Well that’s me jist aboot recovered from Spectra Festival 2025!
Lindsey Storyteller and I had a wonderful time telling 32 stories over 4 nights to around 1500 people!
Thanks so much to everyone who came for a story – we hope we’ll see you all again next year! 
It has been some time since I last posted properly!
December and January have been full of staying inside, keeping warm and research, research, research!
I’ve not just been researching new stories, but have been working on a couple of projects – both of which I’ll post about soon. But in the meantime, here’s what I’ve got coming up!
On Sunday, 2nd February, I’m going to be joining The University of Aberdeen Confucius Institute for their Spring Family Festival to celebrate the Lunar New Year!
https://www.abdn.ac.uk/about/campus/old-aberdeen/confucius-institute/events/21363/
Activities will be split across the Elphinstone Hall (Chinese calligraphy, dress up, face painting), Zoology Museum (museum open and visit from the Critter Keeper) and The Duncan Rice Library where I’ll be telling stories and you can also visit the Imagined Norths exhibition. I’ll be telling stories from 11.30am to 12.30pm and again from 1.30 to 2.30pm.
I’ve been brushing up on all my favourite sea monsters – Jormungandr, The Mester Stoorwurm, Cetus and the sea serpent that attacked my g-g-grandfather in 1892! So come along for some tales of Myths, Monsters and the Year of the Snake.
From Thursday 6th to Sunday 9th February I’ll be telling stories at Spectra light festival once again with my pal Lindsey Gibb. The theme this year is “Journeys” so we have some amazing stories planned.
We’ll be in the Cowdray Hall from 6 to 10pm each night with stories starting at 6, 6.30, 7, 7.30, 8, 8.30, 9 and 9.30pm. Come join us! Entry will be on the corner of Schoolhill and Blackfriars Street or if you have an accessibility wristband, I expect entry will be the same as last yar – through the Art Gallery. TBC.
Have a look at their web page –
http://www.spectrafestival.com/
Here’s a link to find out about accessibility at Spectra – http://www.spectrafestival.com/accessibility-at-spectra/
After Spectra, my next public event will be at Portlethen Library on Saturday 15th February – this will be a family storytelling session targeted at children aged 5-8 years on the theme of Space! Moons, Suns, Stars and all sorts of celestial tales for all the family!
Don’t forget Spectra Festival is next week!
Spectra is Aberdeen’s Festival of Lights and this year is returning for its 10th anniversary of the first Spectra in 2014.
Lindsey Storyteller and myself will be telling tales in the Cowdray Hall between 6 and 10pm each night – some inspired by the various artworks across the city. Come hear a tale of a stubborn princess wooed by the lords of the local industries – she’d rather ignore them and hang out wi the seagulls instead!
(Now I’m getting carried away and considering Greggsy Granite, Shuggie Shipbuilder, Farquar Fash and … I don’t know. The temptation to have a golfing tycoon is huge. HUGE!)
Fizzy and Fuzzy the Fairies will be back (oh no) with a new story of their own – all about the giant beastie that rolls the sun across the sky!
It’s just over a month until Spectra Festival 2024!
I’m delighted to announce that the wonderful Lindsey Gibb will be joining me again for more tales, fun and Irn Bru Jellybabies!
We’ve been looking at the exhibits Spectra have announced and are seeing what they inspire! 
The theme this year is “Connections” and one of the art works I’m most excited to see is “Spin Me A Yarn” by Studio Vertigo which ties into a wonderful folk tale.
Fizzy and Fuzzy will undoubtedly be getting a story to themselves (as well as their own supply of sweeties)
I am (as ever!) waaay behind with my posts!
Spectra, Aberdeen’s festival of light, was as amazing as expected. Lindsey Gibb and I wonderful time telling 35 stories over 18 hours (that’s 4 evenings!) to well over 850 people. We were the first to be in the new Burns Pavillion at Union Terrace Gardens – and a great venue it was too – allowing in about 12 adults and their children (and adults that wanted to sit on the floor!) – so usually about 25-30 people. It was officially the cosiest venue at Spectra – and we had some fantastic feedback!
I won’t go on any further, as here’s some photos from Alice Merilees who took photos while we told stories!
Lindsey Storyteller and I will be telling stories for Spectra Festival this Thursday, Friday, Saturday AND Sunday until 10pm with the first story usually starting around 6.30pm.
We will be in a new venue this year! (in more ways than one)
The Burns Pavillion is the newly constructed space half way up Union Terrace Gardens just down from the Robert Burns statue on Union Terrace. We’ll be on the lower level with access from that level only.
Union Terrace Gardens is now fully wheelchair and buggy accessible so we look forward to seeing everyone in our warm, cosy storytelling space!
SEE YOU THERE!
P.S.
Sunday evening will be a relaxed session and We Too SC045895 are working in partnership with Spectra.
They will be supporting
– A visual guide
– Sensory ChillVille spaces to access
– We Too! Ninja’s – always “seen in green” with their bright green hoodies!
– Access to sensory aids (such as ear defenders or fidget toys)
and AbleDeen will be parked on Union Terrace with
– The use of mobility equipment, manually power wheelchairs, powered scooters and walking frames (equipment will be limited)
– A safe, quiet place to relax and gather your though
More information on accessibility can be found here – https://www.spectrafestival.co.uk/visitspectra
Pauline Cordiner - Scottish Storyteller 