The Aerie

Andrew Bell and Dulcea Wind
aerie[at]beltane[dot]org

We are the messengers of the gods, showing the hardship of the coming Winter. As a group, we will be making wonderfully colourful and scary bird costumes, but don’t worry if you’ve never picked up a needle and thread before, we will help you wing it! We’ll also be running workshops on movement, character, and rhythm.

Our regular meetings are Sunday afternoons and Wednesday nights, times and places to be confirmed.

Our last open rehearsal is Sunday 13th September, 2pm-5pm, meeting where Middle Meadow Walk intersects Jawbone Walk – look for the penguin hat! Comfortable clothing recommended, as we’ll be moving around a lot.

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Bucketeers

Danielle Christie
bucketeers[at]beltane[dot]org

Bucketeers are the happy, shiny, colourful people whom on the night get to interact with the crowd and collect the donations from the audience that help fund this wonderful festival. We are a very low commitment group, no prior experience is required, the most we ask from you is that you make a walkthrough, the busk and be there on the night! Anything more than that is down to you. Bucketeers is a good group if its your first time round and don’t necessarily know what you want out of your experience quite yet or if you have been involved before but don’t have the time for various meetings this time round. So whether you are an old hand or just beginning, Bucketeers would love to hear from you!

Our first meeting is 2pm on Sunday 13th September outside St Giles Cathedral. Please be on time as we will be moving to different locations shortly after 2pm.

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Reds

Raffe O’Rorke and Jane Mann
reds[at]beltane[dot]org

Reds are creatures of the moment throughout the summer. With the turning of the seasons they grow old and have to learn new ways of being awesome before returning to the earth for the winter months.

Our regular meetings and rehearsals are: September – Mondays and Thursdays, 7pm to 10pm, and October – Sundays (time tbc probably midday to 5pm) and Thursdays 7pm to 10pm.

RIRA is 2nd to 4th October. Group members must be at all the practices and RIRA.

Our last open rehearsal is Monday 14th September at Red Point in the Meadows (if you are standing at the junction at Middle Meadow Walk facing towards Marchmont, look for a cluster of Redness by a tree just along a bit and on your right).

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Stewards

Anthony McKale and Sam Jardine
stewards[at]beltane[dot]org

Stewards will provide a safe environment for performers and audience members by holding performance spaces and giving immediate assistance in the event of injuries or Too Much Fire™. We will liaise with Police, Security, First Aid, Production, Blues, and other Group Organisers to help plan a safe festival for all. We will learn about this year’s performance groups and tell witnesses about what they are part of to increase their involvement and enjoyment.

Stewards are not performers. We will engage with the public as people of this world and not as supernatural creatures. Stewarding is a great first step into BFS and we will help new members make the most of their experience.

Meetings will be on Sundays at 2pm at the Pavilion Cafe.

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Tech

Helen Bradburn, Greig Douglas and Jonny Crombie
tech[at]beltane[dot]org

Pots of fire! Burning sculptures! Epic stages! Tubs of flapjacks!

Tech are the stage crew behind the magic of Samhuinn. We are the fire proof suited, soot stained, frazzled looking folks who put it all together on the night. We build the stages, make the sculptures, soak the rope, prep the fuel, put out the fires and afterwards, pack it all away again.

And all this powered by nothing more than tea and biscuits.

Please get in touch by email if you are interested in joining us.

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Family Samhuinn

Cat Somerville
family[at]beltane[dot]org

Following a very successful Family Beltane, Family Samhuinn aims to allow families to celebrate the wheel of the seasons and the festivals together. We will be inviting parents and children, grandparents and family friends to take part in Samhuinn themed arts and crafts, including mask making, drumming and dance, face painting and storytelling as well as drama workshops on stories from Samhuinn traditions from all over the world. The space will include incredible decor and together particpants will ceate a magical enviroment perfect for enjoying a memorable and atmospheric journey to Winter.

Meetings will be in small groups, as and when able and required, with minimal commitment and maximum fun! We’re looking for people to lend a hand with arts and crafts,drama and movement workshops and some decor for our space.

Our first meeting will be at 6pm on Wednesday 16th September. Location to be confirmed, so please email if you’d like to come along.

_{Photo of Samhuinn 2014 by Gyorgy Papp}