Storm and Shore

Commissioned especially for Scotland's Year of Stories, Storm and Shore connects the west coast of Scotland's rich mythological past with the present day. When artist Lucy Salter comes to a remote Argyll coastline she aims to connect with nature in its wild state. Aid worker Dave McArthur is fleeing traumatic conflict. But they have both ventured into a borderland, layered by history, migration and repressed violence. It is a liminal place, storied by centuries of settlement and travel. Yet local tradition bearers, bard and seannachaidh, can channel the past. From these hauntings, a storytelling tapestry is woven from the sea, nature myth and weather. The long roots of our global crisis are laid bare in landfalls, wherein the crucible of Gaelic tradition, creatures of the sea meet the shore.

Donald Smith is an accomplished storyteller in a variety of media from fiction to digital, live stage and spoken word. He has produced, adapted or directed over 100 plays, and published a series of novels on turning points in Scottish history. He has also written a series of non-fiction books on Scottish culture including Storytelling Scotland (2001). He is a founding member of the Scottish Storytelling Forum, Edinburgh's Guid Crack Club and is currently Chief Executive of TRACS (Traditional Arts and Culture Scotland) which brings together Scotland's traditional arts, as well Director of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival.