Apples redden on the trees, rains finally quench the sun-beaten soil, and long evenings are at last beginning to cool. Once more, volunteers step forth for an Autumn of learning, fun, and revelry, building towards out 2023 Samhuinn Fire Festival!
Whether you’re someone who’s looking on curiously, or a regular volunteer – we’re delighted to introduce you to the different performance and production groups who will be running this festival!
We’re excited to offer the opportunity for you to get involved and contribute to the festival as a volunteer. You can find the perfect way to use your time to make this year’s festival a success.
Below you’ll find all the information you need to apply for your desired group and be part of our celebration!
Not sure how things work? Email the groups that sound fun/interesting and they’ll be able to share more about what they’re up to, and guide you to how to apply to join in with them if you want to!
If you sign up to one of our groups, Group Organisers may collect your name and email address, to keep in touch with updates directly related to your voluntary engagement. We will not use your information for any other purpose without first asking for your consent, and we will not share your email with external organisations.
Contents
- Beasties
- Bone Point
- Na Morrígna
- Obsidian
- Petrichor
- Photopoint
- Púcaí
- Síp, the Fairy Flock
- Stewards
- Tech
- Torchbearers
- The Wild Hunt
Beasties
Group organisers: Robert Sproul-Cran, Denis Emelin, Catherine Entwistle
When the nights grow long and cold, and the people need to dance to keep warm, whose beat is it they dance to? Is it yours?
When the frost threatens, and the darkness grows, who has the courage, the audacity, to stare winter in the face and say, “You’ll have to go through me, first”? Is that you?
Who has the nerves, the stamina, to say, “These are our beats, and they are tight, and they are strong, and they are sexy, and we will dance until our bones freeze”? Is that you?
Join us to party until the bitter end. We may be doomed, but if we go out, we’re going out with a bang.
We are a drum crew, open to all skill levels and abilities – if you love making noise and having fun, come join us! We will be battling against winter with our beats until we can no longer.
Commitment level: High commitment
Expected financial contribution: £50
Weekend Away: Camping weekend (location TBD but it will be nice!), 29th September – 1st October
Open practice schedule:
- Monday 4th September, 7-10pm, Binks Hall, Greyfriars Charteris Centre
- Wednesday 6th September, 7-10pm, Bongo Club
- Sunday 10th September, 4-7pm, Bongo Club
Closed practice schedule:
- Bongo club, Wednesdays 7-10pm
- Sundays 4-7pm, from 13th September
Got questions? Email us at beasties@beltane.org
No questions? Then go ahead and express your interest in our open practices here 🙂 : https://tinyurl.com/beasties-23
Oh, you can also scan this thingy instead (oooh, magic):
Bone Point
Group Organisers: Fern and Milo
Death comes for us all, but the Summer King seems to have forgotten this fact. Summer has been full of life, revelry, and not a care in the world for far too long. What better than a reminder of the inevitable change coming and our own mortality?
We are Bone Point, a band of skeletons, who have dragged themselves out of the earth to loom ominously, foreboding and forewarning of the Summer King’s inexorable fate. This will be a character performance-based group, representing and celebrating death and rebirth in many forms. We plan on being a semi-roaming group, using audience interaction and scripted performances to portray our undead selves in many forms. Our aesthetic will be varied from your usual Halloween skeleton, representing the skeletons in various stages of decay. However, we only have a few hours of our rebirth before we return to the ground, so we’re gonna get real silly with it…
We will be having an optional staycation weekend from the 30th September – 1st October, full details to be confirmed.
We will be a beginner friendly group, and will be doing limited required movement, and can make adjustments for any mobility requirements.
