With Pedal on Parliament coming up next weekend here is news of another cycling event in the capital next month.

Edinburgh prides itself on being the City of Festivals and has ambitions to be a Cycling City. Combining these is the inaugural Edinburgh Festival of Cycling, which will run from 15 -23 June 2013. It aims to be an inclusive event, offering a wide range of cultural events and physical activities to encompassing all aspects of the bicycle and cycling culture, from leisure to sport, with exhibitions, talks, bike rides and much more.

The Edinburgh Festival of Cycling will be launched on the evening of Friday 14 June with a 24 Hour SpinTM at LifesCycle indoor cycling studio on Newhaven Road. From there on, it’s an action-packed nine days of events, with something for everyone.

Highlights include several high-profile speakers: urban mobility expert Mikael Colville-Andersen, known as Copenhagen’s bicycle ambassador and the founder of the Cycle Chic movement, will be flying in fresh from the VeloCity conference in Vienna to give a keynote talk on Bicycle Culture by Design at the Assembly Hall on the Mound on 15 June. Wednesday 19 June brings Mark Beaumont’s highly anticipated talk at the Queen’s Hall, while Saturday 22 June offers a unique opportunity to hear from Juliana Buhring, the fastest woman to cycle the world and the first to set a world record by doing so.

The Festival offers a whole range of events, on and off the bike, from free family events such as the launch of the SKELF bike skills park planned for Braidwoods (near St Leonards) and a Cycle Speedway taster for children at Redbraes Park Cycle Speedway (both taking place on Saturday 15 June), to rides for adventurous adults such as the Edinburgh’s Hidden Mountain Biking Country ride.

There will be exhibitions of photography from Freelance Sports photographer Pete Goding, the best selling author of Mountain High and nominee for Best Illustrated Sports Book 2012, ‘From the Tour de France to Mountain High’ exhibition at Newhaven Communications. Another free photographic exhibition will be ‘Monumental Motion’ by Mikael Colville-Andersen, hosted at The Hub.

Further cultural highlights include: a display of historic cycling maps from the Bartholomew Archive at the National Library of Scotland. Bike Slam!, the world’s first ever cycling poetry slam at the Forest Café, and a performance of the poetry and music from the 1957 Flying Scot artists book, which features a crown of sonnets by Rab Wilson, a suite of music by Ben Bryden and linocut images by Hugh Bryden, all centred around a classic Scottish racing bicycle.

Outdoor philosopher Kate Rawles will be talking about her book The Carbon Cycle: Crossing the Great Divide on her journey across North America. The cinematic arts are represented with a showing of the film Janapar: Love on a Bike at the Balerno Village Screen, and a wide range of short films being shown on the Big Screen in Festival Square.

The Festival offers a series of workshops, with two free courses on nutrition and strength training for cyclists presented by Griffen Fitness. For the first time in Scotland, a unique frame-building course will be available, with expert tuition from the Bamboo Bicycle Club during the second weekend of the Festival. Other activities range from pop-up bike maintenance sessions to street performances – every facet of cycling is represented.

Saturday 22  June brings the “Heels on Wheels” Ladies Day (although everyone else is most welcome, too!), in the Meadows from 11am – 3pm. It’s free and will feature cycling demonstrations, women-specific cycling gear, inspiring speakers, cycle instructors and clubs, and coffee, cake and ice cream.

It would not be a cycling festival without some bike rides, and the Edinburgh Festival of Cycling has an abundance of them, ranging from guided bike tours to family events and sporting challenges like the Arthur’s Seat Hill Climb (with trophy). On Friday 21 June, the longest day of the year, there will be a coastal night-ride along quiet roads through East Lothian, for an early breakfast with the sunrise on the beach. Sunday 23 June concludes the festival with a bike ride bonanza, including free family rides hosted by Greener Leith and Polwarth Church, three different levels of Sky Ride (all departing from the Meadows), and finishing in style with the first Edinburgh Harris Tweed Ride.

The Edinburgh Festival of Cycling Ltd. is grateful to The City of Edinburgh Council, Alpine Bikes, the Edinburgh Bicycle Co-operative and the Embassy of Denmark, as well as a number of smaller sponsors for helping us to make this all possible.

