Story News...

happenings in the storytelling world - far and wide and right back home!

If you have something you want to share about a storytelling event, discovery or just plain talk, and you are a member, please contact webmaster Laura via storytelling@abdn.ac.uk  

Special Guest - 7 November,  2007

Fiona-Jane Brown, your webmaster and member of Grampian Association of Storytellers will be entertaining you with Tales and Traditions of the Sea. FJ is currently doing her PhD in Ethnology & Folklore at the Elphinstone Institute, University of Aberdeen on the beliefs and traditions of the fisherfolk, so the session will reflect that research.  Tales from the people, poetry and superstitions will all be included.  FJ also runs the Formartine Oral History Project (http://formartine.pbwiki.com) and is Vice-Chair of the Aberdeen & Region Oral History Association.

£3 entry fee for non-members; members get free entry.  Non-students are welcome.  7.30pm, NK11

Special Guest - 24 October, 2007

At the regular AUSS meeting this week, we have special guest, Stanley Robertson.  Stanley has had many flattering titles bestowed on him throughout his life by those who know and admire him; master storyteller, folk singer, tradition bearer for the Travellers of North East Scotland. His paternal aunt was the well-known folk-revival singer, Jeannie Robertson. Stanley is honorary President of the Grampian Association of Storytellers and recently completed a five year stint as a creative fellow in residence at the University of Aberdeen’s Elphinstone Institute. Stanley has been a playwright and the author of many books, as well as working in the fish processing industry in Torry for forty years. 

Born in Aberdeen in 1940, the youngest of 12 children, Stanley felt far more at home sat around the travellers' campfires out at Alford when the family went out in the spring time, as is said in the song 'When the yellow's on the broom,'  it is there he learned all his stories and songs from what is now a dying tradition.  Travellers are today criticised and ostracised by all sections of the community, but what people forget is they were one of few societies who carried on the great oral traditions of the Celtic seannachies and bards who once roamed the country creating epic ballads and tales that were never written down.  Stanley hopes that by teaching storytellers and singers of the present day from his repertoire that these oral arts will continue.  Be prepared for an amazing night of supernatural tales and songs from the master storyteller! 

£3 entry fee for non-members; members get free entry.  Non-students are welcome.  7.30pm as usual in NK11!!  Don't miss this for the world!