Feast of Fools

• David Pollock
• 4 August 2019

This article is from 2019

Engaging storyteller feeds the imagination

Welcome to dinner with storyteller Daniel Serridge, whose compact, in-the-round show is marked out by a circle of paper plates on the floor, with coloured pens in place of cutlery. No actual eating will be going on during our hour-long banquet, but the intention is to let our imaginations feast until we leave the room filled with hunger – or feeling like we might never eat again.

We begin with a choice of two story menus, helpfully paraded by Serridge on a sandwich board while we vote for the one we'd like to see performed; it's close – but not that close – in favour of the 'disgusting' menu over the 'delicious' one. His trio of story courses are sourced from Hungary (he notes the irony), Syria and Japan, and adapted to suit a local palate.

The advertised disgusting menu ('sadly democracy means you don't always get what you want,' he says to the 'delicious'-voting kids, with a nod in the direction of the grown-ups) is delivered to just the right level of gross-out, with some mild audience participation and creativity called upon amid stories of a marauding pork pudding, the interruption of a wealthy sultan's banquet in unappetising style, and a raccoon which lives in a kettle.

Throughout, our host is as quick-witted and captivating as any young audience demands.

Scottish Storytelling Centre, until 18 Aug (not 13 & 14), 1.30pm, £8 (£6).