Storytelling – Developing the Art and Craft of the Storyteller

Pre-requisites for enrolment

It is helpful if participants can bring a traditional story to work with (ideally a story that has been passed down orally). Suitable stories can be found at: http://www.scottishstorytellingcentre.co.uk.

Content of Course

You will learn from a professional storyteller how to engage an audience, how to use voice, dramatic gesture and animation and how to breathe life into a story. You will also experience storytelling in the landscape, with outings led by Donald Smith, director of the International Storytelling Festival.

The first trip will begin with a visit of the Scottish Storytelling Centre on the Royal Mile, then on to the Canongate to explore a sense of place in literature and storytelling. The second day trip involves visiting story rich Arthur’s Seat and learning about stories in the landscape.

In this way the week aims to combine food for head, heart and body, giving an all rounded storytelling course. The workshop will conclude with a storytelling ceilidh and here everyone will have the opportunity to share a story.

Day 1

An introduction to storytelling; kindling the imagination, awakening the voice. Working with a Scottish folk tale.

Day 2

Visit to the Scottish Storytelling Centre on the Royal Mile for a lecture on the Scottish Storytelling tradition and a literary tour down the Canongate to look at stories within the iconic buildings of the Canongate.

Day 3

Further work on practising the art of the storyteller. Participants will be given the tools to tell a story in a lively way and engage an audience.

Day 4

Stories in the landscape. Weather permitting we will spend the day in Arthur’s Seat. Guided walk to explore the spirit of place in literature and storytelling.

Day 5

On this final day students will bring together the fruits of the week’s journey. There will be opportunity to practise skills, reflect on the storytelling tradition and how to bring this into communities. In the afternoon we will round up with a storytelling ceilidh. An opportunity for students to tell a story, incorporating skills learnt on the course.  A time to celebrate, reflect and share.

Teaching method(s)

Warm up exercises to engage imagination, vocal dexterity and gesture. First in the large group and then in small groups, we will create time for peer support and the five days will culminate in a sharing of stories.

Learning outcomes

By the end of this course, students should be able to:

• Appreciate the Scottish story telling heritage;

• Relate to an audience;

• Tell a story to best effect;

• Select stories that suit them and according to specific settings and audiences.

Sources

Core Readings

Recommended:

• Campbell, David (2010) Out of the Mouth of the Morning, Luath Press.

• Smith, Donald (2002) Storytelling Scotland: A Nation in Narrative. Edinburgh University Press

• Smith, Donald. (2014) Edinburgh Old Town – journeys and evocations. Luath Press

• Grimm Brothers (2007) Grimm’s Fairy Tales., Penguin Popular Classics, UK

• T.W. Rolleston (2003 )Celtic Myths & Legends, Dover Publications Inc. Gordon Jarvie (editor) (1997), Scottish Folk & Fairy Tales, Penguin Popular Classics, UK

Web Sources

www.scottishstorytellingcentre.co.uk

Class Handouts

Handouts on background story lore and short stories.

Queries

If you have questions regarding the course or enrolment, please contact COL Reception at Paterson's Land by email COL@ed.ac.uk or by phone 0131 650 4400.

Student support

If you have a disability, learning difficulty or health condition which may affect your studies, please let us know by ticking the 'specific support needs' box on your course application form. This will allow us to make appropriate adjustments in advance and in accordance with your rights under the Equality Act 2010. For more information please visit the Student Support section of our website.