Storytelling festival set for Livingston

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Livingston will be home to tall tales, fabulous fiction, and amazing anecdotes this summer with the launch of a new storytelling festival organised by local social enterprise, Spark.Plans are being made for a week-long festival in June that will include a series of events in local venues, aimed mainly at children with stories told in a range of formats, including book and poetry readings, plays, music and films.There will also be a series of workshops for individuals and families to enjoy during the school holidays including with animation by Aardman Animations, creators of 'Wallace and Gromit'.Spark, whose aim is to reduce loneliness and social isolation by providing activity groups,trips, events, and volunteering opportunities, has appointed local storyteller, narrator and public speaker Colin Williamson as a diversity and inclusion ambassador.Colin has dyslexia and autism and he uses his storytelling skills to help spread awareness of the conditions.Spark is asking for volunteers and storytellers to get in touch and join a working group that will meet later this month to plan and finalise arrangements.Chief executive Jane Deary said: “We would like to showcase the rich tapestry of occupations available to our young people and older generations.“People who may wish to train and gain the skills and experience to fulfil careers linked to their passions.

There is a wider world of possibility than the lived experience to date and stories are a window to that wider world.“Spark aims to bring together those willing to share their stories to be the catalyst to that window of opportunities.“The stories may be written, spoken, sung or in film.