Festival Events 2017
An Evening of Remembrance
A quiet place, a memory space.
This will be an evening to remember our loved ones who have died, how they shaped our lives and their continuing place in our lives now.
This will be a reflective and uplifting evening of storytelling and gentle activities. People will be free to share, or sit quietly in our company to reflect on their memories.
The evening will begin with inspiration from poet and storyteller Margot Henderson. We will then have a chance to hang a memory on the memory tree, light a candle, walk the spiral.
There will be a space for small mementos we can bring along - a photo, a book, a song - which capture the essence of the person for us.
Monday 6 November, 7pm-9.30pm (end time flexible)
Eden Court (Maclean Room), Bishops Road, Inverness, IV3 5SA
Free entry, please register if possible by emailing or calling 0300 102 4444.
To Absent Friends Community Supper
Share stories over a simple three course meal. The evening will be interspersed with entertainment from local artists, reflecting on loss through music, poetry and storytelling, featuring:
- cat loud, cabaret singer
- donald smith, storyteller and director of the scottish storytelling centre
- max scratchmann, spoken word artist
All are welcome - invite some people you'd like to spend the evening with, book a table, and raise a toast to Absent Friends. Your table will your own space to remember people who have died who are important to you - with friends, family or work colleagues.
7pm for 7.30pm start, Tuesday 7 November, Broughton St Mary's Parish Church Hall, Edinburgh. £6.00, BYOB. More information here.
Photo credit: Snookie Mono
Storytelling with Learning Differently Theatre
Learning Differently Theatre, Fife's theatre company for adults with additional support needs, will be hosting a special storytelling session for the To Absent Friends Festival. We'll be celebrating the lives of those we love who are no longer with us, with a focus on sharing fun and laughter.
Learning Differently Theatre performers will be joined by professional storytellers from Suit and Pace Storytelling, offering tales told with a mix of voice, visuals and movement.
There will also be open mic slots available for audience members. The session is open to the public (all under 16s must be accompanied by an adult) and is free (no booking required).
Tuesday 7 November, 4.30-6pm
Lochgelly Centre, KY5 9RD
Marie Curie: Telling Stories To Keep Memories Alive
Marie Curie are holding an informal evening event to remember Absent Friends. During the evening there will be live music from a range of artists along with light refreshments. Storytellers and poets will be available to help people to celebrate and share their stories. Attendees will also be able to speak to Marie Curie staff and volunteers and other people who have been bereaved.
People are encouraged to bring a memento, object or photo that reminds them of their loved one for the table of memories. There will also be an Absent Friends tree. Calligrapher Martin Hensey will be writing the names of absent friends on leaf shaped paper for you to hang on the tree. These can be taken home at the end of the evening together with an origami daffodil by local artist Aidan Wright. Materials and resources will be provided.
Wednesday 8 November, 7pm - 9pm
City Chambers, 253 High Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1YJ
Musical Afternoon To Absent Friends
Breathe Easy Clackmannanshire are hosting a musical afternoon dedicated to Absent Friends.
Sauchie Community Choir, under conductor Craig Miller, will entertain members and guests with music from their Singing for Memories Programme.
Members of Breathe Easy Clackmannanshire will also sing, supported by Carole Clarke who instructs the group on the benefits of singing for Lung Health.
Thursday 9 November, 2pm – 4pm
St. Mungo’s RC Church Hall, Mar Street, Alloa, FK10 1HR
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