Anderson's Primary takes part in The Scottish International Storytelling Festival

PUPILS at a local school have been taking part in The Scottish International Storytelling Festival.

Anderson's P3 and 4 classes have welcomed visits from storyteller and percussionist, Carol Scorer, and her unique style of interactive sessions.

Carol told the first session two stories: the first was a traditional Scots tale about the seasons put together from parts of stories she had heard, mainly 'Bride and Angus'.

The second was Canadian, from the indigenous people, called 'The Man Who Met The Sun'.

Carol said: "I tend to get my listeners to come along in the story by playing percussion, take the part of characters, via call and response, or by asking them for input. I invite them to become part of the story. I like to get heart to heart and eye to eye whenever possible!"

She added: "I'm searching for that moment where we all go into another world, where the imagination allows us to go beyond the ordinary. I try to create whole new worlds with different layers which has a great impact on the listener's imagination.

"I would love to host more local storytelling events in the future."

The Scottish International Storytelling Festival invites storytellers and musicians to share tales, anecdotes, music, songs and ballads through performance, workshops, talks and children’s events.

A festival spokesperson explained: "Storytelling is not a form of theatre - of course its entertainment, but it’s not a passive art form. The audience are part of the performance. The imagination of the audience is central to the performance and is what creates the true storytelling experience.

This year, the theme is to celebrate cultural diversity and to find connections between the oral traditions of Scotland and Canada.

'Beyond Words', the community programme, is an invitation to go beyond the written word and bring stories to life without books, told, "eye to eye, mind to mind and heart to heart".

Carol is a member of the Scottish Storytelling Forum and, using words and rhythm, she took the Anderson's pupils on an imaginary journey through a landscape of myth and legend:

"Deep in the highest mountain of the land lives the Queen of Winter who will not give up her reign to the King and Queen of Spring without a furious fight."

In another story: "From another land, a young man with a scarred face must sets off on an impossible quest to meet the Sun himself."

P3 teacher, Miss Webster, said: "Carol was very engaging using tone and gesture to hook the children into her story. They listened intently and thoroughly enjoyed the use of percussion to create the ambiance of the story.

"It linked very well with Scottish Book Week."

Alicia Hay (7) said: "I enjoyed that she introduced herself well with little rhymes and was very kind."

Dylan Wood (7) loved playing the instruments during the story.

And Emmy Bremner (7) added: "I enjoyed using the instruments and the first story was very good to listen to."