Here’s Strawberry Moose enjoying a day trip on Wednesday – My two Promise Groups were enthusiastic, creative and joyous puppeteers!
Both groups started off with a story (the classic Stone Soup) and then had a lesson on how to effectively bring hand puppets to life. It really is SO tricky, when first picking up a puppet, to make it open its mouth for each syllable. We had a lot of fun with that.
Then both groups started creating their stories with me. They’re going to be very different from eachother and displayed in a different way – one will be a film and the other will be a storyboard (maybe with animated drawings!) watch this space!
What a lovely visit I had to Kaimhill School on Tuesday as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival’s Big Scottish Story Ripple. I told stories to two P1 classes and two P2 classes who were fantastic listeners! They really got in to stories of a king and a bee, a woman who could stitch the most amazing things, and… an affa thirsty puddock! #sisfstoryripple2025
Post edited to add:
Talking of frogs…. (see my last post) I was so happy to see this book in the P2 classroom – It used to belong to Wee Imp and she donated to Kaimhill a few years ago when she was having a clear out! The teacher said it was a favourite 🙂
Look at this suspicious bunch hanging around on a Wednesday morning… What were they up to?
Well! Seeing as you asked… They were waiting to film the introduction to my Promise Group’s story! All the pupils contributed SO well today!
– best fist bumps! – finishing last weeks shadow puppets – cutting out a few new shadow puppets and scenery – drawing some magical items for the story – recording the story introduction with the hand puppets – starting to record the audio for our film !
In doing ALL THIS today, they showed their outstanding – creativity – drawing and cutting skills – courage to speak out – voicing of characters – attention to detail – ability to learn and pronounce new words – clear and audible speech – willingness to have fun
A new project for a new term! When my pal Sarah and I over at Windswept Stories Photography were out for a walk the other month, she was telling me how she was working with care experienced children – teaching them photography skills, increasing confidence – and having fun!
“Cor. Someone should do storytelling with the groups! It’s what gave me confidence” was my response.
So a couple of months down the line, here I am working with my first group for We Care Aberdeenshire https://thepromise.scot/ #KeepThePromise #ScotlandCares
We’ve planned to
1) create a new story
2) learn to use hand puppets
3) make shadow puppets
4) film our story for the pupils ‘ grown ups, friends, and school to see.
I was so excited I had to have a lie down in the library carpet afterwards
Coming up this Sunday! I’ll be telling stories at the Craigston Carnival from 11.30am!
The event is taking place at Craigston Castle walled gardens near Turriff and runs from 10am to 4.30pm. I’ll be telling tales of bees, seeds, gardens, naughty fairies and thirsty frogs!
There’s loads more going on though – have a look at the Facebook event here https://fb.me/e/5RaPcQhgz 🙂
“Family Fun Day in the Walled Garden in the grounds of Craigston Castle! In aid of Crudie Playgroup Join us for a magical day in the beautiful Walled Garden at Craigston —packed full of activities for all ages!
What’s On? Live storytelling with the wonderful Pauline Cordiner at 11:30am An all-day scavenger hunt to keep curious minds busy Traditional games for kids (and grown-ups!) Local arts & craft stalls – perfect for finding a unique treasure Hands-on craft experiences – get creative with clay, painting & more Hot food with The Cod Father available throughout the day
Special Touches: Buzz by the on-site bee hives Access via gravel and grass. Three lengths of beautiful woodland walks ready to be explored, open all year. Portaloos available on site
Please note: no disabled toilet facilities available
We open at 10am – come early and make a day of it! More exciting details coming soon…
please note; the Castle remains private property and we ask that all visitors and vendors respect the privacy of the castle and it’s occupants.”
Wow, wow, wow! What a fantastic time I had today at the Tall Ships! I had three sets on the Family Stage at Blaikies Quay and despite a rainy start, there was soon a super audience for my first set! Elsie the fishwife joined me to tell the story of a grumpy fishwife and there was time at the end for a tale from the Arabian Nights of a fisherman and a genie!
Then for the second and third sets, I was joined by Sam Stephen, Makaton interpreter extraordinaire! Fizzy the Fairy had to get a story in there of course – with her help (and Sam’s!) we told a version of Mark Fraser’s Flotsam Fairy which went down very well! After that it was… plain sailing. And we had a whale of a time. (And many other fish related puns)!
Thanks to The Tall Ships Aberdeen for having us along to perform and to WeToo for organising Sam’s interpretation for the audience!
