Storyhouse Childless festival set for September 2025
Storyhouse Childless, a weekend of events exploring life without children, will take place at Chester’s Storyhouse from Friday 12 to Sunday 14 September 2025.
Since 2019, the festival has brought together hundreds of adults who live childfree—whether by choice, circumstance, or infertility—alongside friends and family wanting to better understand non-parenthood.
The programme includes keynotes, panel discussions, performances, and workshops designed to foster honest, nuanced conversations and build community.
Nicola Haigh, Community Manager for Storyhouse, said: “Storyhouse Childless is not just an event — it’s a community, a platform, and a growing movement that challenges the dominant narrative around parenthood and creates a space for connection, visibility, and solidarity. This festival now in its fifth year has been co-curated with a volunteer focus group made up of the childless and childfree community.”
The weekend opens on Friday evening with live music and socialising, followed on Saturday by reflections from Dr Dawn Llewellyn, Associate Professor of Religion and Gender at the University of Chester. Dr Llewellyn will frame discussions around pronatalism, identity, and belonging.
Saturday’s highlights include a session on chronic illness and childlessness, a Creative Power Hour workshop led by artist Claire Beerjeraz, and discussion groups inspired by audience feedback. Journalist Bibi Lynch will chair a panel on stigma around singlehood and non-parenthood, followed by an evening of theatre, comedy, and cabaret featuring performances by Old Bird Theatre and others.
Sunday begins with breakfast gatherings and body-mapping sessions before a keynote from TEDx speaker Emily Monsell-Holden on her experience as a non-mother. The day will also feature creative writing and visual arts workshops, plus a closing panel exploring whether childlessness is an intersectional issue, with guests including activist Hafsa Qureshi and Pride Cymru trustee Kate Hutchinson.
Full listings for the festival include events across Storyhouse’s Main Theatre, Garret Theatre, Bar, and Kitchen spaces, with sessions timed between 6pm Friday and 3.15pm Sunday.
Speed Friending & Live Music
Garret Theatre and Bar
Friday 12th September
6pm – 8.30pm
TALK: Welcome to Storyhouse Childless!
Saturday 13th September
Main Theatre
10.00 -11.00
TALK: Stories from People Living with Chronic Illness
Saturday 13 September
11.30 – 12.30pm
Main Theatre
Storyhouse Childless: Creative Power Hour & Open Mic
Saturday 13 September 11.30 and 3pm
Garret Theatre
Storyhouse Childless: Discussion Group – When Things Don’t Go to Plan
Saturday 13th September
1-2pm
Main Theatre and Garret Theatre + Bar
Storyhouse Childless: How to Survive Being Single Living Without Kids
Saturday 13th September
3pm – 4pm
Main Theatre
Storyhouse Childless: Discussion Group – How to Survive Being Single Living Without Kids
Saturday 13 September
Main Theatre
4pm – 4.45pm
Storyhouse Childless: Cabaret
Saturday 13 September
Garret Theatre
5:00pm – 7:30pm
Storyhouse Childless: Welcome Desk and Bag Check in (Sunday)
Sunday 14th September
The Kitchen
9am – 10.15am
Storyhouse Childless: Sunday Morning Meet-Up
Sunday 14th September
The Kitchen
9am – 10.15am
Storyhouse Childless: Body Mapping Your Story
Sunday 14th September
9.15 – 10.15am
Garret Theatre
Storyhouse Childless: What Is Your Life If It Isn’t Being Parent?
Sunday 14 September
10.30 – 11.30
Main Stage
Storyhouse Childless: Creative Writing Workshop
Sunday 14 September
10.30 – 11.30
Garret Theatre
Storyhouse Childless: The Community of Art
Sunday 14 September
11.45 – 12.45
Main Theatre
Storyhouse Childless: Sunday Discussion Group
Sunday 14 September
11.45 – 12.45
Garret Theatre
Storyhouse Childless: Is Childlessness an ‘Intersectional’ issue?
Sunday 14 September
2.15 – 3.15pm
Main Theatre
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