Commitment level: low commitment, 1-2 rehearsals a week
Expected financial contribution: ~£25
Weekend Away Dates: 30th September-1st October (staycation)
Open practice schedule:
- Weds 6th September 7-9pm @ the Meadows
- Saturday 9th September 1-3pm @ Holyrood Park
- EXTRA BONUS PRACTICE! Monday 11th September 7-9pm @ the Refresh Cafe on the Meadows
Closed practice
- 16th Saturday 2-5pm TBC then weekly on Saturdays after (potential for an additional weekday practice, you only need to attend one practice a week)
Sign up link: https://forms.gle/jLe8S94WcjdpUaZeA
Contact us at bonepoint@beltane.org
Na Morrígna
Group Organisers: Christie O’Donnell, Stew Wilson
We are Na Morrígna, representing the aspects of The Morrígan as a Goddess of fate, and as a harbinger of death and doom through her association with corvids. Tapping into the corvid’s role as avatars of folk dread, we shall drift and swoop through the night, and upon ‘seeing’ the fate of those who meet our gaze, keening and wailing for the future that has been lost.
We offer a chance to witnesses and performers alike to feel their grief being expressed via our keening, and as a group our focus will be on character work, audience interaction as a semi-roaming group, costuming and vocal performance via the act of keening and wailing.
Be forewarned – while we may be temporarily bribed by shiny trinkets, this may not be enough to change your fate…
Commitment Level: We are a Low commitment group
Expected Financial Contribution: Circa £25
Our Open Practices will be:
- Monday 04/09, 19:00 – 21:00 – Meeting at Middle Meadow Walk Crossroads
- Wednesday 06/09, 19:00 – 21:00 – Meeting at Middle Meadow Walk Crossroads
- Friday 08/09, 19:00 – 21:00 – Meeting at Middle Meadow Walk Crossroads
Our Closed Practices will be:
- Mandatory – Wednesdays, 19:00 – 22:00, location TBC but be sure to wrap up warm!
- Optional – Sundays, 14:00 – 17:00, Online/In person as required
Our Staycation location is due to take place over the weekend of 29/09 – 01/10, location TBC once the Group has closed. Taking part over all three days is not mandatory, but members are strongly encouraged to attend on 30/09 in particular as this will be our main day to flock together.
Click here to let us know you’re interested!
Email: namorrigna@beltane.org
Obsidian
Group Organisers: Jacob Forsyth-Davies, Nico Marrone, Romaine Furmston-Evans
Obsidian forms when volcanic lava cools down rapidly. We are a tribe of elemental winter warriors created by this union of ice and fire.We represent the terrifying strength and beauty of winter’s inevitable power.
Throughout Samhuinn night we will subdue and feed off the erratic hedonistic energies of summer, growing stronger as we transform the chaos into smooth powerful movements and structural acro-shapes. We will spew forth the excess energy in fiery bursts. Driving the transformation of summer into winter.
As our power grows over the night, so will the intensity of our performance. We begin with low-level acrobatics and fire spinning, building in ferocity as we devour summer’s energy. Culminating in an explosive display of combined acro and spinning as we reach full power.
We are a HIGH commitment group. We have ambitions of extending our acro and fire spinning repertoire past what you may have experienced in previous festivals,with a focus on synchronized movement, choreography, and embodied performance, so having experience in one or both of these disciplines is encouraged. We welcome newcomers too, especially those looking to work hard and improve in these areas.
In the run up, we will work hard to prepare our bodies and minds for both Samhuinn night and the winter to come. We will empower you and build your resilience to create an intimidating winter horde. We will use elements of ritual, reflection, and community, to build character and togetherness, and prepare for the oncoming winter. While we’re frosty and ferocious on the outside, we promise that all triangles have a gooey lava-filled center.
Commitment level: HIGH
Closed Practices:
- Wednesdays 7-10pm
- Sundays 12-4pm.
Staycation weekend: 29th sept – 1st Oct.
Expected Financial Contribution: £45
Open practices
- Sunday 3rd 12-3pm
- Wednesday 6th 7-10pm
- Friday 8th 7-10pm.
Summer’s days are numbered, it’s our time to shine…
…join us if you dare.
