Tales of Papa Westray folk, past, present and future.

Jocelyn Rendall looks back at the story of the Traill family, who owned the island in the kelp era and its aftermath. Past meets present in a film by Saoirse Higgins that showcases contemporary and traditional skills in action as the Papay Doondies build a Cassie sea defence wall.

We explore island bird life with RSPB warden James Wilson, and there’s the public premiere of Peedie Island – a striking animated film by the pupils of Papay School, highlighting the plight of our seabirds today.

The film was inspired by the huge sailcloth banners of birds and fish, created by Jonathan Ford and islanders, that hang in the community Kelp Store and it tells the story of a Tystie struggling to find fish and his friends the Orca and the Flapper Skate coming to the rescue.

Mary Grieve worked with the young people to create the shadow puppets, Anna-Lisa Jenaer helped them acquire scriptwriting skills, and James Wilson provided the music. The young people, from nursery pupils to teenagers, animated the puppets and members of the community joined in to contribute a varied mix of voices to a film that is a truly collaborative island project.

“Papay has always been an island with global connections,” they say, “and this continues today as we work to address issues of climate and conservation, both at home and beyond our shores.”

Tickets £6 & £4 can be booked through this LINK.

Supported by the North Isles Landscape Partnership Scheme