Edinburgh Festival of Cycling programme

Tradfest: Songs of Peace and Protest/ Hope’s Beautiful Daughters.

Tradfest, the festival of traditional arts which finished at the weekend, put on a day of musical events based on campaigning and social justice as part of its programme which incorporated ‘Songs of Peace and Protest’, a singing workshop.

They also staged a concert entitled ‘Hope’s Beautiful Daughters’ which celebrated music relating tales of struggle and peace.

Donald Smith, organiser of Tradfest, spoke to The Edinburgh Reporter about the festival’s sucess and its significance. We met him at Teviot Row House, part of Edinburgh University, in the imposing wood -panelled debating chamber.

Penny Stone, a singing tutor, ran the workshop. The two and a half hour long evening concert consisted of 6 sets of performers: Karine Polwart, Isla Ratcliffe, Katarina Juvancic with guitarist Dejan Lapanga, Brian Miller and Charlie Sloane and Star Band. The show was curated by Karine Polwart and Arthur Johnstone.

The singing workshop Songs of Peace and Protest was intimate and informal. Seven of us gathered round in a circle with Penny, who had picked the huge high-ceilinged chamber as the venue due to its excellent acoustics,  and soon it was filled with beautiful music. After the introductions, Penny started off with some stretching exercises to loosen the muscles, followed by much humming. She then got the group to warm up their vocals by joining in with a song, the different parts singing responses to her part. This she said represented a call and answer. The type of song was excellent during protests because you can get an answer out of people without them even knowing the lyrics. She then proceeded to teach the well-known song ‘We Shall Overcome.’ The anthem for the American civil rights movement in the 1960s, she explained, is still used today by different protest groups.  Penny taught the technique of harmonising through this piece, with different sections of the group taking the melody and the harmony. The group harmonising began with singing the harmony in one note, and then changing to another note.

Hope’s Beautiful Daughters included songs of social and political intent. An audience of around 35 attended  the event in the Debating Hall at Teviot Row. Polwart explained that the intention was to make it feel like someone’s front room. Her beautiful voice with a strong Scots lilt took over the chamber with the first song ‘It’s Not What You’re Born With’.

This song expressed on the idea of making a difference to society through one’s talents. Her next song called ‘Better Things’ was written for a CND event, and discusses how the money that went to the Trident nuclear base could have been used for better things.

 

Most of the audience would not be described as young. Polwart explained that young people tend not to be actively political as the current generation is not as politicised these days as people once were.

However, the next musicians on stage was 16- year old Isla Ratcliffe from Edinburgh Music School with her song ‘Death Row’. Isla, who wore a black T-shirt emblazoned with the words Troy Davis. Isla has just won a national Amnesty International competition with the song which is a moving account of death row inmate Troy Davis, who vehemently protested his innocence until the very last.

The piece represents miscarriages within the justice system. Third under the stage lights was Katarina Juvancic. a young alternative and folk artiste from Slovenia. With pixie-like looks, and a long black and white figure-hugging dress, she made an impact with her strong voice and powerful themes to her songs which drew on various aspects of herself as well as on anthropology and collecting people’s stories.

She discussed the protest movement she is a part of in Slovenia, and how the artistic community rose to meet the challenge of the problems caused by economic crisis and injustices which resulted from it. Juvancic performed five songs, some in Slovenian and others in English. Many of these were based on strong women’s voices.

She said: – “They are not heard enough and I want to empower these women, as well as myself, and I want the world to see them as empowered, because they’re struggling with hardships. Society sees them as victims but they’re not, they are survivors and I want to pay tribute to their courage.” She feels the role of activists is to ‘transform the pain of society into something beautiful’.

The festival was organised by Donald Smith who is also a director of the Storytelling Centre.When asked about the success of the festival, he said: – “I think it’s a good time because the weather is beginning to improve, and the old idea of mayday and Beltane fits in with the performances in the open air. It’s not just a music festival. The idea was to involve all the arts inspired by tradition. The timing and variety of arts were the crucial difference from the festival’s predecessors, the Edinburgh Folk Festival and Ceilidh Culture. People really like the variety and mix of things.”

