The Portobello Book Festival is a free, volunteer led, community festival with events held over the first weekend of October every year. I have been a member of the organising committee for the past three years. The events are always about more than just books and authors: they are about bringing people together and engaging with the community. This year I wanted to explore that aspect of bringing people together with the events I organised. I have been interested in traditional Scottish storytelling and oral culture since I studied it in my undergraduate degree. It is something I feel passionately about supporting and promoting, which is why I was glad to note that my event Myths and Fables was particularly successful.
The event was hosted at Portalibri, a local second-hand bookshop whose quirky vibe made the perfect setting. A handful of mismatched chairs and armchairs with small side tables that evoked the homely feeling of someone’s living room faced the authors in a small nook of the shop overflowing with books and warmth, giving the event an intimate atmosphere. The event was held in the evening which, combined with the warmth emanating from the shop, meant several passers-by stopped in and came to join the audience.
The storytelling session was magical. It featured three professional storytellers; Janis MacKay, Alice Fernbank and Svend Erik Engh who shared tales from Scotland and Denmark.
It was amazing to see their different storytelling styles come alive, in the same way every author has a distinct style! As the three storytellers have different repertoires, there was a great variety in the tales being told which in turn really engaged the audience. There is something so pure and joyful about watching performances like these. Oral tradition is more than just storytelling; its various forms came into play in this session. Janis MacKay had the audience singing a selkie song to frame her story. This beautiful moment allowed everyone to feel like they were part of the legend and made it an immersive experience.
If you’re interested in attending a storytelling event, don’t miss the upcoming Scottish International Storytelling Festival which will run in the last week of October. The Scottish Storytelling Centre also has events on all year round and plays a vital role in preserving and sharing this wonderful aspect of Scottish culture!
Sources
“About us.” The Scottish Storytelling Centre, 2026. https://www.scottishstorytellingcentre.com/about-us/. Accessed 16 October 2026.
