Back On The Street with

Brilliant Things

May 18th to 20th 2023

in venues around DINGWALL

AND ON THE HIGH STREET
THEATRE / COMEDY / MUSIC
STORIES / readings / meet authors
family shows / guided walks….and so much more

pick up your brochure at Dingwall tesco

or highflight bookshop on the high street

full details at word-on-the-street.weebly.com

Thank you to Tesco for help promoting the festival

 Welcome Back!

Dingwall’s favourite fes8val is back with new May dates. Events take place in the
Ross-shire Club, Highflight Bookshop, on the street, and Saturday showcases a day of
exhibi8ons, books, craIing, drama, music, Gaelic and typewriters—all in Dingwall
Town Hall. Most events are free or ‘Pay What You Want’. We hope to see you there!
Word on the Street is supported by The Highland Council Dingwall & Seaforth Ward
Discre8onary Fund. The event is organised under the banner of Dingwall Players by:
Nick Fearne, Bill Anderson, Phil Baarda, Sherry Morris, Donna Macrae, Simon Berry.

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THURSDAY, 18 MAY

Yarn Bombing with Sharon Marshall — Dingwall High Street
Yarn bombing or ‘guerrilla kniUng’ is an art movement using colourful yarn to adorn
different objects and structures in an impromptu way. This street art uses kniUng
and croche8ng to "tag" public objects and make ar8s8c statements by changing the
way everyday items appear.

Marcas Mac an Tuairneir — Songs on the High Street, 11am
Join Gaelic singer and poet Marcas Mac an Tuairneir on a walk through Dingwall
High Street with a selec8on of tradi8onal and contemporary Gaelic songs,
celebra8ng the Gaelic heritage of the Highlands. Marcas’ repertoire includes songs
performed at Royal Na8onal Mòds, where he was a finalist in gold medal
compe88ons in 2014, 2019 and 2021.
Òrain na h-Àrd-shràid
Thigibh an cuideachd Mharcais Mhic an Tuairneir is a’ gabhail sgrìobh mu Àrd-shràid
Inbhir Pheoearain agus roghainn de dh’òrain thraidiseanta is ùr-nòsach, sa Gàidhlig.
Bidh òrain Mharcais a’ toirt a-steach na ghabh e is e an sàs ann an cuairt
dheireannach farpaisean nam bonn-òir aig a’ Mhòd Nàiseanta Rìoghail, ann an 2014,
2019 is 2021.

Philip Paris, The Last Witch of Scotland (talk)—Studio Theatre, Upstairs, Ross-shire
Club, 1–2pm
Philip has spent years researching the ScoUsh witchcraI trials for his latest
historical fic8on, The Last Witch of Scotland, which was inspired by the true story of
Janet Horne, the last person in Britain to be executed for witchcraI (Dornoch,
1727). Per head of popula8on, you were five 8mes more likely to be accused of this
crime in Scotland than the rest of Europe. Why? And why did women make up 85%
of those accused? How did ordinary people find themselves facing a death
sentence?
Marcas Mac an Tuairneir, Naming the Gaelic Landscape
(crea8ve wri8ng workshop)
Studio Theatre, Upstairs Ross-shire Club, 2.30-4pm
Award-winning poet Marcas Mac an Tuairneir returns to the Highlands, with a
revamped version of his successful Moniack Mhòr workshop. Par8cpants will be
guided through Highland placenames, using these and examples of Gaelic poetry as
crea8ve impetus for their own wri8ng. Writers of poetry, prose, drama, song or
any genre are welcome to par8cipate in the free-wri8ng exercises, with the session
providing cultural and contextual focus. All are welcome. Workshop is suitable for
all levels of Gaelic.
Ainmeachadh Cruth-Kre na Gàidhlig
Às dèidh dha duaisean a chosnadh le a chuid bàrdachd, 8llidh Marcas dhan a’
Ghàidhealtachd gus bùth-obrach a lìbhrigeadh, a bh’ aige roimhe aig Monadh
Itheig Mhòir. Thèid sgrìobhadairean tro ainmean-àite na Gàidhealtachd, a’
cleachdadh seo agus eisimpleirean bàrdachd na Gàidhlig gus an cuid sgrìobhaidh a
bhrosnachadh. Co-dhiù a bheil sgrìobhadairean an sàs ann am bàrdachd, rosg,
drama no òrain, tha fàilte romhpa uile a bhith an sàs sna eacarsaich-sgrìobhaidh a
mhaireas seachd mionaidean a-mhàin, ead ’s a bheir na seiseanan fòcas air cultar
is co-theacsaichean.