Petrichor
Group Organisers: Aindrea Bell, Alex Ntouvli
We often lament the rain, and hope that we will not be graced by its moist presence. But why should we fear rain? Why not honour it instead? Petrichor will revel in the joy of downpour by not just celebrating the rain, but mandating that it rain on the night of Samuinn. We will precipitate this forth by appealing to the heavens with noise, dance, and general silliness. We will embrace the stormy joys of winter, and bring hope to the dark months. And if the skies are clear? Well, we’ll just have to bring some rain of our own…
Commitment level: Medium, 1 rehearsal a week
Expected financial contribution: ~£20 – £25
Open practices:
- Monday 4th September, 19:00 – The Meadows
- Wednesday 6th September, 19:00 – The Meadows
- EXTRA BONUS PRACTICE! Monday 11th September 7-9pm @ the Refresh Cafe on the Meadows
Closed practices:
- Thursdays, 19:00
Sign-up form:
https://forms.gle/RYG3mJ3ZN2fh8gVa7
Photopoint
Group Organiser: Nate Kelso
In the most basic terms we take pictures of the festival. But it’s truly more than that…
Photopoint are the volunteer documentary team who are at the heart of immortalising the society’s history. We will capture a bit of the magic of Samhuinn in the moment for folks to look back on after the whole thing is done and dusted. We are about capturing the essence of a festival and making it available online and across the world. We will take a little something from every group and give it back in full technicolor glory.
We will spend some time in the run-up sharing our collective knowledge and skills in photography and editing; practising low-light photography and documenting group preparations to build or further hone our skills. We may also have space for a self-motivated videographer or two if you’ve got a hankering to try those skills behind the scenes with BFS.
We would love to recruit a pool of photographers with diverse experience and perspectives who want to work with each other and with performers to take brilliant photos and have a great time together!
You will need to have your own camera, lenses and equipment.
Commitment level: Moderate to High (busier as we get nearer to the festival)
Expected financial contribution: tbc ~£25-30
Open practice schedule:
- Sun 3rd Sep at West Parliament Sq 7-9pm
- Wed 6th Sep Calton Hill 7-9pm
Use the following link or QR Code to go to our open practice signup sheet:
https://tinyurl.com/photopoint
For any other questions:
Púcaí
Group Organisers: Torin, Alex and Simone
We are the Púcaí. We are mischievous, shapeshifting, trickster fae associated with Samhuinn and November 1st. We’re on a mission to bring chaotic entertainment to celebrate the turning of the seasons; one last night of revelry before we are expected to behave on Púca’s Day – the start of Winter and November 1st. To do this we’ll be taking you humans on a wild rhythmical ride, propelling you through a landscape of musical merriment, before safely depositing you back on the right side of the veil. (We proooomiissseee. Mostly).
We are a drum and brass group, incorporating toms, snares, basses, brass instruments and saxophones. We are looking for brass/sax players who have access to their own instruments, and a basic level of playing ability. However, previous drumming experience or access to your own drum is not required – a sense of rhythm and enthusiasm to learn is what we’re looking for!
- Commitment level: High commitment
- Expected financial contribution: £50 – £60 (dependent on final group size. Please let us know in confidence if this would be difficult for you. We do not want finances to be a barrier to participation).
- Weekend Away: Friday 29th September – Sunday 1st October.
- Mandatory ‘day away’ Saturday 30th September, with optional (but highly encouraged) wild camping on Friday and Saturday night (location tbd)
Open practices:
- Monday 4th, 19:00 – 22:00 – Charteris Centre, 138 – 140 Pleasance, EH8 9RR
- Wednesday 6th, 19:00 – 22:00 – Bongo Club, 66 Cowgate, EH1 1JX
- Sunday 10th, 16:00 – 19:00 – Bongo Club, 66 Cowgate, EH1 1JX
Closed Practices: Wednesday evenings and Sunday afternoons. (First closed practice Wednesday 13th September).
If you’re interested, please sign up using our online form and we’ll send you more info!
Síp, the Fairy Flock
Group Organisers: Peter Bain, Clara Koenig
Aligned with Summer’s bounty of delicious grass and warm sunshine, we are a flock of Fairy Sheep: loud, fluffy, clownish, and generally confused about everything. We will break out of the Procession bringing us from summer pasture to winter shelter, and spend Samhuinn night wandering about the darkness in a confused, bleating, shining herd (fairy fleeces have fairy lights!). We will encounter the strange “human” creatures who have come to watch the proceedings and entertain them with our antics, before being led back to the safety of our pen to huddle together and eat turnips through the dark winter.