On the festival’s significance, he said:-”This is marvellous. It is all about the artistic values of being a community and supporting each other, and we need that now more than ever, the way the world is now. In traditional culture people celebrate community, humanity, and the wisdom in that. It is also politically important and we stand up as a community for the most victimised people.”

Smith concluded:-“Traditional arts aspire so that people are more fulfilled when they work together in a community, despite class divisions. They make everybody feel a part, and traditional culture celebrate song/society, and that is shared. There is a great sense of joy in the traditional arts, a celebration of life, the world and nature, compassion and friendliness. And we’re celebrating the beginning of spring.”

 

New Town Theatre announce 2013 Fringe programme

Today the New Town Theatre unveils a programme of Fringe debuts and international performances as part of Edinburgh International Festival Fringe running from 2-26 August 2013.

From 2 – 25 August Universal Quidem Ltd, a new partnership between Universal Arts and Quidem Productions, open the doors to ‘the most beautiful venue in the Festival’ – New Town Theatre a Freemasons’ Hall on George Street dating back to 1911.

Audiences are invited to enjoy world class artistes from across Europe and as far afield as Africa and America perform an eclectic mix of theatre, dance, music, comedy, circus and children’s shows on our two stages; Majestic and Mysterious, to which we add the historic Committee Room as a courtroom, as well as performances in the kitchen. In addition to an inside and outside bar, New Town Theatre is planning a crèche for the first time this year.

A line-up that truly has something for everyone, Universal Quidem Ltd proudly presents international star of stage and screen, Elizabeth McGovern, BBC Radio 2 legend Johnnie Walker, BAFTA nominated entertainer Richard Digance, film and TV favourites Steve Huison, Sue Cookson, Lucinda Curtis,Polly Highton and Britain’s third most performed playwright John Godber, joined by Fringe newcomers Ballet Central who performed at the 2012 Olympics, and Xara Vaughan a true chanteuse directed by Anita Dobson.

Theatre/Drama/Comedy

John Godber is back in Edinburgh after ten years with a brand new comedy, Losing The Plot, starring Steve Huison (The Full Monty) and Sue Cookson(Casualty). Jack walks out on his job, his wife and teenage children. Beside his bed are copies of Hot Sex Tips and Which Caravan magazine. Travelling Europe for three months to write his promised novel and live the life of an artist, he returns with no novel, no money and no idea why he’d left.

From the makers of the sell-out play ‘Dust’ The Oldest Man in Catford by Ade Morris in collaboration with Ralph Bernard and Quidem Productions isa touching, resonant and gently comic tale of Reg and the skeletons in his 106 year old closet.  

The Boadicea of Britannia Street by Ade Morris, in association with Ralph Bernard and Quidem Productions, sees Fran Lamb, a journalist on the Winkham Weekly Snooze, set up a creative writing group that erupts in chaos. A touching, hilarious and sassy look at life, death and love through the eyes of four women played by 2011 Best Actress at the Fringe Nominee Lucinda Curtis (Brookside), Polly Highton (Coronation Street) Lizzie Lewis and Alice Bernard.

Something’s cooking in the kitchen. The Dumb Waiter from Spartan Ensemble severs piping hot Pinter twice a day as we watch Ben and Gus await their orders. Will it boil over?

Collected Stories from Langland Productions is a thrilling and compelling story of a young writer in New York City, who comes to study with her hero and mentor. Set over 6 years, this story will chill you to the bone!

The Ball at Stephen Hawking’s is a very unusual ball. There are no rotating pairs, no decorations and no orchestra. But then the sexuality of people with disabilities is still a taboo subject. Ball At Hawking’s is an empathetic, unfettered and inclusive performance from Teatr Arka of Poland.

Dance

Be Captivated is Ballet Central’s Festival debut. Bringing a dynamic programme that won roars of appreciation at 2012 Olympics. Their brilliant, vibrant, versatile dancers will thrill audiences of all ages.

