Elisabeth Flett
Atop a far-off mountain, Cailleach and Bodach go about their ancient, time-worn routines. There are paths to walk. There is a fire to be built. There are dreams to sort. There are birds to be fed, and every bird has a story as well as a song. In this new Harebell Tellers production, traditional storytellers Ailsa Dixon and Ffion Phillips follow the flight paths of bird mythology across Scotland, Wales, Ireland and into the land of Tir na nÓg itself…
The cosy George Mackay Brown Library at the Scottish Storytelling Centre is the perfect setting for this duo performance, the audience welcomed into the space by atmospheric live folk music played on cello (Ailsa Dixon) and guitar (Ffion Phillips) and the storytellers drawing us into this world of birds and magic with a comfortable confidence which puts listeners immediately at ease.
At the heart of Aderyn/Bird’s storyworld is Bodach, standing with his arms outstretched as birds peck away at the little homemade figures he holds in his hands. Right hand for good dreams; left hand for bad. This show starts with him standing there and loops back around to him time and time again throughout, as if the audience is circling the figure of this ancient man along with the birds. We follow the flight path of a goose, and end up in a tale about seven brothers and shirts of nettles; we follow the flight path of a starling, and end up in a story about Irish castles and a giant so large he could wade across the sea itself.
The staging is minimal, wall-hanging illustrations of story-specific birds the only set decoration, but this isn’t a show which relies on theatrics: this is a show dedicated to the art of the classic folk tale, the words brought to life by pace, and lilt, and body language. Phillips in particular shines when it comes to storytelling through physicality and movement, and anyone familiar with ‘The King of Birds’ will enjoy the way these performers bring new life and excitement to such a well-known tale.
Aderyn/Bird is, as the name itself suggests, a bilingual show. Ffion Phillips slips in and out of Welsh throughout, the two languages seamlessly weaving together in a way which adds depth to the performance even for audience members who don’t speak the language. This is a show which describes itself as a journey ‘across ancient Britain’, and when these Welsh elements are combined with Ailsa Dixon’s Gaelic songs excerpts we are all indeed transported into a place of rich Celtic folklore.
Aderyn/Bird has elements of live folk music throughout, the stories accompanied by cello and/or guitar and singing. Whilst the show adeptly utilises these instruments for musical accompaniment, we never truly get a full song or a full tune set from the two performers. It would be a welcome addition to the show if there was time taken in all these tales about birds and flight for the music itself to fly, and the musical talent of Dixon and Phillips given time to breathe all on its own.
This bilingual folk show is a sweetly playful journey into worlds long lost, and worlds which might yet come to pass, ‘skidding and skating words’ gently taking us across the ‘white noise of the universe’ before placing us back on the ground right where we began. A treat for all who love their folklore accompanied by the sound of bird wings, and their stories told with traditional flair.
Recommended Drink: A peaty, rich whisky – or a cup of nettle tea…
You can see Aderyn/Bird at the Scottish Storytelling Centre at 17:30 (60 mins) on the 16th August. Tickets are available through the EdFringe Online Box Office.
Image Credit: Milly Dixon
Jake Mace