Our focus is on audience interaction and costuming. If you are a newbie looking to dip your toes in the foot bath of BFS for the first time, or an experienced performer who wants to take a break from intense commitment – we want you ewe!
We will be meeting on Saturdays from 11am for our weekly practice, and have drop-in costuming sessions some Wednesday evenings from 6pm.
Open practice schedule:
- Wednesday 6th Sept 6-9pm, Holyrood Park
- Saturday 9th Sept 11am-2pm, Holyrood Park.
No need to attend both!
Open Practice sign-up: https://forms.gle/BC7djSrYfVVqUDyTA
- Commitment level: Low to Medium
- Expected financial contribution: ~£30-40 per person (tbc), this will mostly go towards bulk ordering of costuming materials
- Staycation weekend: 30th September & 1st October, completely optional!
Stewards
Group Organiser: Andy MacLeod
Stewards are the friendly painted faces of Samhuinn who welcome the audience into the performance space, tell them the stories of the various characters and groups that form part of the celebration, as well as keeping them safe on the night. We are a low-commitment group, with a single low-impact weekly practice for a couple of hours on Sunday afternoons, and optional social and other activities on weekday evenings.
No prior experience with Beltane Fire Society or stewarding is necessary – full training will be provided in the weeks leading up to the festival in audience interaction, crowd control, and fire safety.
Commitment: Low
Financial contribution: Minimal. No more than £5.
Away Weekend/Staycation details: tbc. We are considering options, but will ask group members what they’d be interested in.
Open practices: Meeting next to the Ranger Station/Education Centre at the north end of the Parade Ground in Holyrood Park at 2pm on Sunday afternoons, September 3rd to October 8th inclusive. Look for the people wearing leather jackets. We’ll be outside for a couple of hours, so wear/bring clothing appropriate to whatever the weather might do, and strong boots or shoes if you have them as we may be walking over uneven ground.
Get in touch with any questions to stewards@beltane.org
Emails with further information will be sent out to our mailing list immediately after the Open Meeting on the evening of September 2nd, and weekly thereafter.
Sign up on the form here: https://tiny.cc/SAM23
Or scan the QR code:
Tech
Group Organiser: Peter Jackson
Tech helps facilitate groups with their use of fire and effects at Samhuinn. We are continuing to focus on skill sharing and documenting how we do things.
We build the stage on Sahuinn day. As the sun sets we done our red overalls and make sure fire is in the right place and contribute to the safe and smooth running of the festival.
You don’t need specific skills, only enthusiasm to learn!
Commitment level – Low, a few Training and equipment organisation sessions in September and October. Apart from a mandatory safety training session and at least one walkthrough there is a lot of flexibility about when you can help out, chat to us about it!
Expected financial contribution – None
Weekend Away Dates/or details: tbc, possible daytime activity depending on group thoughts
Open session schedule –
- Sun 10th September 1pm-4pm @ Stores (16 East Cromwell Street)
In you are interested email tech@beltane.org or Fill Out The Form
Contact: tech@beltane.org
Torchbearers
Group Organisers: C’tri, Feorag, Glo, Zoe-Tara
The Torchbearers are a mixed production / performance group that’s accessible to all comers. Whether this is your first festival and you have no idea what’s going on, or you’re a veteran wanting a more relaxed experience, this may be the place for you!
At the festival, we’ll be shrouded in our warm cloaks, wielding tall poles containing caged fire that lights the performance around us, walking stoically and sedately along with the rest of the procession.
Storywise – we’re not involved in the conflict between Summer and Winter. We guard the veil between realms, our torches mark the separation between the sacred space of the festival, and the mortal world beyond. Our appearance will evoke etherealness, and our presence add weight to the performances happening within our boundaries.
Commitment level – low/medium. Up to 2 sessions a week.
Expected financial contribution – £5 – 10
Weekend Away Dates/or details – Day trip on the 1st of October
Open practice schedule –
- Thur 7th 19:30 – 21:30 @ Beltonia (16 east cromwell street)
- Sun 10th 3pm -5pm @ Beltonia (16 east cromwell street)
Have questions but don’t want to commit just yet?