Fait Accompli’s Ballesque is dance at its most daring and seductive. Classically trained dancers combine ballet and burlesque in a sensuous display of bodies and music, all performed with a heady dose of wit.  Think high heels, husky cabaret singers, gaggles of male cygnets and a fan dance ménage a trois…

Two Pentacles flamenco hiphopera She Dances With Fate is the tale of a superbeing of fire, pursued by the Phoenix and the King of Dreams. Her path is savage as Time and Fate take their vengeance upon her.

Pearlesque from B’rillart Production KFT highlights the different faces of the Modern Woman: Alternately Seductive, Innocent, Dominant, Sensual, Passionate, Flirtatious, Powerful, Joyful, Sweet, Lovely. Pearlesque brings back the sexy entertainment with charm, elegance and wit.

Music

Fronted by Downton Abbey’s star Elizabeth McGovern (Lady Cora), Sadie and The Hotheads bring a brilliant fusion of folk and country to the Fringe for the first time. See the Countess as you’ve never seen her before!

Richard Digance makes his Edinburgh debut and headlines at Britain’s biggest folk festival at Cropredy this summer! 22 gigs and a guarantee that each show will be different, he promises certain old favourites and brand new material.

In another Fringe debut, Xara Vaughan is a true chanteuse born out of talent and circumstance. Former Stingfellows Angel, Punk singer and Buddhist nun, Xara is the genuine article. Musical direction and arrangements by Mark Aspinall with a little helping hand from lifelong friend Anita Dobson.

John Watterson is superb as Jake Thackray, one of Britain’s best loved singer/songwriters who performed weekly to millions on Esther Rantzen’s That’s Life, even though he hated fame. If you were one of the millions of fans he shunned, then Lah Di Dah – The Rise, Demise and Songs of Jake Thackray is a must see.

For one night only, Samba Sene & Diwan perform Africa Live! with authentic Senegalese Afrobeats, a pinch of ska and irresistible dance grooves from special guest musicians and dancers.

Talk/Interactive

Join BBC Radio 2 legend Johnnie Walker on his first visit to Edinburgh. The original pirate DJ on Radio Caroline, Johnnie is widely regarded as one of the finest radio interviewers today. He escapes the studio to uncover the real person behind the celebrity in a series of revealing, thought provoking and at times hilarious interviews from the world of music, arts, sports and politics.

Award-winning 2011 Fringe sell-out Silence In Court from EmeraldBLUE is back. Charles Brand is charged with raping Jennifer Lyons. Is he guilty or not guilty? Only you, the jury, can decide…in our courtroom somewhere, anywhere.

Children’s/Circus/Puppetry

Interactive children’s musical War of the Worms, from bestselling children’s author and singer Richard Digance, is full of gooey, gungy fun, telling the story of the first little creatures on earth who still survive having won the War of the Worms. Suitable for 6 -11 year olds.

In a sea of irreverent chaos and a world of knots, aerialists, acrobats and magicians twist and bend the frontiers of reality. Noodles, from the highly acclaimed NoFit State Circus, is the perfect lunch time dish; light-hearted and surreal with a side of complete madness.

The great puppet master, Philippe Genty, invites you to join Ulysses and his shipmates for an incredible journey – a Dustpan Odyssey. The wittiness of the text meets the virtuosity of object and puppet manipulation in this creative adaptation of Homer’s Odyssey.

Universal Quidem Chairman, Ralph Bernard CBE, commented: “After the success of ‘Dust’ in 2011, we couldn’t wait to get back to Edinburgh and I’m delighted with our creative partnership with Universal Arts Festival. With Tomek Borkowy’s 23 years’ experience of running Festival venues and the beauty and versatility of Freemasons’ Hall, we’re looking forward to delighting performers and audiences alike. To have secured John Godber’s first play in Edinburgh for 10 years is a major coup, and we’re sure Festival audiences will welcome Richard Digance and Johnnie Walker on their Edinburgh debuts.”

With 426 shows and some of the biggest names in entertainment, the New Town Theatre will be a destination venue at this year’s Fringe.