Of course it would be totally in character for me to have taken NO PHOTOS AT ALL (well – not of the storytelling) – so here’s an image of Fizzy the Fairy in the new outfit she unveiled this weekend. Yes! She’s gone all nautical (makes a change from naughty)
After stories (and moths!) at Forvie, we sped off to Stonehaven for Friday evening’s family storytelling at Stonehaven Tolbooth Museum. (Thanks for hosting folks!) The weather was hot and sunny and the harbour area was busy with families and folks enjoying the sun and music and I had a fantastic crowd for tales of the sea, lifeboat men and salty old sea dogs!
On Saturday I started the day with a couple of workshops – Sea Shanties for Families in which the attendees (from an 8 week old to the gent who knew ALL the calls and responses – thankyou sir!) amazed me with their enthusiasm and vocal skills. (In return they were entertained by the sight of me drinking water out of a massive jug because I’d forgotten my water bottle oh well.)
– Then family storytelling where I must apologise for the biological details of septicaemia – it was all in context of a very bad joke spun out into a 20 minute story… honest!
On Saturday evening I had a fantastic audience for Adults Only storytelling at the 65 Club. Thanks so much everyone for coming along and I hope you enjoyed the mix of spooky and ridiculous!
On Sunday afternoon I had a dedicated group of Shadow Puppet Makers who went above and beyond on the design – this deserves a post of its own (pics and vid to follow!)
Today I’m having a wee rest before tomorrow’s tour and storytelling session at Peterhead, Wild About Aden on Thursday and the Tall Ships on Saturday!
(Must also mention how much we enjoyed The World Paper And Comb Championship – of which Wee Imp is now the Junior Champion, hehe; the Aquaceilidh at Stonehaven Open Air Pool and I must also thank everyone at @Stonehaven & District Mens Shed for running such a great camp site for the Festival!)
A couple of photos from my visit to St Cyrus National Nature Reserve last Sunday! Elsie the Fishwife and I met some braw fowk and told some local tales, fisherfolk stories and stories about the local wildlife.
…. And I’ll be back at St Cyrus National Nature Reserve on Sunday 27th October for a couple of Halloween sessions – one for the kids, and one Adults Only with stories unsuitable for under 16s.
Oh fit a lovely time Fizzy the Fairy and I had yesterday at Banff Castle – Banffshire!! Such a lovely audience of giggling grown ups, bubbly bairns and totty-wee toddlers who joined in with stories of daft loons, funny fairies and princely puddocks!
Banff Castle is delighted to host a special afternoon of traditional family storytelling on Sunday 1 st September 2024, featuring the popular storyteller Pauline Cordiner.
This magical event will offer two sessions at 2:00 pm and 3:00 pm, promising to delight audiences of all ages with a rich array of Scottish tales.
Pauline Cordiner shared her excitement about the event, saying, “I’m going to be telling tales of frustrating Fairies, Lucky Loons and Contermacious Coos!”
Known for bringing a wide variety of stories to life, Pauline’s storytelling repertoire includes traditional Scottish folklore, fairy tales, creation myths and her own original works. Her performances are further enriched by her passion for science, history and the environment, making them not only entertaining but also educational.
A celebrated storyteller with deep roots in the fishing and farming traditions of the North East of Scotland, Pauline is known for her engaging and interactive style. She often incorporates
traditional Scots songs and bothy ballads into her performances, using music, puppets and costumes to create a dynamic storytelling experience that encourages audience participation and leaves a lasting impression. A spokesperson for Banff Castle remarked, It’s going to be a wonderful interactive experience and we positively encourage our audience to come along dressed as their favourite fairy, wizard, or witch.”
Event Details:
Date: Sunday, 1st September 2024
Time: Sessions at 2:00 pm and 3:00 pm
Location: Banff Castle, Banff, Scotland
Tickets for this family-friendly event are on sale now and can be purchased here:
Don’t miss the chance to immerse yourself in the magic of traditional Scottish storytelling at Banff Castle. For media inquiries, please contact: info@banffcastle.com
About Banff Castle: Banff Castle is a historic venue located in the heart of Banff, Scotland. It hosts a variety of cultural and community events throughout the year, offering a unique setting that blends history with contemporary activities.
About Pauline Cordiner: Pauline Cordiner is a storyteller with over two decades of experience, known for her engaging and interactive performances that draw from the rich storytelling traditions
of the North East of Scotland. She is passionate about sharing tales that entertain, educate, and connect with audiences of all ages.
Pauline Cordiner - Scottish Storyteller 