variety of activities for all to enjoy. Supported by TRACS (Traditional Arts and Culture Scotland) and the Scottish Storytelling Centre to create a warm and welcoming space for the community.

Don’t miss the next fantastic show from Scotland’s premiere spoken word night! For over ten years, Loud Poets has been showcasing the best spoken word poetry from Scotland and beyond. Expect fist-thumping, heart-wrenching, side-tickling poetry performances with live musical accompaniment. April's line-up features Natalie Elizabeth, Jasmine Gardosi, Jake Wild Hall and Beth Rose. Please note, this showcase begins at 7pm, rather than 7:30pm as with previous Loud Poets showcases. This will be the consistent start time for Loud Poets events at the SSC moving forward. “Loud Poets is tearing up the landscape, bringing the ancient art to contemporary audiences – spreading mirth, giggles and talent along the way.” - Corr Blimey “Go listen to Loud Poets and hear them say the things you’ve been trying to say yourself.” - Shane Koyczan “There’s a humour, poignancy and most of all confidence which serves to inspire.” - Scotsman

Queer Folks’ Tales continues its fifth year at SSC and its 2026 run with another fantabulosa line up. As always, queer storytellers galore from around Edinburgh and Scotland share stories of LGBTQ+ lives, past, present and future. Sometimes hilarious, often moving, occasionally shocking, the mix of true and fictional stories is as varied as the range of storytellers we invite. Household names feature alongside new and diverse queer storytellers from different communities of Scotland. Many of the stories told at QFT will be true stories of LGBTQ+ experience in Scotland today. Hosted by Edinburgh’s Turan Ali, who is joined in April by Fife writer/actor Michael Johnson, Texan singer-songwriter Lake Montgomery and Irish actor/writer Conor O’Dwyer. ~~~~~ Turan Ali has been a producer, director and writer of BBC radio dramas and comedies for over 20 years. He’s been a stage storyteller since 2012, and a stand up since 2021. He tours internationally, and has two sell out monthly storytelling shows in Vienna. He’s the creator, producer and host of Queer Folks’ Tales (QFT) for which he won the Creative Edinburgh Leadership Award 2024. QFT now tours across Scotland and is Creative Scotland funded. Michael Johnson is an actor/writer from Glenrothes, Fife. He founded Without Compromise Theatre, a new writing company dedicated to telling stories for and represented by working class and low income people. He debuted his writing at the Edinburgh Fringe 2024 with Wish You Were Here, which has been performed around Fife and raises money for 'Change Mental Health'. Michael won the Creative Edinburgh Development Award 2024. Lake Montgomery is a singer-songwriter from Paris, Texas now based in Edinburgh. Backed by a love for old blues and show tunes, she performs her own intimate stories with a hint of fury. Her influences range from church-house gospel, funk & soul, hymns and especially Nina Simone. She has performed internationally and has many recordings to her credit. “She makes songs that hurt your heart happy.” Conor O'Dwyer is an early-career Edinburgh-based stage/screen actor/writer from Galway, Ireland. His debut solo show Homo(sapien) premiered at the Dublin Gay Theatre Festival in 2025, winning Best New Writing Award and coming to Edinburgh Fringe ’25. Conor's subsequent plays are The Things You Can Only Lose Once, (Framework Theatre) and Rootbound, which is in development with support from Creative Scotland.

A hands-on, practical introduction to live storytelling and the associated skills. Storyteller Alice Fernbank leads this participatory session for anyone curious about discovering and developing their own storytelling talent. Let out your inner storyteller and learn to craft your skills. For new and aspiring storytellers. Alice Fernbank has been an active part of the Scottish storytelling community for over a decade, appearing in school events, theatres, and festivals including SISF and Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Her work has taken her abroad to festivals in Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and most recently to Palabras al Vuelo Festival on Lanzerote. She regularly leads story walks around Edinburgh, sharing the legends and histories of the city with travellers from across the globe. Nurturing others in the art of storytelling is a passion of Alice’s and she has acted as mentor and story coach to many emerging storytellers. Listening closely and responding with energising feedback to reveal a storyteller’s unique, authentic expression is key to Alice’s approach. ~~~~~~~~~~ Presented by the Scottish Storytelling Forum, these participatory sessions are designed to help you improve your skills and share your experiences with fellow storytelling enthusiasts. This carefully curated workshop programme offers you the chance to work with highly-skilled and experienced artists, giving you guidance on improving your practice and discovering your own talent.

Spring sunshine? Wild winds? April showers? Whatever the weather, gather into the Story Circle with Sarah Wedderburn-Ogilvy for splashy and sunny stories of spring. ~~~~~ This event is part of Easy Sundays, a fortnightly session of stories, music, community and friendship with a variety of activities for all to enjoy. Supported by TRACS (Traditional Arts and Culture Scotland) and the Scottish Storytelling Centre to create a warm and welcoming space for the community.

The Vertigo Project brings together researchers, artists and clinical practitioners to create creative and therapeutic resources for people living with dizziness, vertigo and balance disorders. This event offers a chance to encounter that work across book, film, live performance and exhibition. The evening will centre the launch of a new book by Dr Anindya Raychaudhuri as well as sharing a wider range of creative outputs from the project including a screening of Vertigo, a dance film developed by Theiyā Arts as an artistic response to the book and the premiere of a live performance by Theiyā Arts. An exhibition of selected project outputs will also be on display. This event is presented by Theiyā Arts in collaboration with Dr Anindya Raychaudhuri and The Vertigo Project