I forgot to take pictures so this is an illustration from Ainsley McIntosh's paper on Scott's lighthouse journal: 'Robert Stevenson, 1772 to 1850. Lighthouse engineer' by John Syme. (National Galleries of Scotland) #bars2026

Anna Fancett@annafancett.bsky.social · 3w ago

I was only able to go to one day of the @bars.bsky.social conference but what a day it was! I presented on narrative voice in Walter Scott's The Pirate; learnt about Scott's Lighthouse Journal, the interactions between scientists and artists, Romantic drama etc.; and met some fabulous scholars!

I was only able to go to one day of the @bars.bsky.social conference but what a day it was! I presented on narrative voice in Walter Scott's The Pirate; learnt about Scott's Lighthouse Journal, the interactions between scientists and artists, Romantic drama etc.; and met some fabulous scholars!

I'm on my way to #bars2026! I can only come for a day so I am planning on making my most of absolutely everything!

Bilbo Baggins: I'm Going on an Adventure!

Alt: Of a gif of Bilbo Baggins running between a gap between rolling green hills with the caption: I'm Going on an Adventure!

static.klipy.com

I loved sharing information about audio description at Aberdeen Performing Arts yesterday. We talked about who might use audio description, what to expect if you come to an audio described show, and what audio describers do. Then there was time to ensure everyone could use the headsets and app.

Want to find out more about audio description? Come along to Aberdeen's information session on the 25th July where I will lead you through all things theatre audio description. The event is free but ticketed: www.aberdeenperformingarts.com/whats-on/hmt...

I am on my way to an academic writing retreat where I will (hopefully) finish my overdue Walter Scott companion. And my early morning cosy mystery opens with a quote from Walter Scott. It's a good omen, I think.

"We are happy in the house," the audience sang to me as I told a brand new (to me) story with a lovely little sung chorus peppered throughout. As I can't hold a tune, the band and audience helped me out. I learnt the story from Grace Banks especially for this event. 1/2

Romanticism colleagues, I am still looking for a poetry contributor for the Year's Work in English Studies. If anyone is interested, please contact me! #romanticism

Call for Expressions of Interest: Sarah Burdett and Diane Piccitto are organising a virtual reading of Joanna Baillie's 'The Family Legend', and are looking for people to contribute in any way: as audience members, readers, or creative participants. Details on the blog: www.bars.ac.uk/blog/?p=6469

Storytelling friends, I am so excited to be hosting the wonderful facilitator, Radhieka Radha! 📅 17 June 2026 🕖 7:00–8:00 pm (GMT) 💻 Online via Zoom us02web.zoom.us/j/8453692661... (Passcode: gas) Or, if you prefer use these details: Meeting ID: 845 3692 6616 | Passcode: gas (all lowercase).

Hi guys! What do you know about 18th/19th century Gothic drama? Want to know more? Want to know about one of the most popular playwrights you may never have heard of? We've got Helen Dallas' new talk on Joanna Baillie here! youtu.be/pgJGoCMk85A

Joanna Baillie: Gothic Plays and Psychological Horror with Dr Helen Dallas

YouTube video by Romancing the Gothic

youtu.be

Romanticism folks, I am looking for new contributors for The Year's Work in English Studies (YWES). YWES is an annual review of scholarly work. It's the largest & most comprehensive work of its kind. I am looking for two people to join the poetry team and one person to take over drama.

I had a fabulous time audio describing We Will Rock You at Aberdeen's HMT theatre! I've audio described dozens of musicals in my time, but this must have been one of the most joyous.

In what might have been my last time storytelling for the language cafe, we focused on volunteering. I told the story of the boy who tricked a giant with a bag of old shoes. We wrote about our experiences volunteering and matched fictional characters to local volunteering opportunities.

We had a wonderful time at last week's storytelling workshop. Trina and I led the participants through how to remember and perform a story!

Wow! The talks on Scott's lighthouse journal were amazing. From the project fellows, Hilary Clydesdale and Ainsley McIntosh, we learnt about the practicalities of paper and editoral practice; Matt Thompson explored the manuscript's journey while Anna Pilz expanded on the afterlives of the voyage;

I am excited to be on the train to hear the amazing Ainsley McIntosh and Hiliary Clydesdale present on their recent project transcribing Walter Scott's lighthouse journals. I know I will learn a lot about Scott, the Stevensons, and lighthouses, but I am hoping to also gather some new stories!

I am so excited to be co-leading this introduction to storytelling workshop! Come along to learn more about adapting, remembering and performing stories! Part of Grampian Wellbeing Festival. Venue hosted by Love RaRa. Hosted by Grampian Association of Storytellers.

I'm not sure how I feel about preparing my audio description script for 2:22 A Ghost Story completely alone, in the dark, surrounded by spooky noises, in HMT's supposedly haunted upper circle. If I survive, the audio described performance will be this Saturday matinee. #audiodescription

It was the first outing for both my Regency dress and my local history story (of the swashbuckling Excise man and forger, Malcolm Gillespie) today at The Grampian Association of Storytellers' event at Peterculter Heritage Museum.

I usually tell stories from folklore but I am exploring local history in preparation for telling at Peterculter heritage museum. Librarian Catherine at Aberdeen Central Library embarked with me on a quest to find more about notorious Exciseman, Mr Gillespie, and his fights with whisky smugglers.

I had a fantastic time at GREC's language cafe today. The theme was medicine. We did matching game and medical vocab bingo. For the story, I told Androcles and the Lion. Then everyone shared stories about sick animals or people. I was so impressed by the talent in the room! #storytelling

I am excited to be co-hosting this wellbeing story-creation session in Aberdeen on Friday!

We officially launched our language cafe toolkit today. I shared how I used storytelling to engage language learners in fun and useful activities. #storytelling

On Friday the Grampian Association of Storytellers held their monthly open mic storytelling session at the University of Aberdeen's zoology building! #storytelling

I'm back in the audio description booth this week, working with a fabulous team to provide audio description for this Saturday's matinee performance of Shawshank Redemption at HMT, Aberdeen. #audiodescription

If you're based in Aberdeen, join the Grampian Association of Storytellers for a storytelling evening at the Zoology Museum this Friday (10th April), 7 - 9 pm. Booking required: abdn.io/271 #storytelling

This afternoon, I am audio describing Friends, the Musical Parody at Aberdeen's HMT. Audio description enables visually impaired people to have the same experience as sighted people. In this case, it means that everyone can enjoy the music and laughs! #audiodescription

I love everything about this entire thread!

John Bull@garius.bsky.social · 3y ago

If you ask someone today to name the builder of Hadrian's Wall, they would give you a funny look. But historical memory is odd, and right up to the 1800s we forgot who built it. Until in 1840 John Hodgson, an obscure Northumbrian clergyman, published the LONGEST footnote in history... 1/22

"Kill your darlings" has long been a mantra in writing circles but today I applied it to storytelling. The theme at language cafe was "dancing" and I prepared a few activities, a story and a creative follow-on. However, I had to drop most of the opening activities... and it was a great success!