For all New Town Theatre Fringe programme listings and ticket bookings, please visit: www.newtownedfringe.com

 

Imaginate Festival 6-31 May 2013

This year’s Imaginate Festival, Scotland’s international festival of performing arts for children and young people, runs this week until Monday 13 May 2013 at venues across Edinburgh.

Now in its 24th year, the Imaginate Festival will present thirteen productions from Scotland, England, Europe and USA, including a programme of international dance and new commissions by Scottish choreographers. Selected productions will also go on tour to various locations throughout Scotland.

This year’s programme includes productions from six different countries: from Belgium, Compagnie ChaliWaté present Îlo (for everyone 5+); from England, Bootworks Theatre present The Incredible Book Eating Boy (for everyone 4 – 7 years) and Unicorn Theatre present Something Very Far Away (for everyone 8+); from Ireland, Branar Téatar do Pháistí present Mise – The Story of A Girl (for everyone 6+); from the Netherlands Arch 8 Dance Group present their double bill of dance duets, No Man is an Island and My True North (for everyone 8+); Het Lab Utrecht present Alles (for everyone 4 -7 years) and Maas theater en dans present Wanted: Rabbit (for everyone 3 – 5 years) and, from USA, The Robot Planet present The Intergalactic Nemesis – Live-Action Graphic Novel. Book One: Target Earth (for everyone 8+).

As always, outstanding work produced by Scottish companies for children and young people is represented at Festival this year:

Curious Seed present Chalk About (for everyone 8+), a playful, funny and sometimes moving look at how we see ourselves and others, featuring dance and chat and devised and performed by Christine Devaney and Leandro Kees.

National Theatre of Scotland present a new adaptation of The Day I Swapped My Dad For Two Goldfish, a delightful show which is a little bit about being a sibling and a little bit about being a genius (for everyone 6 – 10 years), based on the book by Neil Gaiman and Dave McKean, created by Lu Kemp (One Thousand Paper Cranes, Titus) and Abigail Docherty (One Thousand Paper Cranes) and written by Oliver Emanuel (Titus).

Shona Reppe presents the award-winning The Curious Scrapbook of Josephine Bean (for everyone 7+), a beautiful and intriguing show where slowly, page-by-page, a scrapbook becomes the window into a secret world as a curious life unfolds before us.

Culture Secretary Fiona Hyslop said:- “Imaginate enriches children’s lives, supports their development and can unlock their creative potential. The festival supports Scotland’s economy and helps to promote our nation’s rich culture, heritage and distinct identity on the world stage.

“That is why, through our Expo Fund, the Scottish Government has awarded £70,000 towards a week long programme of the best international dance for young audiences, featuring new commissions by Scottish choreographers and a concentrated professional development programme for dance artists.”

Iain Munro, Director of Creative Development at Creative Scotland said:- “Once again the Imaginate Festival will present a brilliant mix of shows and activities from leading Scottish and international companies that will delight young children and their families. For some of the audience it might be the first time in their lives they’ve been in a theatre – a fantastic introduction to the enjoyment and new ways to learn and see the world that the arts brings. There are also superb opportunities for those working in, or with aspirations to work in, children’s theatre to develop and share skills and ideas as part of a festival which continues to play a major role in Scotland remaining a world leader in presenting and creating children’s theatre.”

Tony Reekie, Festival Director said:- “A warm welcome to young and old, big and small,to enjoy and celebrate the world’s best work for children and young people. We think we have a broad and exciting mix  this year to suit every taste!”

Full details and a downloadable Imaginate Festival brochure can be read below:-

Imaginate Festival 2013 Brochure

Daniel Sloss coming to Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2013

DANIEL SLOSS – STAND-UP

Venue: EICC (Venue 150)

Dates: Friday 2 to Sunday 25 August 2013 (not Wednesday 21 August)

Time: 8.30pm (9.30pm)

DANIEL SLOSS – EXTRA WEEKEND SHOWS at 10.00pm on 9 +10, 16 +17, 23 +24 August

Venue tickets: 0844 847 1639  / www.venue150.com

Edfringe: www.edfringe.co.uk / 0131 226 0000

(BSL interpreted Thursday 15 & Saturday 24 (8.30pm show only)

After a massive year of live touring, television, his debut DVD release and parties, comes the new stand-up show from comedy’s internationally acclaimed and award-winning half-man-half-Xbox.

