Of Stars, Bears and the Beginning of Time

Name: Of Stars, Bears and the Beginning of Time
Genre: Storytelling
Released: 2026-11-20
Duration: 1 h

<div>An enchanting mythical journey through the celestial origin stories of the Fenno-Baltic tradition, told by Finnish-born storyteller Riikka Palonen and accompanied by folk musician Richard Clarke. </div><div><br></div><div>This performance was selected as the opening performance for the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2025, and it got a completely full house in the Edinburgh Storytelling Center.</div><div><br></div><div>Modern science tells us we were born from star dust – but how did the ancient people in the north know that, as there are so many creation myths linked to stars? Who told them these first stories? What is the origin of iron? Who married the girl from the golden egg? How was the first oak cut down? Elemental stories like these remind us that we are still equally part of this world alongside bears, cranes and wolves, and that is why it is our responsibility to take care of our amazing planet.</div><div><br></div><div>The performance takes about 1 hour, no interval. Suitable for ages 12+.</div><div><br></div><div>Riikka Palonen is a Finnish-born storyteller and artist who has moved to Scotland three years ago with her husband and performing partner Richard Clarke. Riikka has been immersed in story from a very young age. Almost as soon as she could read, she found herself transported to mythic lands, where strange creatures roam, and the next adventure is only a page- turn away – and in this place she felt that she could truly be herself. She has been passing this enchantment on to others as a professional storyteller for over 20 years. She tells traditional folk stories from the North combined to her own writing, often flavoured with her quirky humor. She is a member of The Directory of Professional Storytellers in Scotland. </div><div><br></div><div>Similarly Richard has been singing folk songs for as long as he can remember. He has always been captivated by the variety of modes and melodies of folk music, as well as the lyrics and stories contained therein. Over the years he has collected an abundance of unusual instruments to add life and depth to his performance.</div><div>When the two met in Finland, there was an immediate understanding that their worlds – the world of Folk tale and that of Folk song are two aspects of the same thing, and that they complement each other perfectly. Together Riikka and Richard carry on the oral tradition, sharing song and story to audiences across Finland, the UK and beyond.</div>StorytellingPT1H12+2026-11-20Of Stars, Bears and the Beginning of Time"Of Stars, Bears and the Beginning of Time"

Showtimes

November 20, 7:00 pm