Bill Anderson, 10 Brilliant Books – 10,000 Thousand Books and CounOng (talk)
Highflight Bookshop, 5-6pm
10 brilliant things about a bookshop, a conducted tour of the shelves and table-
tops, highligh8ng brilliant books and some surprises. Bill Anderson opened his
second-hand bookshop, Highflight Bookshop, at Castlebank House in 2011 (and
wishes he had been made redundant sooner!). It was here he had the idea for
Word on the Street. Bill started with his own personal collec8on of a couple
thousand books. Now, at last count, he has over 10,000 books. He told himself,
‘Bill, you’re gonna need a bigger shop!’, and moved to his present loca8on on
Dingwall High Street.

Comedy Night with The Comedy Bothy — Ross-shire Club, 7.30pm Pay What You
want 18+
The Comedy Bothy was established in 2014 as a regular show for Highland based
comedians to perform their material alongside other performers from around
Scotland. Hosted by Mat Black, tonight’s line-up features Mike Hendry, Lorn Dog,
Hazel Urquhart and Kieran Lochore.
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FRIDAY, 19 MAY

Get Experimental at the Newton Room — Lower Town Hall, 10.00am – 2.00pm
Drop-in to the Newton Room and explore a range on hands-on ac8vi8es suitable
for all ages. Learn how to code your own robot, explore renewable challenges or
plant a wildflower pot to take home.

The Dingwall Newton Room aims to engage every P6-S2 pupils in the area in STEM
subjects (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) through hands-on ac8vi8es.
The Newton Room concept originated in Norway, with the aim of providing pupils
in rural and remote areas access to a science centre or museum. Newton Rooms
have state-of-the-art facili8es including a lab, flexible classrooms, specialised
science kits and resources. The focus is on jobs in the Highlands, including
Renewable Energy, Life Sciences, Space and Aquaculture.

Dingwall Players — Every Brilliant Thing by Duncan Macmillan with Jonny

Donahoe
Dingwall Town Hall, 7.30pm Tickets £5 at www.dingwallplayers.org
You’re seven. Mum’s in hospital. Dad say she’s ‘done something stupid’. She
finds it hard to be happy. You start a list of everything that’s brilliant about
the world. Everything worth living for. You leave it on her pillow. You know
she’s read it because she’s corrected your spelling.

In Every Brilliant Thing, a young girl atempts to ease her mother's
depression by crea8ng a list of all the best things in the world. Everything
worth living for. Through adulthood, as the list grows, she learns the deep
significance it has on her own life. Every Brilliant Thing is a hilarious and
heart-wrenching play about depression and the lengths we will go for those
we love.

Mystery Film — Highflight Bookshop, 9pm

A comedy. With sub8tles. Made in 2012 and set in 1958. That’s all we can
print. (That’s a clue.)
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SATURDAY, 20 MAY

Get Experimental at the Newton Room — Lower Town Hall, 10.00am – 2.00pm
Drop-in to the Newton Room and explore a range on hands-on ac8vi8es suitable
for all ages. Learn how to code your own robot, explore renewable challenges or
plant a wildflower pot to take home.