Daniel started performing stand-up aged only 16 and has appeared on Michael McIntyre’s Comedy Roadshow, 8 Out of 10 Cats, Rob Brydon Show, Jason Manford’s Comedy Rocks, Comic Relief’s Mock The Week, Paul O’Grady Show (Daniel’s TV debut aged 18), Comedy Store, BBC’s Stand Up For Sport Relief, Set List, Russell Howard’s Good News, as well as starring in his own BBC show, The Adventures Of Daniel (aged just 19). In 2012 he was invited to give a prestigious Tedx talk – a serious yet comedic presentation – this has since become something of an internet sensation for Tedx with an unusually large number of hits.

In August 2008, at just 17, Daniel became one of the youngest-ever finalists in the UK’s premiere national comedy competition So You Think You’re Funny? In 2009 his first-ever solo show, Teenage Kicks, premiered at the Edinburgh Fringe, selling out the run and transferring to London for his debut at the prestigious Soho Theatre whereupon he became the youngest-ever stand-up to perform solo both at the theatre and in the West End. That September he also made his national television debut as the first stand-up to perform on Ch4’s Paul O’Grady Show. In 2010 his new solo Fringe show My Generation also sold out its entire season. His 2011 show The Joker was likewise a total smash-hit,selling out a 4 week run at Assembly’s new 400 seat venue. This show subsequently played to great audiences and acclaim across the UK in a 50 date tour produced by Live Nation after they took him on as their youngest solo comedy client. Similarly his 2012 Fringe show with minimalist title The Show also later toured the UK with over 50 dates.

Daniel has also toured internationally throughout Sweden, Norway, South East Asia and Australia. In 2012 he was invited to perform a solo season at the prestigious Montreal Just For Laughs comedy festival and he has starred at Festivals including Rockness, Latitude and in 2013 Altitude (Comedy & snowboading in Austrian alps alongside John Bishop and Eddie Izzard… Sloss featured in ITV2s doc about this years event)

His debut live stand-up DVD Daniel Sloss – Live! (recorded at Glasgow’s Kings Theatre) was released on 2Entertain in the autumn of 2012 and in 2011 he won Best New Comedian at the Scottish Variety Awards.

Daniel is touring the UK throughout 2013-2014.  For tour dates  www.livenation.co.uk

DANIEL SLOSS ONLINE: www.danielsloss.com | Facebook: Daniel-Sloss | Twitter: @daniel_sloss

 

Tradfest: The Story of Scotland’s Creation

The audience at this Tradfest event learned how Scotland came to be formed in the new telling of the 3,000 year old myth of the Cailleach, or old hag,  who, it is believed, created Scotland.  The storytellers brought the tale to life through wonderful narration, bright costumes and traditional music.

Taking place at the Storytelling Centre, the myth was narrated by Janis McKay and David Campbell. The hour-long performance was accompanied by renowned traditional Scottish musician Allan MacDonald.   The performers aim is for the story to become part of the ‘yes’ campaign on Scottish Independence, getting their inspiration from the Finnish Creation Myth, Kalevala, which helped Finland’s  independence from  Russia .

Janis McKay took centre stage looking dramatic in a flowing floor length turquoise gown, embroidered with Celtic designs. After an introduction to the evening, she explained how the story was put together through research and with guidance from Campbell. He was fittingly resplendent in traditional highland costume, complete with a bright yellow shirt and red necktie, costumes which set the atmosphere for the night’s theme. Campbell narrated the story alongside Mackay, also taking the part of the male role of the young prince.

She then introduced MacDonald, describing him as a “wonderful musician”, to which he replied “And she’s an awful woman!” to roars of laughter from the audience made up of people of all ages and cultures, and with the theatre full to capacity.

