Storyteller Frankie Regalia brings her solo theatre show, Spinster, to Edinburgh Fringe this summer.
“Witch! Hag! Spinster! Words are powerful – even one can tell a whole story. This storytelling show welcomes you into the spinster’s cottage, but what will you find there? A financially independent woman with a honed skill and craft, or an evil-doing hag waiting to snatch your child? Journey through three Scottish folktales that illustrate the change in the meaning of the word spinster, and thus the changing role of women in the Middle Ages. Spin together the threads of ancient tales and unpick the tapestry of the demonisation of women with storyteller Frankie Regalia.”
Where: George Mackay Brown Library at Scottish Storytelling Centre
When: 22, 26, 28-30 Aug
Ticket link: https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/spinster
What can you tell us about your show? What is it about and where did the idea come from?
I first developed this idea for Spinster through a commission I received to develop an hour-long storytelling performance inspired by the collection at Groam House Museum. Since I know how to spin using a srop spindle and teach regular spinning workshops, I thought it would be interesting to look into their flax comb and linen-making tools.
What I found were stories from across Scotland that all framed the craft of spinning very differently. I then did some research into the word spinster and traced the journey of the UK from the Middle Ages through to the Industrial Revolution. All that sounds very heavy, academic, and historical, but the heart of this show came from the folktales about women, witches, and fairies.
How would you sell it to audiences in one paragraph?
Witch! Hag! Spinster! Words are powerful – even one can tell a whole story. This storytelling show welcomes you into the spinster’s cottage, but what will you find there? A financially independent woman with a honed skill and craft, or an evil-doing hag waiting to snatch your child? Journey through three Scottish folktales that illustrate the change in the meaning of the word spinster, and thus the changing role of women in the Middle Ages. Spin together the threads of ancient tales and unpick the tapestry of the demonisation of women with storyteller and witch Frankie Regalia.
Do you enjoy participating in the Fringe? And do you have any moments you particularly remember?
I love participating in the Fringe! This is my sixth fringe as a creative, but my first as a storyteller. The moments that always stand out the most to me are the other artists. There is such a lovely community of creatives who come up to Edinburgh for the month and get stuck in together. You can really find a support system from people you have met for only a month, and sometimes that is a relationship that spans a career or is simply a brief spark of connection, all the more lovely for its brevity.
What are you looking forward to the most in Edinburgh?
I am looking forward to seeing other shows, particularly the programme at the Scottish Storytelling Centre. I live in Glasgow, so I have the incredible benefit of accessing their year-round programming, but Fringe is always something extra special. I can’t wait to hear new stories and witness the incredible skill and creativity of my fellow storytellers.
What’s next for the show?
I am not sure, and that is sort of the beauty of Fringe! I’m excited to meet new people, perform for new audiences, and see what opportunities present themselves. I will say that I have other storytelling events coming up, all of which will be posted to my website (www.frankieregalia.com) or to the Wildcard Stories Instagram (@wildcardstories.gla)