Dingwall Town Hall programme
10am – 1pm
The Right Type? Typewriter ExhibiOon First patented in 1868, typewriters are
brilliant inven8ons. We’ve collected a few: manual and electric, old and new. Come
along and browse these wondrous machines. See if you can make them work, turn
your words directly into type. Do you s8ll use one? Have one in the loI, aUc,
garage or under the sink? Dust it off and bring it to the Town Hall between 9 &
10am. Tell us its story. Whose is it? When was it last used? Did you write a novel
with it?

CraXing with Sharon Marshall
Join Sharon for taster sessions and mini-workshops in needle fel8ng, crochet and
mini-weaving to create landscapes and seascapes, inspired by the beau8ful (&
brilliant) Highland surroundings

Heartstone Photographic ExhibiOon

Heartstone, based in Dingwall, produces story - literature, photo-documentary,
history - presented through exhibi8ons, events, performances, installa8ons and
online. The stories bring people together to see a common human experience.
www.heartstonechandra.com

Browse a Brilliant Book
Bill Anderson, proprietor of Highflight Book shop on Dingwall High Street, presents
a carefully curated collec8on of brilliant books from different genres – read, listen,
discuss – some might even be about flight!

3.30-4pm Heartstone Dance - Cùra Guardian Roadshow www.curaguardian.scot
Sitakumari, dancer/storyteller presents three stories in dance-drama that feature
her Indian Classical Dance background. The stories relate to images on the
website and in the exhibi8on & are ancient stories about a comet and eclipse, a
buterfly with messages in its DNA, and a legend about raptors.
5-6pm Music & Poetry with Marcas Mac an Tuairneir
Join award-winning poet and singer-songwriter Marcas Mac an Tuairneir for an
aIernoon of song, poetry and conversa8on. Marcas will perform Gaelic songs, both
tradi8onal and from his own contemporary oeuvre, oIen co-writen with some of
Gaeldom’s finest musicians. Marcas will also share poe8c works, touching on
musical themes, taken from his cri8cally-acclaimed fourth collec8on, Polaris, short-
listed for ScoUsh Book of the Year, by the Sal8re Society.
Ceol agus Bàrdachd le Marcas Mac an Tuairneir
Thigibh an cuideachd a’ bhàird is òranaiche, Marcas Mac an Tuairneir, airson cuirm-
feasgair de dh’òrain, bàrdachd is còmhradh. Tha Marcas air duaisean a chosnadh
airson a chuid òran is bàrdachd, a tha an dà chuid traidiseanta is ùr-nòsach, a
ghabhas e a capella, air an oidhche. Tha Marcas air òrain a sgrìobhadh cuideachd le
feadhainn de na ceòladairean as cliùi8che air saoghal na Gàidhlig, agus bidh e a’
leughadh cuicheachd bhon cho-chruinneachadh as ùire aige, Polaris, le bàrdachd a
shuathas ri cuspairean ceòlmhor. Chaidh Polaris a chur air geàrr-liosta leis Comann
Chrann na h-Alba airson duais Leabhar Bàrdachd na Bliadhna, an-uiridh.

Dingwall Players — Every Brilliant Thing by Duncan Macmillan with Jonny Donahoe
Dingwall Town Hall, 7.30pm Tickets £5 at www.dingwallplayers.org
You’re seven years old. Mum’s in hospital. Dad say she’s ‘done something stupid’.
She finds it hard to be happy. You start a list of everything that’s brilliant about the
world. Everything worth living for. You leave it on her pillow. You know she’s read
it because she’s corrected your spelling.
(See Friday for further info.)

Storytelling at Dingwall Primary School- school pupils only

Storytelling, readings, drama and drumming presented by Word on the Street
regulars, Barbara Henderson and Dougie Mackay.

Barbara Henderson: Author of nine books and the current writer-in-residence at
the Forth Bridge, Barbara has twice won the Historical Associa8on's Young Quills
Award for her historical Middle Grade adventures and is a founding member of the
Time Tunnellers. Her latest book is Rivet Boy, a Victorian adventure based on real
events and people during the construc8on of the Forth Bridge.
Dougie Mackay: a Highland storyteller living near Edinburgh who shares folk tales
and myths from near and far, bringing a sense of magic, wonder and intrigue, along
with a bit of drumming. Dougie has performed at major storytelling fes8vals
around UK and Europe. storyconnec8on.org

Gaelic ArOst in Residence - Marcas Mac an Tuairneir (Mark Spencer Turner)
This year, with the support of Bòrd na Gàidhlig, Word on the Street welcomes its
first Gaelic Ar8st in Residence, award-winning poet and singer-songwriter Marcas
Mac an Tuairneir (Mark Spencer Turner). Marcas is a long-standing member of the
Gaelic community, wri8ng poetry, songs and music that seeks to engage with the
Gaelic tradi8on, as well as ar8cula8ng contemporary, urban Gaelic-speaking
experience. Most recently, Marcas’ fourth poetry collec8on, Polaris, was short-
listed for ScoUsh Book of the Year, by the Sal8re Society.
Neach-ealain na Gàidhlig air MhuinnOreas – Marcas Mac an Tuairneir
Am bliadhna, le taic Bhòrd na Gàidhlig, bidh Word on the Street a’ cur fàilte ris a’
chiad Neach-ealain na Gàidhlig air Mhuinn8reas, Marcas Mac an Tuairneir. Tha
Marcas na bhàrd is an òranaiche is tha a chuid obrach air iomadh duais a chosnadh.
Le deagh sheasamh ann an coimhearsnachd na Gàidhlig, bidh e a’ sgrìobhadh
bàrdachd, òran is ciùil ceangailte ri traidisean nan Gàidhlig, cho mòr is a chuireas
sin beatha Ghàidhealach sa bhaile mhòr is cùisean ùr-nodha an cèill. O chionn
ghoirid, chaidh an ceathramh co-chruinneachadh aig Marcas, Polaris, a chur air
geàrr-liosta Leabhar Bàrdachd na Bliadhna aig Comann Chrann na h-Alba.

Dingwall Academy Acadamaidh Inbhir Pheo8arain

(school pupils only)

Friday 19th May – GaelPop Workshop

Award-winning Gaelic poet and singer-songwriter, Mark Spencer Turner will lead a
workshop with young people from Dingwall Academy, using songs from his
cri8cally-acclaimed album Speactram as crea8ve impetus. Working to a theme,
chosen by students, Marcas will guide them through contemporary pop song
structures, finding ways to express young people’s lived experience through the
medium of GaelPop.
Dihaoine 19mh a’ Chèitein – Bùth-obrach GhaelPop
Tha Marcas Mac an Tuairneir na bhàrd is òranaiche a tha air iomadh duais a
chosnadh, thar nam bliadhnaichean. A’ s8ùireadh bùth-obrach do dh’òigridh aig
Acadamaidh Inbhir Pheoearain, bidh na h-oileanaich a’ cleachdadh òrain chlàr
Mharcais, Speactram, gus faighinn a-mach mu structaran òran pop, a’ lorg
dòighean beatha-èolas nan òg a chur an cèill tro GhaelPop.

 Daily Dingwalks with Jonathan McColl

Jonathan is a Trustee of Dingwall Museum and a member of the Dingwall History

Society and Highland Family History Society. He writes and talks about the people
and places of the Dingwall area in formal lectures or in guided walks around the
burgh. Join him on a fascina8ng walk! Walks are on the flat, not strenuous, and
take about an hour.

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Thursday, 18 May:
13:00 – DingWalk 4: The Heritage Trail – Meet at Highland Youth (old Post Office)
14:30 – DingWalk 1: The Millennium Walk – Meet at Renato’s
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Friday, 19 May:
13:00 – DingWalk 4: The Heritage Trail – Meet at Highland Youth (old Post Office)
14:30 – DingWalk 2: The Road to the Castle – Meet at Castlebank House
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Saturday, 20 May:
10:00 – DingWalk 4: The Heritage Trail – Meet at Highland Youth (old Post Office)
11:30 – DingWalk 3: The Talking Stones of Dingwall – Meet at the Museum