The stage was now set for a light-hearted and entertaining evening, as the audience settled down in expectation, and the lights dimmed. In fact, MacDonald, from his place at the side of the stage, did indeed transpire to be a wonderful musician, evoking a sense of Scotland’s natural beauty, the mist over the mountains and scenic lochs through several traditional instruments. These included the smallpipes, Jew’s harp and malodoan, with Campbell weaving music into the storytelling with an obvious talent and skill.

MacKay began the narration of the tale by explaining how the story of Cailleach, the ancient hag who created the nation, unfolded. We learned how she had been living and working in Finland, when she came across the work of Elias Lonnrot, who had gathered and wrote a creation myth for the country in the 19^th Century. She said:-”While I was there I asked what is the Scottish original myth?” She then started to do research into  this, and explained:- “I was guided by David Campbell, and we found this Earth Cailleach figure. What you will hear has been rescued from many tales, but the words are our own.”

She also completed the story’s setting for us, about a place called Glen Lyon in Perthshire, and which is very isolated from anywhere. Here , she said: – “The Crailleach’s little house, about four feet tall, still stands”. Campbell explained that this was where the shrine to the Crillieach (meaning old woman in Gaelic) is maintained. This has been taken outside the house and left to stand in the air for the summer until the arrival of winter, or Samhain.

She said this is  a “tribute to the goddess,” and the “longest continuing ritual in Europe”, since ancient times. Until very recently, it was carried out by a shepherd, and is now carried out by the local historical society.

We were then transported into another world  as the story progressed over the next forty- five minutes, with a genuinely infectious  sincerity and passion. This enabled the suspension of disbelief and a childlike entry into the magical world of gods and goddesses, princes, hags and strange creatures and beautiful beings.

The theme, as in the billed title, was creation. The tale of how Scotland emerged from a wasteland where there was once nothing, when the Callieach, described as “the mother goddess and creation of this land” came into being. She made “the first and ancient rock of her beloved Caledonia” which was claimed to be Iona. The story documents how she created each aspect of the country, the islands when “she gathered peats and carried them on a creel on her back. She fell, and the clods scattered, creating the islands”. mountains, the lakes and streams, were made.

Described as “the hag of winter”, she was not ready to lose her grip on the land, when one night her alter ego, Bride, the goddess of spring, came into existence, through a dreamlike vision.  Bride threatened to uproot the Cailleach’s cold supremacy her with her youthful beauty.

For Bride, flowers and grass grow everywhere she walks.  The Calleach becomes inflamed, and therefore dresses her in rags, enslaves, then imprisons her, “but her beauty never faded”. Angus Og, the prince of the eternally youthful and green land of Tir Na Nog, sees what is happening in a dream and sets off towards her.

The Cailleach then washed her plaid, and to dry it out, threw it over the mountaintops, coating the land in ice and darkness.  She sees a beautiful young face in her well, perhaps a younger version of herself. The prince soon arrives, and a battle ensues. He tells her:- “Begone, begone, your time has come”, portraying the eternal struggle between life and death.

The Cailleach had no intention of growing old gracefully, but is finally defeated and driven away to her isle in the west.  She eventually comes to realise what she has become, when she speaks to the tide about “how she is no longer mighty.”

The story ends when Bride then “took the outstretched hand of Angus and walked into the living Earth”, and flowers grew behind their footsteps.

With regard to the ‘yes’ campaign,  Campbell spoke to The Edinburgh Reporter explaining the nationalist aim for the story.  He explained:- The Finnish story was part of the thing which galvanised the sense of belonging, that traditional independence lives in the heart and spirit of the people.”

He continued:-We aim to support the ‘yes’ campaign where we can through performances for example at the Edinburgh Fringe. The tale spreads a sense of the legend and story of people, and if people get that strong feeling, then that belongs to our destiny.”

“You can gather people’s support in elections or “win by poetry” as its beautiful sense speaks to the heart, spirit and imagination, but once the support is there, you rule by prose.”

For more information, visit:

http://www.daviddcampbell.co.uk/about-me.htm

http://www.janismackay.com/about-me/

 

Photos courtesy of Mike Wilkinson and Catriona Murray

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