Want to come along to one of our sessions?
Sign up to let us know you’re interested!
The Wild Hunt
Group Organisers: Ross Atkinson, Gilly Owens, Eden Hunter and Danielle Christie
We are the wild hunt, we are supernatural spectral hunters, cryptid warriors both alive and dead. We are both the immovable object and the unstoppable force, an unrelenting storm. A foreboding presence, once we reach this plane no shadows can be trusted, no allies taken, we will ravage this land and take what we want by any means necessary.
We are looking for people who want to explore the darker sides of folklore, wanting to perform as weird and horrific, cryptid creatures. We will also be recruiting a group of summer beings who wish to be torn apart and become members of the Hunt.
Please get in touch if you are interested at all! We want to hear your ideas and are open to lots!
Commitment Level: Medium commitment but high intensity.
Expected Financial Contribution: £40
Weekend Away dates/info: Staycation on 7th/8th October in Quarry/Craigmillar Park.
Open Practice Schedule:
- Sunday 3rd Sept – The Pavillion Cafe, Meadows, 1pm – 5pm
- Wednesday 6th September – The Pavillion Cafe, Meadows, 7pm – 9pm
- Saturday 9th September – The Pavillion Cafe, Meadows, 12pm – 4pm
Closed Practice Schedule:
- Sundays 2-5pm in the Quarry/Craigmillar Park
- Optional Wednesday 7-9pm indoor chillout/costuming sessions.
Email us at wildhunt@beltane.org for any info
Fill this in if you fancy coming along to our open rehearsals and meeting us!
https://forms.gle/aoyF2QUYkVM2Aebi9
Projects!
In addition to the groups that help our night happen, we have projects that run throughout the run-up for our Society members.
Body Doubling
Project Coordinators: Hannah McIlhinney, Flavi Preston
When: Every Tuesday between 7pm and 9pm from 12th September.
Where: Online through Google Meet.
Body doubling simply means doing a task in the presence of another person. The other person may help with the task, may work on the same task, but independently, or they might simply be present, listening to music or quietly performing an unrelated task.
This group is a great way of connecting with people from other groups in a relaxed environment while also prioritising your own well-being.
Things people have done while attending this group virtually include:
- Gone for a walk
- Joining us from the office
- Job applications
- Costuming
- Packing/unpacking from away weekends
- Cooking dinner
- Doing housework
- Reading a book
- Having a bath
- Doing some art and craft activity.
- Had a nap
Commitment level: Very Low.
If you sign up and attend for 5 minutes, one time to send an email, that’s totally ok and very much encouraged. If you want to show up for a bit of light chat that’s totally ok. If you show up and don’t want to turn on your camera or microphone and mute the meeting to get on with stuff that’s also ok.
This group is open to all BFS members whether they are taking part in this festival or not.
Financial contribution: None, but you should have access to a device that allows you to access the meetings.
If you would like to join please email: bodydoubling@beltane.org or fill out the form using this link: https://forms.gle/ComErtthzAxkvaYSA.
Hillusphere
Project Coordinators: AJ Durnan, Alan Howse
Hillusphere is a project for all members of the community to come to Beltonia and utilise the space and resources for costume, prop, and group projects, crafting and construction. All are welcome to work on any Samhuinn related projects, big or small, regardless of skill or experience.
Saturday drop in sessions will run 10am to 4pm and are open to everyone! These sessions will have several experienced people attending who can assist in wood, metal and leatherwork, as well as fire props, costuming and general fabrication. There is also a dedicated craft room in Beltonia for haberdashery and other projects that cannot be done on the workshop floor.
Weeknight workshops will be negotiated on a group by group basis with GOs and focus on the specific needs of each group.
Drop in Sessions Saturdays from the 9th of Sep. 10am-4pm
For any questions or planning please email Hilluspere
Header photo copyright James Armandry for Beltane Fire Society
Beltane Fire Society 
Have a great Samhuinn redden away to all!
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