The Poetry Place has been organised in partnership with Lapidus Scotland, an organisation for creative writing and reading for well-being and health.

Blether Tay-Gither is a group of people who love telling and listening to stories and who aim to bring stories to the wider community. True storytelling happens when the story is told person to person, live, without print or technology, “eye to eye, mind to mind, and heart to heart." (Scottish Traveller Proverb) The emphasis in traditional storytelling is as much on the telling as the story. Stories are recreated by the teller at each telling and passed on through generations. Stories are one of the most basic ways that we create living links to our past and to people and cultures all around the world. And they are great entertainment for all ages!

THE POETRY PLACE

A Place Apart will occupy a quiet corner in the unfinished Memorial Chapel. Here we will share poems, stories and music that connects us to the natural world, focusing on the uniqueness of places and taking delight in being alive in the here and now.

We open the programme on Friday 23rd July with Trio Verso and Brian Johnstone reading his poetry to improvised music from Richard Ingham (saxophone, bass clarinet) and Louise Major (double bass). 7pm to 8pm.

There are three venues: the Memorial Chapel, the Lapidus Poetry Tent and the Blethertay-gither Yurt. Enjoy!

Goddess in the Landscape

Out and about in the Big Tent site, Stuart McHardy will be telling some Cailleach and Bride (goddess) stories as well as a few tales about the Nine Maidens, Carlin Maggie and great stories of powerful/big women within Scottish traditions. You will find Stuart by the Big Lady (she can't be missed, she's with the Pink Ladies).

About the Poets....

Anna Crowe: poet, translator and creative writing tutor living in St. Andrews. Anna co-founded StAnza, the St Andrews poetry festival, and was Artistic Director for its first seven years. Her published work includes Punk with Dulcimer (Peterloo, 2005).

Mandy Haggith: an extraordinarily talented writer of poetry, prose and fiction as well as being a "cybercrofter" in Assynt and passionate campaigner on behalf of the worlds forests. Her first poetry collection, Castings (Two Ravens Press 2007) was widely acclaimed.

Jane Lewis is a song leader with Protest in Harmony radical street choir.

Brian Johnstone: co-founder and until this year Festival Director of StAnza. Brian will be reading from his new collection of poems, The Book of Belongings (Arc, 2009), as well as performing with Trio Verso on Friday night.

Gerry Loose: a "slow-moving nomad", lives in Glasgow, writes poems and makes gardens; his poems are as often found planted in gardens as on the printed page. His most recent collection of poems is that person himself (Shearsman 2009), and he is currently working on a book about Sunart oakwoods, Ardnamurchan.

Kenneth Steven's poetry and prowse takes its inspiration from the land, especially remote places, and from local traditions. Based in Perthshire, he has published seven poetry collections, most recently Island (Saint Andrew Press, 2009). He has a collection of short fiction coming out this year, The Ice and other stories (Argyll Publishing 2010).

Tessa Ransford: Founder/Director of the Scottish Poetry Library, Tessa has numerous published poetry collections, including Not Just Moonshine (Luath, 2008). She is a freelance poetry adviser and practitioner, with special interest in relating poetry to those working creatively in other fields. In the adjacent Lapidus poetry tent there will be workshops on writing poetry of place - culminating each day with open-mic sessions in the chapel for new poets to read their work.

Larry Butler is a director of Bodhi Eco project, convenor for Lapidus Scotland, poet and Tai Chi Teacher.

Margot Henderson is a Poet, Storyteller and Community Activist.  She was a Storyteller in Residence for Coral Arts Environmental Theatre company, Storytelling Fellow for Aberdeen and Writer in Residence for Cromarty Arts Trusts.  She is currently studying for a Bee A!

Chik Duncan is a Performance Poet and Storyteller.  He first performed the Smelly Wellie Tele Show in Eskdalemuir Primary School in March 2004 and since then his wellies have been smelly at the Galloway Children's Festival, The Glasgow Comedy Festival, and a yurt in the front garden of a Tibetan Buddhist Monastery.

Louise K Wilson and David Chapman are sound artists who have spent two years researching the sonorous landscape of Falkland Estate. They will be talking about their work and showing pieces including Cascading.

Margot Henderson will be bringing storytelling and poetry for children