@ Scottish Storytelling Centre, Edinburgh, Sun 25 October 2015

The Scottish International Storytelling Festival brings together storytellers from across the globe to tell engaging, exciting and interesting stories. The theme of Stories without Borders echoes throughout the varied and extensive programme, with events from Friday 23 October until Sunday 1 November. The theme of Stories without Borders is also expressed in the early evening performance of The Bridge on the first Sunday of the Festival.

The Bridge is written, performed and produced by Annie George. She eloquently tells the story of her poet Grandfather Paduthottu Mathew John and the turmoils of his family during British rule of India in the 1940’s. Storytelling, literature, freedom and family are the main topics of the performance, which utilises the spoken word, video projections and interactive props to convey the intensely personal story.

The performance begins with a video projection of a family timeline. This image reappears throughout the duration of The Bridge and underlines the close family ties that are being presented. Annie George is an excellent storyteller who undertakes the persona of different family members throughout the show. She wears pure white clothing which acts as blank canvas for her to project the personalities of the protagonists within the story. The staging of The Bridge also helps bring it to life. George makes use of props on the stage to move the story forward and present the visceral and visually appealing nature of the show. This involves innovative use of sand to conceal and reveal various storytelling elements. The effect is truly eye catching in a narrative that celebrates literature, poetry and the spoken word

The Bridge fits perfectly with the theme of Stories without Borders. Location (specifically 1940’s India) plays a major part of the story and Annie George takes us on a journey back in time and to a different and vibrant continent. The Bridge emphasises the fantastic stories from around the world that are being presented at the Scottish International Storytelling Festival this year.