Storytelling Is About The Connection Between People

Donald Smith explains what’s at the heart of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival.

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THE festival was started in 1989 by a group of Scottish storytellers – a very small group, originally – of whom I was one.

“Scotland had this rich tradition of storytelling and we were in danger of losing it. It was a way people could connect and share family and community heritage.

“I would say that we are pretty gobsmacked still to be going, and also now to be the largest and the leading live storytelling festival in the world.”

Donald is enthusiastic about the need for it in the modern age.

“I think storytelling is about the connection between people. It’s heart as well as head, and I think that modern technology makes people more aware of how valuable that direct sharing and taking time to be with people is. People actually value that more, certainly more consciously, than they ever did.”

The international aspect has developed as the festival has grown.